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Original poster

Access to France now during lock down

61 replies

Banya400 · 03/04/2020 06:01

Half of our family are in France and half in UK. We were all supposed to be in France but I stayed with one of the kids as GCSEs were coming up and we were going to join them after they closed the schools but now too late as they closed the borders pretty much. We are not French or permanent residents. Any thoughts or ideas of how or if we could possible join them to finish the lock down in house there (rented, not owned) has anyone travelled since they closed the border to non French, or non EU mainland residents?

If so do you know what if any documents are needed or requested and what is permitted or not permitted.

OP posts:
inflam · 03/04/2020 07:21

Now I have a written reply in French from the French authorities of what paper work is acceptable so will take the lease with me and see if the folks on the border control agree.

You only posted just over an hour ago asking....

do you know what if any documents are needed or requested and what is permitted or not permitted.

And now you have a written reply from the French authorities? Already?

Original poster
Banya400 · 03/04/2020 07:26

Yes this is possible. Contact embassy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Banya400 · 03/04/2020 07:29

Husband forwarded the reply from looks like French Embassy in UK weirdly and it does look possible. He explained the circs and they are within the travel rules. Looks hopeful as I am needed to look after the younger children. Thanks for advice anyway. Not so much thanks for the abusive comments. But at least we are not in India where the doctors are getting beaten up. Not that bad here yet or France thankfully.

Good luck all of you.

OP posts:
notimagain · 03/04/2020 07:33

I think you have answered your own question here. The border is closed

Just to be clear the French Border isn't closed, it is as the OP said "pretty much closed"..

If you have and can demonstrate reason to travel (essential frontier worker, an essential journey as defined by the relevant French decree) you can enter, however if are not a French national I would expect that in addition to your Passport you're probably going to need show you are returning to your domicile, not entering simply on a jolly or on holiday..

Border Police have been asking for Carte de Sejours - they work fine. I have also seen a French Tax return used successfully but I wouldn't like to rely on it.

I have to say most families I know of who have ended split up in the sort of situation you describe are sitting it out, nevertheless if you do go ahead and make the journey you must make sure you have the required derogations completed, even if you get past border police there's a very very good chance you'll get stopped and checked by Gendarmes...

inflam · 03/04/2020 07:38

Just to be clear the French Border isn't closed, it is as the OP said "pretty much closed"..

Just to be clearer, that quote of mine you responded to was a direct response to OP saying

has anyone travelled since they closed the border to non French, or non EU mainland residents?

I didn't just make it up. Whether it's accurate or not makes no difference, it was OP who said 'closed' initially.

notimagain · 03/04/2020 07:43

Errr, OK inflam...

I hope that regardless of who initially made that statement the situation has now been clarified.

bert3400 · 03/04/2020 07:54

@Banya400 we are currently in France on route to our home in Spain , we made it through France with no problems, all the stops we had were friendly and our paperwork was in order . Make sure you have your rental contract and a Astasation (sp) form for each day of travel and for each of you. Paper work for your car as well. Our story is slightly different, as we do not have a property or home in the UK anymore, only a home in Spain, but we were refused entry to Spain, so now we have rented a holiday gite in France . We have been advised to try another border crossing, which we will do on Monday. We don't have Spanish Residencia yet as only had our house since 1St January. Good luck and just be prepared 😁

notimagain · 03/04/2020 08:01

Here you go:

www.gouvernement.fr/sites/default/files/contenu/piece-jointe/2020/03/attestation-deplacement-fr-20200324.pdf

Note (as bert says) it needs completing in ink prior to every departure - that includes your start time.

(FWIW there's talk of an official .gouv phone app version being introduced in the near future - that would certainly save on printer ink and paper)

Nlds · 03/04/2020 08:02

Do you have a carte de sejour or any family member already in France have one?. This proves family members are resident in France and you can join them.

Nlds · 03/04/2020 08:05

There is now a mobile phone version of the attestation de deplacement derogatoire.

Pineappleunder · 03/04/2020 08:13

With some regions of France starting their easter holidays this week it has been announced that controls on major routes are being stepped up.
Bear in mind that these controls are mostly to stop people travelling to their second homes. I'm surprised that you've been told you're allowed but I don't doubt you. I would urge you to think carefully about how you can prove that you are travelling to a primary residence.
It seems highly likely you will be stopped and asked for paperwork several times and you could find yourself very stuck if someone doesn't have the same interpretation of the rules that you do.
Why has it taken you up until now to decide to travel? This suggests it isn't really essential.

Nlds · 03/04/2020 08:43

One thing that I note in the original post is staying for GCSEs as the reason for not moving earlier. Were you go go to France now, what happens if and when schools reopen in the UK? The assessment for GCSEs hasn't been decided yet and how can a school award the GCSEs if your child is no longer in school?

Are you sure your plans to move to France are a one way decision and not because of the Easter holidays?

Therabble · 03/04/2020 08:45

People do get a bit hysterical don't they. Going from lockdown to lockdown is unlikely to spread the virus and joining family seems reasonable.

Therabble · 03/04/2020 08:46

And tbh Easter holidays are meaningless now, aren't they?

inflam · 03/04/2020 08:57

People do get a bit hysterical don't they. Going from lockdown to lockdown is unlikely to spread the virus and joining family seems reasonable.

Well unless OP teleports to France it will involve contact with people, which is the very thing 'lockdown' is designed to prevent.

graywall · 03/04/2020 09:21

On French news last night, it showed police setting up road blocks at the motorway tolls to prevent people travelling for the Easter holidays (in theory starting tonight for the Paris region..)

Hoppinggreen · 03/04/2020 09:29

I think people are mixing up “possible” and “sensible”
Maybe you can get to France and just about stay within the rules but it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea - as I had to explain to my mother when she said that it was ok for sdad to go to the papershop daily as it was part of his exercise the virus won’t look at you and go “well technically you are allowed to do this so Im not going to infect you”
To quote Jeff Goldbloum in Jurassic park
“You spent so much time working out how you could you didn’t stop to consider if you should”
Stay put OP

TheVanguardSix · 03/04/2020 09:32

The vitriol!
As if any of you would be fine with not being able to be there for your other kids for the duration of a 'how long's a piece of string' style lockdown. She's a mother who just wants to get back to her family and this can be done safely and sensibly.
I hope you can get back to them, OP. It's pretty much up to what the border patrol decides once they see your documents.

Wannabangbang · 03/04/2020 09:46

Stay at home! We are on lockdown.

This sort of behaviour will be the reason for a severe lockdown!

Fortyfifty · 03/04/2020 09:48

Does your DH have to live in France for work or can he work from anywhere? If you need to be reunited with your younger children, why don't they come back to the UK? Why is it so important to be in France right now?

maddy68 · 03/04/2020 09:55

You will not get into France unless you are a resident what part of lockdown have you missed?

Therabble · 03/04/2020 09:56

@inflam Well, you can drive from the U.K. to France within a day quite easily depending where you live, and so there would be minimal contact with anyone except border controls, who will be wearing gloves and masks. I'm sure the OP would be careful to wash/antibac hands at any loo stop. If both sets of the family have been in lockdown for 2 weeks and no one is showing any symptoms then it is unlikely they have the virus and therefore are not spreading it.

Really, this isn't the kind of person who is the problem. The OP is being thoughtful. The problem are people who are going to their local shops constantly with a cough, people who are still meeting up with their mates and multiple family members in different places etc.

maddy68 · 03/04/2020 09:57

My daughter is a Spanish resident. I can't get to her, although she could be repatriated here as she's a British citizen still.

Therabble · 03/04/2020 09:58

Also @Fortyfifty what is the difference in terms of infection control between OP going to France and the children coming back to the U.K.? If anything, you should be pleased it's two fewer people to seek help from the NHS! The OP has clearly considered which is the more sensible option.

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