Friend's funeral in France - quarantine rules?

[polyjuicepotion]

A dear friend of mine lost her battle with cancer in France.

I as understand it, anyone entering France from UK has to quarantine for 7 days. Which means I would not be able to attend the funeral ceremony.
Is anyone aware of any special circumstances that would override this rule?

The only exceptions to quarantine rules are based on occupation and for work travel only.

There are no compassionate grounds.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules

Sorry to hear your bad news...

The C&P below is lifted from a French government website -

"This update will include the following information, valid from 31 May 2021 for travellers from the UK:

Entry into France from the UK will only be possible if you have a pressing reason to travel. You will need to show a negative RT-PCR or antigen test result, carried out less than 48 hours before departure, and you will be required to self-isolate for seven days on arrival."

www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/coming-to-france/coronavirus-advice-for-foreign-nationals-in-france/

Another site here, but no definition of a "pressing need":

uk.ambafrance.org/COVID-19-rules-for-travel-to-France-and-the-UK#t1-Travelling-from-the-UK-to-France

[quote UnmentionedElephantDildo]The only exceptions to quarantine rules are based on occupation and for work travel only.

There are no compassionate grounds.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules[/quote]
Those are the rules for inbound travel to the UK...

I know.

I made a mistake.

I think that was pretty clear to anyone who didn't make the same mistake and I don't need telling off.

Sorry for your loss, polyjuicepotion

@polyjuicepotion I’m sorry for your loss.is the rule for uk people or arrivals from the uk in? You could fly to northern Spain or Luxembourg and take the train.

Is isn’t much comfort but there have been smaller groups of mourners at funerals this year, I’ve missed two and in our case we are planning a sort of honorary pilgrimage to that persons special places when this is over. It’s so hard though.

Funerals are usually exempt from quarantine. They certainly are in most EC countries.

@polyjuicepotion

There's a bit more plain language info here from a expat website, it's fast changing, they are giving their non official take on it all and I don't think many of us have completely got to grips with the new rules yet:

www.thelocal.fr/20210526/breaking-france-to-introduce-compulsory-quarantine-for-arrivals-from-the-uk/

@UnmentionedElephantDildo

Hi, sorry if that appeared as a telling off, it wasn't meant to be..Given the circumstances (rules into France changing again any day now) I thought is was important that no more confusion crept in.

@Kinlocrhum

Funerals are usually exempt from quarantine. They certainly are in most EC countries.

AFAIK previous exemptions for travel into France only gave exemptions for the funeral of close family members..

Thanks all for useful links and advice.
I got this " People can now travel from the EU to attend a funeral in France. However, people travelling from the UK are currently more restricted as they are asked by the French government to go into voluntary quarantine."
from www.connexionfrance.com/Practical/Your-Questions/Coronavirus-what-is-the-current-situation-regarding-funerals-in-France.

What exactly does that mean, voluntary quarantine? am I allowed to be present at the funeral or not? Really quite confusing.

@Kinlocrhum thanks - could you point me to where you found this information please?

It's usually somewhere on the gov.uk website. Ill have a think and post later too.

@polyjuiceportion

Treat that connexions article you provided the link with a lot of caution - it's dated July last year ..

Quarantine for incoming Brits has gone from being "voluntary, I promise to do it," to more of a decree from the French Government of "you must do it but ATM we will not check.."

What is written on UK.Gov websites carry no clout with French Border police/Gendarmes (why should it?) and given the rapid state of change of French rules they may well be out of date, you really are better off with this:

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

As i understand it the gouvernement has not yet defined the current list of “compelling reasons” for travel. However, going by past lists of motifs impériaux they tend to be family, health and professional only: attending a friends funeral would not be included.

Funerals are currently limited to 50 max.

And yes, isolation means isolating at your nominated address for 7 days before going out.

Could the French embassy in London or perhaps the Institut Francais be of help to you OP? Sorry to read of your loss.

@workwoes123

As i understand it the gouvernement has not yet defined the current list of “compelling reasons” for travel. However, going by past lists of motifs impériaux they tend to be family, health and professional only: attending a friends funeral would not be included.

FWIW that's exactly how I (and others) also understand it...No list published as yet but if it defaults to the list that applied under previous restrictions then the OP would not be eligible to enter France.

I do have some sympathy with the OP, one of our local expat families suffered a bereavement during during confinement number one and pretty much nobody from the UK was able to attend the funeral.

Not sure if the OP is still lurking/monitoring but just in case they are - the French Government advice has been updated with the new rules coming into effect this morning.

It appears attending a funeral is not on the list of compelling reasons that would allow a non French resident British citizen to enter France.

www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel

Reasons that are allowed are on the "travel certificate".

Sorry..

Thank you all. I also checked various sources and indeed, it doesn't look like I'll be able to go.
What a sad situation. This was my close friend of over 20 years.

:`(