No Brits in France from Saturday

[QuentininQuarantino]

France has just announced that they’re closing their external border (ie - to us!) from Saturday, and Brits won’t be able to enter France without a “force majeure”

Lots of people had plans to go to France or through France.

Well that's the mail in the coffin of our plans to see DH family then :-(

Oh - have you got a link?

Could you provide a link please? I’ve just googled but only found info from January this year, nothing on the gov.uk website yet either?

There are so many mixed messages coming out about this it’s annoying.

My MIL is due to fly over next week, she is resident in France but so far can’t find any proper information

@MotherOfCrocodiles

Well that's the mail in the coffin of our plans to see DH family then :-(

Visiting family is okay - though you would need to quarantine

Slightly hysterical analysis there OP! And goady thread title.

www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/16/france-tighten-covid-restrictions-travel-omicron-uk

Do you have a source? Nothing on bbc

Only French citizens or British people living in France according to this.

It is on the BBC.

If you are in Belgium and trying to get back on Sunday via Calais - how would they police it? Anyone?

It's on the guardian too.
Family are not in France but we would drive through France.

Do France think Omicron isn't already there then? I'm pretty sure it's freely circulating amongst the French population already.

@heldinadream why goady and hysterical?
BBC reporting that “Only French citizens returning from the UK, or British people living in France, will be allowed to come to France”
Travellers will need a compelling reason to enter the country

You’re right. It’s coming through the live feed. Ffs. Skiing once I recover from covid was the only fun thing I had to look forward to.

[quote Windyone]@heldinadream why goady and hysterical?
BBC reporting that “Only French citizens returning from the UK, or British people living in France, will be allowed to come to France”
Travellers will need a compelling reason to enter the country[/quote]
Because 'No Brits in France from Saturday' is Daily Mail level of headline and inaccurate, surely?

Thank you to those who added clarity to the headlines! I think like many I was getting in a panic and going round in circles missing what was obviously in front of my nose!

@Cantstandsmugness I think that would be ok in that direction -it's entry from outside the European Union that is to be restricted. I guess more detail will come, it's only just been announced.

That's bizarre - I've had news pop ups from more than one mainstream news organisation (including BBC) but cannot find a link to the main story

Versions from pop ups include;

"France to ban all non-essential travel from Britain and omicron wave surges"

"France to toughen rules for travel from UK due to omicron surge"

Detail will probably emerge later today. But it does look as if most trips will have to be postponed

Brits will be able to go if they have family or reside in France.
A pcr test 24 hours before entering is required.
2 days self isolation then a test needed.

It's not just the UK that will face these restrictions but all non EU countries who aren't on any of their colour codes risk countries.

Shame we aren't doing similar especially the 24 hour testing.

Live on news now.

We are doing the testing before coming over, got to be done in 48 hours before

Because 'No Brits in France from Saturday' is Daily Mail level of headline and inaccurate, surely?

Except it's all over the BBC right now

Does anyone know does this only apply to travel from the UK or does it also apply to entry from other non-EU countries?

DD is flying to switzerland from Ireland but is flying back from France.

It's all non-EU, but it's always worth checking for Switzerland (and Norway) because they are EEA (? or in some other relevant agreement) and they can 'count' as EU for some travel purposes

@Sirzy

We are doing the testing before coming over, got to be done in 48 hours before

It’s 24 hours max, prior to travel for everybody traveling UK to France from Sat AM onwards but I suspect for many that’s just become irrelevant..

And as Brit in France here I can regardless of the headlines in the UK the gendarmes haven’t been round yet warning us to leave

…The gist of the French announcement this AM was that entry would only be allowed for French nationals, residents or family of residents - there might be small exceptions for some (presumably essential workers etc).

Post arrival isolation period, chance of release after 2 days of tested negative.