French Travel Info!

[FrenchCovidInfo]

My mum thinks that I'm reading the new rules wrongly, so I immediately came here to be put right if necessary.

We're trying to plan a short trip to France with two children in September. I think that under new rules:

1. Double vacc'ed adults fine to get into France WITHOUT taking test, if we have vaccination proof. Kids fine.

1. We need to book Day 2 tests ONLY (£20 ish each) before we leave UK

1. Get a PCR test at airport/similar in France before departure (anyone know how much this is?)

Thanks MN

...sorry, all obv assuming we're all symptom-free and no pinging/contact with covid etc.

That is just about correct you need a PCR/antigenic test 72 hours before flying. These can be done in a pharmacy or in a laboratory but are best to be booked.
Antigenic test in my local pharmacy is €25.
No test needed before flying if you have the two injections.

Brill thanks user

How old are the children?

You don't have to to book your day 2 tests before you leave the UK, you can do it from France.

You will need the code confirming that you have paid for the 2 day tests in order to complete your passenger locator form before you return to the UK.

From today you need to show proof of vaccination in order to access cafes, bars and restaurants as well as tourist attractions. I understand that you can transfer your NHS proof to the French app (touscovid) but there have been a few teething problems with this so it is advisable to have a paper print out of your proof.

The pharmacies are getting very busy with so many travellers needing the tests. You usually need to make an appointment in advance. You can do this via doctolib.fr or sante.fr. Antigen tests are fine.

That should read no test needed for flying to France if you have had both doses.

I understand that children (travelling with vaccinated adults) 12 and over have to present a fit to fly antigen test 24 hours before departure to France.

Query re return to fly test, 72 hours before coming back to the UK - assuming this can be the self-adminstered tests that are valid for other Amber returning countries e.g. Chronomics?

Children over 12 I believe need to have a negative test within 24 hours of travel out to France.
Anyone over the age 10 (again, I believe - my son is 13 and requires one my niece is 5 and doesn't) requires a test in France within 72 hours of travel back to uk.
All travellers over the age if 4 will need a day 2 pcr booked before travel back to UK.

Vaccinated adults will need a vaccine pass. You can get this from the nhs app and request the travel covid pass. I then uploaded this to the 'tousanticovid' app. But you can also request the covid pass in letter form. I believe the NHS app is also accepted in France so your covid pass could be used on there. But the french app is fairly easy to use once you've uploaded your qr code.

For the return, someone mentioned booking in for the 72-hour pre-return tests but I've purchased antigen tests (self administered that you then upload for a certificate) that we will take with us - I'm assuming this is OK? I.e. no need for an onsite test in France for the return journey test??

Is there a leading firm to use for the day two test on return to UK?

As far as I'm aware, what you suggest is correct. Non-vaccinated over 12s also need a "certificate of honour" so if you have a child aged 12 or over you'll need one of those too.

@lightattheendofthetunnel2021

Yes, the paid-for self-administered ones are fine, but the ones given out free (I think) by the NHS are not accepted.

It's almost like they just want people to fork out money

What do you do if you are visiting France from UK for less than 72 hours? Do you take a test 48-24 hours before returning to UK? How long is processing time at pharmacies and labs roughly?

Appreciate all the info, thanks - just what I needed!

@Obakarama

What do you do if you are visiting France from UK for less than 72 hours? Do you take a test 48-24 hours before returning to UK? How long is processing time at pharmacies and labs roughly?

At the pharmacies you usually get the result within about half an hour.

If you are here for a short time it would be worth making an appointment in advance as they are starting to get busy.

I am currently in France with dh and dc. Dh and I were fine as double vaccinated. Dd1 and dd2 needed a rapid antigen test 24 hours before. Under 12s don't need this. You will need NHS vaccination certificate and download pass Sanitaire app on your phone for cafes and restaurants etc. Coming back to UK you need rapid antigen test 72 hours prior to departure and day 2 PCR tests for all. I am glad I did it. Worth the hassle. France is wonderful!

Thanks for confirming re self-administered antigen on return journey being OK. Understand that those under 16 will from September have to either show vaccine status or a negative antigen test on entry to public places (same as is the case for adults currently).

Just to say your return to the U.K. day 2 PCR test will be more that £20. Cheapest I’m finding at the moment is £50.

These are the cheapest I’ve seen for day 2 tests (I think by the time you’ve added p&p they’re about £36.

If you don’t want to go to a French pharmacy you can order a pre-return test kit from this company www.chronomics.com/test-to-return and take it with you to do it yourself.

This combo is the cheapest I’ve found currently!

www.expert-medicals.co.uk/products/green-list-day-2-testing-package - day 2 test that should have been linked!

@Calgoose

www.expert-medicals.co.uk/products/green-list-day-2-testing-package - day 2 test that should have been linked!

Have you seen their reviews on trust pilot. 671 reviews with 86% ranked as bad.

It doesn’t matter if they are bad. You just need the code.

I did initially think that and was just trying to find the cheapest without a care about service or reputation, but if you do actually have to log the test result, which I would expect otherwise what's the point then if doesn't arrive you have to pay for another one. Now thinking I don't want to buy cheap and risk buying twice.

@Delatron

It doesn’t matter if they are bad. You just need the code.

Exactly this!

What if Track and Trace make contact though?