France has announced the decision to significantly restrict travel from and to the UK due to soaring Omicron cases in the UK.
The restrictions are applicable to all — regardless of vaccination status — and are effective from this Saturday (00:00, 18th December).
From Saturday, arrivals into France from the UK will be required to provide evidence of a Covid-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken no more than 24 hours before departure to France (tightened from the previous requirement for vaccinated arrivals of 48 hours before departure), echoing the measures that were already in place for unvaccinated arrivals.
Following arrival in France, every unvaccinated and vaccinated traveller will have to undertake mandatory self-isolation in the location of your choice. However, this quarantine period can be ended after 48 hours if you take a further PCR or antigen test at your own expense once in France and receive a negative test result.
A ‘compelling reason’ will be required for entry, with entry limited to French nationals and residents, and their families. These compelling reasons do not include professional and tourist trips.
The requirement to have a compelling reason will not apply to French citizens, their partners and children, who will still be able to come to France. However, they are still required to follow all testing and self-isolation requirements as above.
The French government also advises travellers who were planning to go to the United Kingdom to postpone their trip, and you also need a compelling reason to travel to the UK from France.
At CTN we present guidance for the testing and entry requirements — for France and most popular destinations — as you work through our comparison tool:
Written by Abbie Pullman
Published on 16/12/2021
Abbie is General Manager at Covid Testing Network, overseeing the day-to-day operational running of the business.
The information within this article is accurate at the time of publishing.
Information about testing requirements, entry requirements to the UK and travelling abroad during Covid-19 is CTN’s understanding of the requirements from multiple sources including the UK Government website at the time of publishing - always check full requirements including mandatory documentation and quarantine rules before you travel!
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