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, on a differentiated and progressive basis.

Are authorised to enter France, travellers coming from the following countries : New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada and Australia. 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, since May 25, 2020 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, 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 ban on entry for Guadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, except for family emergency or work reasons as provided by regulatory action, has been lifted.

In French Guiana and Mayotte, entry into the territory will remain for emergency family or work reasons, given that the virus is still actively circulating in these territories.

Travelling to these territories will therefore also require a specific certificate: the “Attestation de déplacement dérogatoire en provenance ou destination de la Guyane, de Mayotte, de Nouvelle-Calédonie, de la Polynésie française et des îles Wallis et Futuna”, 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: New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada and Australia.

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 from these countries will be required to have the proof of a negative test for the Covid-19 in order to enter the French territory. This list will be updated as the sanitary situation evolves.

• Test before leaving for France

Travellers from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Panama and Bahrain will have to prove that they did a test with a negative result in the 72 hours before the departure for France.

Otherwise, airlines will deny boarding.

Thus, before doing the test, please check when the results will be available.

These passengers do not undergo any further health checks upon arrival.

• Test upon arrival

Travellers from lgeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Chili, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, India, Israel, Kirghizstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, the Maldives, Mexico, Moldavia, Montenegro, Oman, the Palestinian Territories, Peru, Qatar, Serbia, South Africa or Turkey will also have to present a negative PCR test to enter France.

It is recommended to do the test in the country of origin 72 hours before leaving for France.

However, in view of the difficulties of carrying out this test before departure, it will be possible to do it at a specific health reception desk set up prior to border controls in France. Indeed, failure to present such a document upon arrival in France will automatically imply being directed towards a medical check point where the test will be carried out.

If the traveller refuses to take the test at the airport, he or she will be subject to a prefectoral quarantine order.

I am travelling to France from a country where the virus is still circulating

Travellers coming from other Non-European countries and where the virus still circulates actively, but have a derogation and can enter the French territory for example, will have to present the result of a test for the Covid-19 done in the 72 hours before the departure.

If the result is negative, they will be able to move freely within the territory. If they did not do it, it is recommended to do a voluntary quarantine and to respect the precautionary measures that will be explained on the flyer given at their arrival. If they want to, they can also do a test at their arrival in the airport.

Travellers from the European area are not subject to any quarantine measures upon entering Metropolitan France, except for travellers from United Kingdom, on a reciprocal basis. For more information on this point, do not hesitate to visit the page dedicated to the conditions of quarantine and travel between France and the United Kingdom on the website of the Consulate General of France in London.

For travellers coming from third countries where the circulation of the virus is low, and thus subject to the lifting of restrictions, no quarantine has to be carried out.

Besides these countries, travellers arriving from outside the European area will, upon arrival, be given information on the conditions for a voluntary 14-day quarantine in the residence of their choice, or where appropriate, in an appropriate accommodation structure.

For the French overseas territories, the health checks upon entry are adapted for each territory.

Travellers to Guadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon are required to carry out an adapted 14-day quarantine, including an RT-PCR test on the 7th day if they returned a negative PT-PCR test in the 48-72 hours after their flight. Travellers who did not undergo a RT-PCR test upon departure will be subject to strict 14-day quarantine measures. The French Parliament will soon consider whether to make RT-PCR tests compulsory.

Travellers arriving from French Guiana and Mayotte will remain subject to strict 14-day quarantine measures.

Certain categories of persons will be exempt from the voluntary 14-day quarantine mechanism, unless they show symptoms:

• Individuals in transit to another country;
• Crews and personnel operating passenger and cargo flights, or travelling as passengers to reach their departure base;
• Individuals carrying out international goods transport;
• Drivers and crews of buses and trains;
• Crew and individuals operating trade and fishing vessels;
• Foreign health professionals helping to fight COVID-19;
• Personnel of diplomatic and consular missions, as well as international organizations headquartered or having an office in France, and their partners and children;
• Foreign and French internal security and defence staff returning from missions, or on missions, judicial authorities when carrying out their duties as well as other civil servants posted abroad or returning from a mission, as well as their partners and children;
• Cross-border workers;
• Individuals with an essential family reason (travel for custodial or visiting rights for a child as well as the school attendance a child, emergency help for a family member, funeral of a close family member);
• Individuals permitted to enter France for economic reasons if their stay is less than 5 days. The 14-day quarantine conditions applicable to seasonal and posted workers will be set out at a future date.

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

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 : New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada and Australia.

This list is going to be 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

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.

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 : New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada and Australia. This list will be updated every two weeks minimum, depending on the evolution of the sanitary situation.

In the case of overseas territories, the ban on entry for Guadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, except for family emergency or work reasons as provided by regulatory action, has been lifted.
In French Guiana and Mayotte, entry into the territory will remain for emergency family or work reasons, given that the virus is still actively circulating in these territories.

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.

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

Are authorised to enter in France, travellers coming from the following countries : New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Georgia, Tunisia, Uruguay, Canada and Australia. 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 before March 17 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» long-term visa (VLS).

In the case of overseas territories, the ban on entry for Guadeloupe, Martinique, La Réunion, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, except for family emergency or work reasons as provided by regulatory action, has been lifted.
In French Guiana and Mayotte, entry into the territory will remain for emergency family or work reasons, given that the virus is still actively circulating in these territories.

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.