I am currently abroad

On October 28,2020 the President of the Republic announced that the borders in the European Union are for now still opened and that the external borders of the European Union, the Schengen Area and of the United Kingdom are still closed with some exceptions.

These exceptions apply to countries that are considered as able to control the epidemic. Are authorised to enter France, travellers coming from the following countries : Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand. This list will be updated every two weeks minimum, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation in liaison with European partners.

Travelers coming from other countries, and given the restrictions on access to metropolitan France and the overseas collectivities, have to be in possession of the “Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire vers la France” that lists foreign nationals authorized to enter France despite the restrictions currently in force (French and European citizens, holders of a residence permit and having their residence in France, holders of a long-stay visa marked Passport Talent or Intra-company transfer (Salarié détaché ICT), etc.).

Thus, any traveller authorized to enter French territory must be in possession of this certificate, available here.

This certificate 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.

In the case of overseas territories, the situation will depend on the territory considered:

• It is possible to travel to Martinique, Reunion Island and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon only for family emergency or work reasons.
• In the case of French Guiana, Mayotte or Guadeloupe, it is possible to go there with a PCR test done less than 72 hours before the boarding and a sworn statement indicating that you do not present any symptoms and that you have not been in contact with someone positive to the Covid-19.

However, prefects and local authorities in these territories may take more restrictive measures if they deem it necessary.

In order to travel to New-Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna islands, Mayotte or French Guiana, you will require a specific certificate: the “Attestation de déplacement dérogatoire en provenance ou destination de la Guyane, de Mayotte, de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, de la Polynésie française et des îles Wallis et Futuna”, available here.

For any departure from Metropolitan France or the United States to French Polynesia a specific procedure applies. You will find this procedure on the website of the Ministry of the Interior available here.

Several measures have been implemented to execute sanitary controls at the borders when entering the French territory from outside the Schengen area. These measures will be enforced on 1 August 2020.

Several situations exist.

I am travelling to France from a country where the circulation of the virus is low

The countries are: Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand.

Travellers coming from one of the countries of the above-mentioned list able to control the spread of the Covid-19 will not be subject to specific measures.

I am travelling to France from a country where the circulation of the virus is still very active

Travellers of 11 years old or older, from these countries, and that are eligible to an exemption that allows them to come to France,  will be required to have the proof of a negative test for the Covid-19 in order to enter the French territory.

It is strongly recommended to do the test before departure.

Depending on the country of origin, this pre-departure test may be mandatory. The list of countries concerned will be updated as the sanitary situation evolves.

Test before leaving for France

In order to get to Metropolitan France, travellers from the following countries will have to prove that they did a test with a negative result in the 72 hours before the departure for France : Algeria, Bahrain, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Iraq, Iran, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, Panama, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States, Zimbabwe.

Thus, before doing the test, please check when the results will be available. These passengers do not undergo any further health checks upon arrival.

In order to get to overseas territories, a PCR test must be done within 72 hours prior to departure, regardless of the place of departure.

Test upon arrival:  I am travelling from another country

Travellers aged over 11 years arriving in metropolitan France by sea or air transport from all countries in the world with the exception of the Member States of the European Union and the countries listed above, who cannot present the result of a negative PCR test carried out less than 72 hours before boarding, will have to go to a health checkpoint on arrival where such test can be carried out.

Travellers from the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Holy See are not subject to any quarantine measures upon entering Metropolitan France.

As of November 7, any traveller arriving in France from a country outside the European Union, excluding Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand must present a negative PCR test performed less than 72 hours before the flight and that does not conclude to a Covid-19 contamination.

For those who cannot justify a negative result to a Covid-19 test on arrival, a test will be carried out upon arrival at the airport. If the result is positive, the authorities may impose a seven-day isolation period.

Travels within the European Union are currently allowed.

From 1 July, the EU opens its external borders to some countries that are considered as able to control the epidemic of Covid-19. Are authorised to enter in France, travellers coming from the following countries : Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore andThailand.

This list is updated every two weeks minimum, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation.

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

Travels within the European Union are currently allowed.

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.

From 1 July, the EU opens its external borders to some countries that are considered as able to control the epidemic of Covid-19. Are authorised to enter in France, travellers coming from the following countries : Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda,  Singapore and Thailand. This list is updated every two weeks minimum, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation.

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.

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.

Travels within the European Union are currently allowed.

Are authorised to enter in France, travellers coming from the following countries : Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Singapore and Thailand. This list will be updated every two weeks minimum, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation.

For any other foreign talents, this certificate “Attestation de déplacement international dérogatoire vers la France” covers situations in which travel to France is authorized.

Holders of a long-stay visa who have not previously resided in France will in principle be refused entry, whether they are holders of ordinary or diplomatic passports and if they are not on the list of countries whose nationals are authorized to come to the EU.

However, following individuals can now enter France without having previously their main residence in France:

• Students with long-term visa (VLS), short-term visa (VCS) in order to study or to do a internship (“student-in-competition” short-stay visa not included), or coming for less than 90 days from a country exempted from VCS, with a proof of address in France.
• Teachers or researchers employed or invited by a French educational institution or research lab, travelling for teaching or research purposes.
• Third country nationals with a « Passeport Talent» or  “Intra-company Transfer (Salarié détaché ICT) long-stay visa (VLS).

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, visas are issued as soon as local health conditions allow it.