France - Entry Requirements
#211
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
Emphasis mine but I think you mean EU nationals here? or British nationals who are close family members of a French or EU national, or British nationals who are French residents?
Outside of those cases, British nationals are not allowed to fly into France unless they meet the transit or "a few others" exceptions that you mention (and are notably not allowed to fly to France for tourism or non-urgent business reasons).
Outside of those cases, British nationals are not allowed to fly into France unless they meet the transit or "a few others" exceptions that you mention (and are notably not allowed to fly to France for tourism or non-urgent business reasons).
Different sources might be contradicting, but I was referring to the official text posted by BP908 in French and dated 16 December (posted 17th):
https://www.gouvernement.fr/sites/de...16.12.2021.pdf
The same text now appears in English:
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/co...united-kingdom
Of course, this applies to vaccinated people.
It could be that I misunderstand the paragraph on British nationals. It could be that France Diplomacy and the Interior ministry have different interpretations.
Last edited by brunos; Dec 18, 2021 at 5:47 pm
#212
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
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I think you are missing the bit that says: "enjoying the provisions of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community." This is specifically referring to those British nationals who settled in France before the Brexit date and are benefitting from the right to remain in the country as part of the withdrawal agreement, and not to British nationals in general (in other words, it is another variation on residence).
#213
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,364
I think you are missing the bit that says: "enjoying the provisions of the Agreement on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community." This is specifically referring to those British nationals who settled in France before the Brexit date and are benefitting from the right to remain in the country as part of the withdrawal agreement, and not to British nationals in general (in other words, it is another variation on residence).
#214
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,556
Indeed. The British nationals concerned are either resident in the EU or frontier workers otherwise they would not qualify under the Withdrawal Agreement. The drafting is somewhat weird, to be honest in that it includes Brits covered by the Withdrawal Agreement who reside in another EU Member State without the same restrictions/caveats as other EU nationals or residents but we are still talking about a very small minority of British nationals.
#215
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
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You are correct in principal but wrong in actuality - Schengen or not everyone goes to border control and everyone has to show their vaccination pass. France has been checking all arrivals by air for months - indeed years.
#216
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CDG
Programs: SK Gold, AF Gold, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,724
#217
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
The French rules use an at times confusing 3 layer model,. It can be too easy to read one block and thing they are "OR" rather than "AND".From Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr):
So Schengen covers some but not all requirements.
... three different regulations which all apply
- The mobility rules;
- The health control measures.
- The usual rules govern the right to stay
Last edited by EsherFlyer; Dec 19, 2021 at 10:27 am
#218
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
For those looking to streamline their journey departing France to UK, I was asked for my "Compelling Reason" departure form today. I had it ready as I'd heard that others without it were being asked to fill one in before proceeding.
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
Last edited by EsherFlyer; Dec 19, 2021 at 10:54 am
#219
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
The intro blurb on the new "Compelling Reasons" form for UK says is applies where transit in another country has been under 14 days.
#220
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,754
For those looking to streamline their journey departing France to UK, I was asked for my "Compelling Reason" departure form today. I had it ready as I'd heard that others without it were being asked to fill one in before proceeding.
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
The French love a form or two....
#221
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: LON (mostly)
Programs: FlyingBlue Platinum Elite / BAEC Silver
Posts: 1,953
#222
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Somewhere between 0 and 13,000 metres high
Programs: AF/KL Life Plat, BA GGL+GfL, ALL Plat, Hilton Diam, Marriott Gold, blablablah, etc
Posts: 30,526
For those looking to streamline their journey departing France to UK, I was asked for my "Compelling Reason" departure form today. I had it ready as I'd heard that others without it were being asked to fill one in before proceeding.
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
It's on Certificate of international travel / L'actu du Ministère / Actualités - Ministère de l'Intérieur (interieur.gouv.fr) just below the coloured map in the UK tab (5th one) under "You wish to leave Metropolitan France" . For most FTers it'll be "Foreign resident returning home", which if you happen to be given the French version to fill in means ticking the first two boxes - "I have a reason" "+ "Foreign resident"
#223
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
It applies to travellers arriving by a direct flight or after a transit of less than 14 days in another country.
EDIT: Looking back via Google at previous attestations for Orange, Red, etc in May the 14-day limit is in there as well, so not a UK special. I can't trace that back to any FR COVID legislation, but it could come from some historic act that is incorporated into current law - for example 1918 flu management.
Last edited by EsherFlyer; Dec 19, 2021 at 3:41 pm
#224
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW London
Programs: BAEC Silver; Hilton Diamond;a miscellany of other hotel non-statuses
Posts: 3,607
I think this is a bit too tangential to go in this thread, but might be relevant to some readers: France-UK travel: potential warning for "settled" EU citizens.
Last edited by EsherFlyer; Dec 19, 2021 at 4:36 pm
#225
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 235
Sorry if this has been asked already.
I am transitting in CDG overnight on the 29th (less than 24 hours).
What is an international airport zone? Can I stay in an airport hotel or not?
I am transitting in CDG overnight on the 29th (less than 24 hours).
What is an international airport zone? Can I stay in an airport hotel or not?