Testing to travel to France

[zippyswife]

We got away last summer. Got into France the day they announced quarantine. It was pretty stressful on the lead up to the holiday but was entirely worth it for the slice of normality and the quarantine the other side was just a small price to pay. We're trying to do it again.

I'm just trying to price up the testing for this summer.

Have I got this right...? Adults in our scenario are fully vaccinated.

Over 11s test 2 days prior to departure for France.
Over 10s test prior to departure for England.
Over 4s test on day 2 on return.

Am I missing anything? Travel is after 19th July

@TwoBlueFish and if the adults are unvaccinated, does it make a difference to whether the children are allowed in?

Also, I've read on some sites that the consulate may be able to help with 'exceptional' reasons for travel to France, but your quote sounds like they just referred you back to the official list of reasons... darn

If the adults are unvaccinated then I presume all children will also need to follow the unvaccinated rules.

There’s a list on the French government website that lists the exceptional circumstances for unvaccinated people.

You can’t use the NHS lateral flow tests, it has to be booked with a private provider on the government list and be counted as fit to travel.

Aaargh, we’re due to go on Friday. DS2 (16) sent home from school due to close contact last day of isolation is Friday! French statement of honour you have to sign to say no contact with anyone with covid for 14 days, if we go Friday then that will be 10 days.

We’re going to have to cancel aren’t we 😭. Haven’t seen my dad for 3 years (he lives in France)

We arrived in France this morning by ferry. Our COVID tests and proof of vaccination were checked but 5hey didn't even ask for our "declaration sur l'honneur".

With tonight’s announcement we’ve got to cancel anyway as I can’t work from home 😭😭

After Sunday a test is not needed to enter France if fully vaccinated.

The new quarantine rule in UK is really disappointing.

When we booked to come we were expecting to quarantine on return, then we heard it would be cancelled and now it's back on again. 🤯
Maybe by the time we are due back it will be cancelled again 🤷‍♀️

@Happy36 I read that, we're due to go next week, not sure if we need to get a PCR now, DP seems to think UK won't let us leave UK without one!

I wonder if the airlines etc will insist on a negative test, to allow you onto their plane/train/ferry, regardless of what the French border police want?

If over 18 and double vaccinated + 15 days, I don't believe France needs a négative test to enter (since yesterday), however Eurostar/airlines/ferries may require one.

Hi can anyone tell me if you are fully vaccinated will you still need a negative test to fly to France now? I'm really confused. We are a group of two fully vaccinated adults and one 6yo and one 3yo child.
I know about the ten days quarantine on return to the UK and also that we need negative test 2 days before leaving France, but im very confused about which tests we need to leave the UK and enter France.

We are flying 22nd August.
Thanks for any info anyone has.

@Twobirdsinatree l think the rules for France may change on Wednesday/Thursday when the next travel announcement is made. You may as well wait until then. I am hoping France will go from amber plus to amber and there will be no need for vaccinated adults to isolate upon return to the UK.

@Anna713 that would be great wouldnt it... but in the papers its saying they are introducing a new category of Amber plus watch list and countries in it could change back to Amber plus at any time.. I dont know if thats true. Would be a nightmare if it changed category suddenly whilst we were in France...
I'm definitely going whatever happens because I havent seen my parents in two years and they haven't seen their grandkids for two years...

Do you know if you need to book tests to get into France now if you've been fully vaccinated?

Double vaccinated do not need a test to get into France - you just need to show proof of vaccination. I traveled last week and used the Tous Anti Covid French App.

How did that work? Do you have enough information from the NHS app to complete/use the French app?

I was vaccinated in France so had already uploaded my info. My daughter was vaccinated in the UK so she just downloaded the French app and used her NHS app info to upload her vaccinated status. Was very straightforward.

I have heard of some people having issues with the actual validity of their NHS app data in the French app to use as the Pass Sanitaire in France (ie. if they actually scan it at venues) but they don't scan it at the border, just look at the dates and data.

I’d heard the same thing graywall. Although some venues seem to be allowing discretion & will allow entry if you show them the nhs app.

I live in France. You can convert an NHS vaccination certificate into a pass sanitaire at some pharmacies for around 20-30€. You need pass sanitaire to get into bars, cafés, restaurants, cinémas, museums, big shopping centres, on long distance trains, etc.

So they let you on flights without testing? If you are vaccinated?
I'm so paranoid about getting to the airport and not being allowed to board.
I have the NHS app and covid passport code thing... I will download the French app too and see if I can transfer the details.

Do you need to book your tests to re enter the uk before you leave for France? And will a 6 yo have to have a test to re enter too?

I need to know all this too. Just watching.

Do you need to book your tests to re enter the uk before you leave for France?

I hope not…for example lots of folks travel to France with no fixed date of return to the UK so they couldn’t do that..

“And will a 6 yo have to have a test to re enter too?”

The HMG info has (obviously)changed in the last few hours…

…….for travel France to UK:

“ France update from Sunday 8 August
If you arrive in England from 4am Sunday 8 August, and you are fully vaccinated in the UK, USA or Europe, you will not need to:

quarantine on arrival in England
take a day 8 Covid-19 test
You must still book and take a day 2 Covid-19 test.”

www.gov.uk/guidance/red-amber-and-green-list-rules-for-entering-england#amber-list-rules

FWIW with regard to UK>France there’s a handy flow diagram here…

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-to-France-and-the-UK

As far as the requirement for testing for flights themselves go I’d keep an eye on the individual airline(s) websites.

Quarantaine to be lifted, at last.