negative test needed to enter France from a non-EU country

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  • 1st December 2021 at 3:12 pm #564031

    Attel, the French government spokesman, has just announced that people entering France from a non-EU country will now need to have a negative test within the last 48hrs, even if fully vaccinated. The EU will consider later this week what measures should be taken for travellers within the EU border.

    We were hoping that my husband’s sister could come to stay with us in France over the festive period. We got the “attestation d’accueil” from our Mairie  and my sister-in-law has done all the right things – 3 Covid vaccines, travel insurance, arranged a test for Covid on her return. My husband has not seen his sister for over 2 years. We now doubt whether she will come at this time. This would be a second cancellation as she had hoped to come earlier this year. It’s very depressing.

    1st December 2021 at 5:09 pm #564034

    I don’t wish to sound negative or argumentative and I do understand your frustration Janet, however nobody really knows the best way to protect their ‘citizens’ during what is undoubtedly an unholy and dangerous mess!

    I think we all need to ‘grin and bear it’ for now and accept the uncertainty and ‘flux‘ of rules and regulations as something we will probably have to live with for the foreseeable future.

    1st December 2021 at 5:36 pm #564035

    @Janet – but surely having a test to prove she’s negative is a small price to pay if your sister-in-law really wants to visit you?  I welcome any measure the government may deem necessary to keep its citizens as safe as possible in these very uncertain times.  I haven’t seen my kids for three years but just accept it for what it is.

    1st December 2021 at 8:20 pm #564036

    Thought the idea of having two or even three covid vaccines was going to make it less restrictive to travel.This measure(along with others that have been introduced in other countries) is treating fully vaccinated people exactly the same as non vaccinated people,which can,t be right.Gov,s need to distinguish between the two,which would encourage people to get the jab,then maybe we could all move forward instead of one step forward and two back. :unsure:

    1st December 2021 at 8:33 pm #564037

    We all have to jump through hoops to travel anywhere at the moment.

    I am thankful that we squeaked in a visit to the UK in October…but I have to say the passenger locator form ended with me in tears…I was so fed up with trying to get everything together…finally it was Eurotunnel who helped us.I hadn’t seen my sister for three years…

    The day we arrived….as we drove towards Herefordshire…she rang to tell me she had MRSA ,her surgeon advised us not to go…because of my health problems.

    We stayed in a local hotel…saw my sister three times …never touching….a week after we left …the hotel owners went down with covid.

    Its not safe anywhere.

     

    Nowadays à computer is essential and a printer and lots of patience.

    The rules change all the time…now an extra test to enter France…it just shows how the governments are trying their best to protect their population.

    We have cancelled any visitors for the moment,it’s fine….hopefully it will be better next year .

    Hang in there…if we all do the right things …we’ll get there.

     

    1st December 2021 at 8:51 pm #564038

    This measure(along with others that have been introduced in other countries) is treating fully vaccinated people exactly the same as non vaccinated people,which can,t be right

    The trouble Top Cat, been vaccinated is just reducing the risk of finishing up in hospital or intensive care, but it is not 100% efficient, and we can still spread it, until a new variant break the vaccin protection. Furthermore, testing means discovering positive cases and breaking the chain quicker. If it stays like this and not going into a new lockdown, we can see ourselves lucky. (50000 new cases today)

    1st December 2021 at 9:09 pm #564039

    I believe the French government have done a good job in protecting us….after a slow start with vaccinations they have done a brilliant job.

     

    2nd December 2021 at 9:15 am #564042

    Does make you wonder though how many other variants are going to pop up every few months, why should it just stop at Omnicron? The realisation has to come soon it’s not going anywhere soon, we have to live with it as best as we can, and be protected as much as possible.

    2nd December 2021 at 10:41 am #564044

    Until everyone in the world has been vaccinated, or obtains natural immunity, there will always be variants cropping up, some more serious than others.  Every unprotected person is a petri dish for new variants.  Us living in the rich western world should count ourselves very fortunate to have access to the vaccinations.  I feel it’s a disgrace that there are still so many people living in poorer countries who are unable to access the vaccines.  I have received all three jabs and I’m donating 3 jabs to help someone in a deprived country, hopefully this will do some good.  It’s shameful that private organizations have to step up to do what every government should be doing as it affects every single one of us and will do for a very long time.

    https://vaccineforward.org/fr/faites-un-don/

     

    2nd December 2021 at 11:00 am #564045

    I do understand that being fully vaccinated does not cover you 100%,but the point i was trying to make was that until more people are vaccinated we are just going to go round in circles with this and not move forward.One way of encouraging people to get vaccinated is to apply restrictions to them.The travel test measures are treating everybody the same,which is not going to encourage anyone,if they can move around the same as fully vaccinated people.

    2nd December 2021 at 11:38 am #564047

    No one seems to understand that the reason these things affect so many people around the world is easy quick and cheap air travel.  Remember the whining of everyone when they were told they couldn’t have their planned holidays?  They would have been much happier to be free to go when and where they wanted and take/or return with Covid and then pop down ther local pub to tell everyone what a great time they had.  Selfishness is the new religion.

    2nd December 2021 at 11:50 am #564048

    My sister-in-law has cancelled her journey. She lives in Scotland and has to drive through part of Scotland and then England and take the overnight ferry. She was not sure that she could get the result of the PCR test within the timescale. We agreed with her decision. She now hopes to come next May. The weather will be better then ; we should be able to sit out in the garden and go a run somewhere with the days being longer.

    2nd December 2021 at 3:57 pm #564052

    Does anyone know what test is required for entry to France?I think i read that it starts on Saturday and that it could be PCR or Antigen, but haven,t been able to find any official information,as it is now Thursday afternoon,it would be helpful to know. :unsure:

    2nd December 2021 at 7:03 pm #564060

    Starts early Saturday morning after midnight..

    PCR only …not antigen….and regardless of vaccinations..

     

    2nd December 2021 at 8:53 pm #564066

    Hi Marmite,can you point me in the direction of any official conformation of the test requirement please,i read in a couple of news reports that it was either PCR or Antigen,incredibly,i still can,t find the up to date info on any Government site or travel company site. :unsure:

    2nd December 2021 at 9:24 pm #564068

    I put in “ covid regulations for entry into France “ on my search engine..safari…all information came up.

    Good hunting..

    2nd December 2021 at 9:32 pm #564069

    I’m with you on this Topcat. Cannot find anything , anywhere.

    Who exactly does it apply to?

    French residents coming back from a non EU country?

    Just non French residents/citizens?

    If it does apply from tomorrow, I would have expected to see it on a sailings update from BF and an email from the UK govt in the “Travel to France” updates in the usual way. You are normally given at least a few days notice of such a significant change.

     

    2nd December 2021 at 9:50 pm #564070

    It applies to all entries to France  from non European ..non Schengen…including sadly…Uk.

    vaccinated or not…

    french government page…hopefully Babeth will pop in and provide a link.

     

     

    2nd December 2021 at 10:15 pm #564071

    Couldn’t find a very straight answer to this one (mainly from news paper, which I don’t trust at 100%). I found this on the GOV.UK website :

    Foreign travel advice France:

    Still current at:2 December 2021

    Updated:29 November 2021

    Latest update:

    Change to COVID-19 PCR test time limit to 24 hours and, from 15 January 2022, introduction of need to show receipt of a booster injection to obtain the French ‘pass sanitaire’ (‘Summary’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages)

    If it was me, I would have a PCR test, at least I would be sure I’m ok to travel, but this is me, and I understand that is easier when 100% reimbursed when it’s done in France :unsure:

     

    2nd December 2021 at 11:13 pm #564072

    Here is the official “Décret n° 2021-1555 du 1er décembre 2021 modifiant le décret n° 2021-699 du 1er juin 2021 prescrivant les mesures générales nécessaires à la gestion de la sortie de crise sanitaire” :

    Le IV de l’article 23-6 du décret du 1er juin 2021 susvisé est remplacé par les dispositions suivantes :

    3° Toute personne de douze ans ou plus souhaitant se déplacer à destination du territoire national en provenance d’un pays étranger autre que ceux mentionnés aux 1° et 2° doit être munie du résultat d’un test ou examen de dépistage mentionné au 1° de l’article 2-2 réalisé moins de 48 heures avant le déplacement ;

    ….

    Pour l’application du présent IV, les seuls tests antigéniques pouvant être réalisés sont ceux permettant la détection de la protéine N du SARS-CoV-2.

    (Deepl translation)

    Decree No. 2021-1555 of 1 December 2021 amending Decree No. 2021-699 of 1 June 2021 prescribing the general measures necessary to manage the end of the health crisis

    IV of Article 23-6 of the aforementioned Decree of 1 June 2021 is replaced by the following provisions:

    3° Any person aged twelve or over wishing to travel to the national territory from a foreign country other than those mentioned in 1° and 2° must be in possession of the result of a screening test or examination mentioned in 1° of Article 2-2 carried out less than 48 hours before travelling;

    ….

    For the application of this IV, the only antigenic tests that can be carried out are those allowing the detection of the N protein of SARS-CoV-2.

    If you want to enjoy reading the full décret, here it is : https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000044394836

    I can’t tell you more about “those allowing the detection of the N protein”, as I haven’t got a clue about this kind of science, all I know is PCR are OK, and they are talking about less than 48h but I would stick to 24h ;-)

     

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