I am currently abroad

The President of the Republic announced the reopening of the borders in the European Union from 15 June, and of external borders of the European Union, the Schengen Area and of the United Kingdom from 1 July for the countries that were able to control the epidemic.

The list has been published and is composed of the following countries : New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, and Montenegro. China may be added to this list if the measure is mutual. The list of States is available on the website of the Council of the European Union. Travel restrictions should be lifted for countries listed in the recommendation, with this list being reviewed and, as the case may be, updated every two weeks.

Since May 25, 2020 and given the entry restrictions to metropolitan France and the overseas territories, any traveller authorized to enter French territory must be in possession of an “Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire vers la France“: click here.

This certificate, which can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of the Interior, can also be drawn up on plain paper and is intended to check the reason for travel for passengers wishing to enter French territory among the reasons restrictively listed.

This certificate must be presented to travel companies, before the use of the ticket. It should also be presented to the authorities responsible for internal and external border controls.

Since May 25, 2020, the government has introduced a 14-day voluntary quarantine system for travellers coming from outside the European area at the place of their choice or to a suitable accommodation facility.

For other travellers, no quarantine measures are recommended, with the exception of :

• seasonal workers and posted European workers whose stay in the French erritory exceeds 48 hours. According to the Prime Minister’s instruction, they will be subject to quarantine or any other equivalent measure to be borne by their employer as part of occupational risk prevention. In the case of posted workers, these measures must be implemented in their country of origin
• for any traveller coming from Spain and the United Kingdom, on a reciprocal basis.

From 15 June, it is now possible to move freely and travel within the EU again.

Since May 25, 2020, the government has introduced a 14-day voluntary quarantine system for travellers coming from outside the European area at the place of their choice or to a suitable accommodation facility.

For other travellers, no quarantine measures are recommended, with the exception for any traveller coming from Spain by plane (until June 21) and the United Kingdom, on a reciprocal basis.

From 1 July, the EU is opening its borders to some countries that are considered as able to control the epidemic of Covid-19. The list has been published and is composed of the following countries : New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, and Montenegro. China may be added to this list if the measure is mutual. This list may change over time depending on the evolution of the situation. It is going to be updated every two weeks.

1. French citizen or citizen of the European Union, the EEE, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, I am currently abroad

From 15 June, it is now possible to move freely and travel within the EU again.

Given the entry restrictions to metropolitan France and the overseas territories, any traveller authorized to enter French territory must be in possession of an “Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire vers la France“.

This certificate, which can be downloaded from the website of the Ministry of the Interior, can be drawn up on plain paper and is intended to check the reason for travel for passengers wishing to enter French territory among the reasons restrictively listed.

This certificate must be presented to travel companies, before the use of the ticket. It should also be presented to the authorities responsible for internal and external border controls.

Each member State of the European Union has taken measures in order to slow down the spread of the virus, including travel restrictions and border controls.

For those currently outside the Schengen area, do not hesitate to reach consular authorities.

2. Third-country nationals

In order to limit the contamination that could result from the international movement of people, France and its European partners have decided to ban the entry of foreign nationals into a territory comprising the European Union, the Schengen area and the United Kingdom.

This provisional ban has been in force since Tuesday 17 March, until 30 June. It applies to France as it does to other European Union and Schengen area countries. It also applies to the United Kingdom.

Foreign nationals in possession of a residence permit or a long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (VLS-TS) issued by the French authorities will be able, along with their spouse and children, to return to their home in France.

In order to maintain your right of residence in France, the period of validity of residence documents, like residence permits, receipts (“récépissé”), temporary residence permits (“autorisation provisoire de séjour”) or long-stay visas, whose expiration date is between 16 March and 15 June 2020 is automatically extended by 6 months. Thus, you will be able to reside legally for an additional 6 months after the expiration date shown on your residence document without accomplishing any procedure.

In order to ensure the respect of this extension of period of validity, you shall accompany your document with the explanatory document of the extension available here, to assert your rights or while crossing the borders.

Moreover, during this period of 6 months you will be able to enter the Schengen area and return to France but it is strongly recommended to enter the Schengen area through a French border crossing point. Your right to work and your social rights are also extended in the same way if they are provided by your residence document.

From 15 June, it is possible to move freely and travel within the EU again.

Any traveller from a non-EU country authorised to come to France must be in possession of an “Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire vers la France“.

Borders of the European area (the European Union, the Schengen area and the United Kingdom) being closed, holders of long-stay visas who have not resided in France before March 17th will not be able to enter France, whether they are holders of ordinary or diplomatic passports and if they are not from a country authorised to let its nationals come to the EU.

In fact, from 1 July, the EU opens its external borders to some countries that are considered as able to control the epidemic of Covid-19. The list has been published and is composed of the following countries : New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada, Australia, and Montenegro. China may be added to this list if the measure is mutual. This list may change over time depending on the evolution of the situation. It is going to be updated every two weeks.

In order to maintain your right of residence in France, the period of validity of residence documents, like long-stay visas that have not yet been used and whose expiration date is between 16 March and 15 June 2020 is automatically extended by 6 months. Thanks to this extension, you will be able to reside legally for an additional 6 months after the expiration date shown on your residence document without accomplishing a specific procedure.

Moreover, during this period of 6 months you will be able to enter the Schengen area and go to France but it is strongly recommended to enter the Schengen area through a French border crossing point. Your right to work and your social rights are also extended in the same way if they are provided by your residence document.

In order to ensure the respect of this extension for your residence document, you shall accompany your document with the explanatory document of the extension available here in French and English, to assert your rights or while crossing the borders.

Due to the Covid-19 health crisis, France has suspended the issuance of all visas, until further notice.

This decision affects all visa applications (short-stay Schengen visas, long-stay visas for France, overseas visas). It concerns all visa applications already made or for which an appointment has already been made.