French Travel Update – Covid 19 – Buying Property in France
Travel has been gradually easing to France for a little while now, with double vaccinated people from amber countries such as the UK able to visit without quarantine or a compelling reason to travel. You will however still need to present a negative PCR test or a rapid antigen no older than 72 hours.
You will need to supply the sworn statement – https://www.eurotunnel.com/Eurotunnel/files/3f/3f474b02-0e9f-4992-a3d8-4d4944cdcef3.pdf
In England a vaccination certificate is available from the NHS app or website. Different arrangements apply for NI, Wales and Scotland.
If you are not vaccinated you will still need a compelling reason to travel to France, and these can be found further below.
When returning from France you are still required by UK authorities to quarantine for 10 days. But the government has indicated that this will be dropped for double vaccinated individuals, hopefully around the 19 July when other Covid restrictions come to an end (TBC).
European visitors and those from countries classified as green, no longer need to undergo testing if they are vaccinated. If not vaccinated, then you will need a negative PCA or rapid antigen Covid test no more than 72 hours before travelling. No quarantine rules apply. You will need to supply the sworn statement. Some green list countries currently include the USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand and Singapore.
For more information on travel to France please check the government website here:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france
With huge pent-up demand for property visits from overseas buyers having built up over many months, the sooner you can get over to France the better. Combine that with properties selling quickly domestically in France, and a short- and medium-term supply shortage, much better to get to France to buy your French property before the international travel gates really do flood open even wider.
Compelling reasons to be able to enter France from the UK:
Updated 04 Feb 2021
Citizens of France, as well as their spouses (married, civil union or cohabiting partners upon presentation of proof of cohabitation) and children who are residents in France; French citizens who are not residents in France must also provide an essential reason, which can include urgent health, family or work reasons.
Citizens of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, San Marino, and the Vatican, as well as their spouses (married, civil union or cohabiting partners upon presentation of proof of cohabitation) and children who are residents in the EU; EU citizens who are not residents in an EU country must also provide an essential reason, which can include urgent health, family or work reasons.
UK citizens and their family members who are beneficiaries of the Agreement on withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community;
Citizens of other countries who are holders of a valid French or European residence permit or long-stay visa, who have their main residence in France or who are returning, in transit through France, to their main residence in a European Union country or equivalent;
Citizens of other countries in transit in the international zone for less than 24 hours;
Holders of an official passport (diplomatic, etc.);
Foreign citizens (including British) working in a diplomatic or consular mission, or an international organisation with headquarters or an office in France, as well as their spouses and children;
UK civil servants carrying out their duties, border police and customs officers;
Foreign health professional contributing to the fight against Covid-19 or recruited as an associate trainee;
Transport sector workers or transport service providers, including drivers of vehicles carrying goods intended for use in the territory, as well as those who are only in transit, or travelling as passengers returning to their home base or for training purposes;
Driver or crew member of a coach or passenger train;
Channel Tunnel staff (particularly for operation, maintenance and safety missions) or cross-Channel facilities staff;
Crew member or operator of a merchant ship, including cruise ships or fishing vessels;
Students with a long-stay visa (LSV), a short-stay visa (SSV) for studies or work placements (excluding SSVs for entrance examinations), or visiting for less than 90 days from a country exempt from SSV, or minors in school who can prove that they have proper accommodation in France;
Lecturers or researchers employed or invited by a French educational institution or research laboratory who travel for purposes of study and teaching;
Citizens of other countries with a “Talent Passport” LSV or a “ICT seconded employee” LSV, as well as their spouse and children;
Foreign citizens (including British) travelling to France for treatment in a public or private hospital;
Foreign citizens (including British) travelling to France in other to exercise custody rights recognised by a court decision;
Citizens of other countries who are international humanitarian workers or volunteers;
Workers at borders and on secondment;
Third-country nationals holding a long-stay visa issued for family reunification or family reunification of refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless persons.
