Despite the COVID-19 entry restrictions being scrapped in several European Union/European Economic Area countries, France still continues to require travellers to meet specific rules.
France currently categorises all world countries into two categories – green or orange – based on their infection rates.
Thus, this means that not all travellers are required to meet the same rules when reaching France, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
The French Ministry of Interior explains that the green list currently includes all EU/EEA countries. In addition, part of the green list is also the majority of third countries, including those located in the continent of America and Africa.
Travellers from green-listed countries are permitted restriction-free entry for all kinds of purposes, provided that they hold one of the required documents.
“No restriction shall apply when entering metropolitan France from a green list country or territory. No compelling reason is required for travellers to France,” the statement of the Ministry reads.
Travellers reaching France from a green country are required to present a vaccination or recovery certificate. Those who do not hold any of these two documents can enter France restriction-free by presenting a PCR test taken within 72 hours before entry or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours before entry.
These rules apply only to persons over the age of 12. Children under 12 are exempt from all the entry rules, meaning that they do not need to hold a certificate in order to be permitted entry.
On the other hand, the Ministry explains that slightly stricter rules apply to travellers from orange-listed countries.
Fully vaccinated travellers reaching France from a country that is placed on the orange list need to present proof of vaccination as well as a sworn statement attesting to the absence of symptoms and contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Those who are not vaccinated against the virus are required to undergo testing before arrival in France as well as hold the same sworn statement.
Travellers who have already received a booster shot are also permitted restriction-free entry to France regardless of their country of origin.
The French authorities recognise a vaccination pass as long as it proves that the holder completed primary vaccination in the last nine months or received a booster shot. In contrast, a recovery pass is only recognised if it indicates that the holder recovered from the virus in the last six months.
Differently from France, several EU/EEA countries – Czechia, Denmark, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden – have already abolished all of their entry rules. Travellers can enter these countries restriction-free regardless of their vaccination status.
>> Travelling to Europe in April: Current Entry Rules & Other Restrictions Explained
Discussion about this post