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France - UK tourism ban from 18 December 2021

Derek Uzzell

By Derek Uzzell
in Motorhome Matters

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Derek Uzzell Grand Master

Derek Uzzell

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I came across the following statement in an "Independent" article

 

France is to ban all UK tourists from Saturday 18 December, according to reports.

 

Only “essential” trips will be permitted between the two countries under new measures, even for travellers who are fully vaccinated.

 

From midnight on Saturday, it is expected that leisure travel will no longer be permitted - at present, double-jabbed British arrivals are allowed in for any purpose.

 

However, French citizens and EU nationals will still be able to return to France from the UK.

 

For those who are permitted entry, testing requirements are also expected to tighten up, with UK arrivals required to take a Covid test 24 hours before departure instead of the current 48.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/france-travel-ban-uk-restrictions-b1977178.html#

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kevina Community Regular

kevina

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We are on the train at 5.20 for our ski trip. Normally go at the New Year but brought it forwards to Monday, then Friday and only yesterday changed it to today because the dogs health certificate was ready.

Feeling vindicated but not smug because I know how gutted so many other people are feeling right now.

And, we aren't there yet!

 

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derek500 Mentor

derek500

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derek500 - 2021-12-16 12:01 PM

 

We could change our ferry to Stena, Hook of Holland and then drive through France to Spain!

 

From The Independent:-

 

"But according to the ferry firm DFDS, you can enter the country if you plan to leave it within a day. The company says: “Passengers are able to transit through France to other countries without having to quarantine as long as the transit is less than 24 hours."

 

 

So 24 hours from St Malo to Somport!

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rayc Community Regular

rayc

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derek500 - 2021-12-16 12:01 PM

 

We could change our ferry to Stena, Hook of Holland and then drive through France to Spain!

 

From The Independent:-

 

"But according to the ferry firm DFDS, you can enter the country if you plan to leave it within a day. The company says: “Passengers are able to transit through France to other countries without having to quarantine as long as the transit is less than 24 hours."

 

 

So 24 hours from St Malo to Somport!

 

Guess it would be prudent to check this as the BBC say "Travellers in transit for less than 24 hours in French airports' international zones"

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slowdriver Collaborator

slowdriver

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derek500 - 2021-12-16 12:58 PM

 

derek500 - 2021-12-16 12:01 PM

 

We could change our ferry to Stena, Hook of Holland and then drive through France to Spain!

 

From The Independent:-

 

"But according to the ferry firm DFDS, you can enter the country if you plan to leave it within a day. The company says: “Passengers are able to transit through France to other countries without having to quarantine as long as the transit is less than 24 hours."

 

 

So 24 hours from St Malo to Somport!

 

A cunning plan except that DFDS only appear to have ferries to Calais, Dieppe or Dunkirk, so you might have to add a couple of hours. Also I cannot find anything on the DFDS web-site top support the Independent's claim. The do provide a link https://uk.ambafrance.org/Covid-19-Conditions-de-deplacement-entre-la-France-et-le-Royaume-Uni-28925 to this French Government resource, and from there you get to the Annexe where all it says of relevance that I can spot is :

 

"Voyageur en transit de moins de 24 heures en zone internationale dans les aéroports."

 

So not ferries.

 

More diligent sleuths may prove me wrong.

 

 

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Derek Uzzell Grand Master

Derek Uzzell

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There's more detail in this article

 

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/travel-through-france-uk-can-drive-transit-how-affected-restrictions-explained-1355715

 

France has banned non-essential travel from the UK in reponse to the spike in Omicron variant cases.

 

However, while holidays are certainly off-limits, it’s less clear what the restrictions mean for Britons travelling through the country on their way elsewhere.

 

So can you transit through France? Here’s everything we know so far.

 

What do we know about transit through France?

 

The French Government appears to have confirmed that you can transit through France on your way to another country, as long as you spend less than 24 hours in the country.

 

However, the precise circumstances around this are less clear.

 

A French government document says “travellers in transit for less than 24 hours in international zones at airports” are allowed into France (“Voyageur en transit de moins de 24 heures en zone internationale dans les aéroports”).

 

This appears to imply that transit is only permitted for people travelling by plane.

 

However, following the announcement of travel restrictions by the French government, Ferry operator DFDS said: “Passengers are able to transit through France to other countries without having to quarantine as long as the transit is less than 24 hours.

 

“We are continuing to run our ferry services as usual, with up to 55 sailings per day running between Dover, Calais, and Dunkirk.

 

“We expect our services to be busy on Friday as people prepare to get away for Christmas to see family and friends before the restrictions come into effect.”

 

This appears to contradict the Government guidance, and there is no official confirmation that people can travel through France to another destination from the UK.

 

However, the guidance says that you are permitted to travel though France if you are an EU resident travelling to your home address in another EU country.

 

 

 

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colin Grand Master

colin

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rayc - 2021-12-16 3:04 PM

 

derek500 - 2021-12-16 12:01 PM

 

We could change our ferry to Stena, Hook of Holland and then drive through France to Spain!

 

From The Independent:-

 

"But according to the ferry firm DFDS, you can enter the country if you plan to leave it within a day. The company says: “Passengers are able to transit through France to other countries without having to quarantine as long as the transit is less than 24 hours."

 

 

So 24 hours from St Malo to Somport!

 

Guess it would be prudent to check this as the BBC say "Travellers in transit for less than 24 hours in French airports' international zones"

 

The actual text issued by the French says this.

Voyageur en transit de moins de 24 heures

en zone internationale dans les aéroports

So as you say international airports only it seems.

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Geeco Experienced

Geeco

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In AU the West Australian border has been closed to the rest of the country for months. Queensland has just opened earlier this week. France is one thing but can you imagine the uproar if Scotland or Wales closed the gate to England!

Cheers,

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Derek Uzzell Grand Master

Derek Uzzell

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This "Independent" article was (apparently) updated less than an hour ago.

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/france-travel-rules-uk-ban-update-b1977234.html

 

Regarding 'transit' through France, the article says:

 

I planned to drive through France to Belgium/Germany/Switzerland/Italy/Spain. Can I?

 

Not according to the latest version of the French government rules, which have been clarified overnight. They now specify transit is allowed only in the international zone of an airport.

 

Citizens or residents of EU countries whose main place of residence is in another European Union nation can drive through France, but will need to provide proof and meet French testing requirements.

 

Ferry alternatives that do not serve France include: Stena Line from Harwich to Hook of Holland; P&O Ferries from Hull to Rotterdam; DFDS from Newcastle to Amsterdam; Brittany Ferries from Portsmouth to Bilbao or Santander.

 

Can I take a Eurostar train from London to Brussels or Amsterdam, even though it goes through French territory?

 

It is unclear at present: all trains from London to the Belgian and Dutch capitals are currently scheduled to stop in Lille in northern France.

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arthur49 Experienced

arthur49

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Geeco - 2021-12-16 10:50 PM

 

In AU the West Australian border has been closed to the rest of the country for months. Queensland has just opened earlier this week. France is one thing but can you imagine the uproar if Scotland or Wales closed the gate to England!

Cheers,

 

We have friends in Tasmania. They told me today that the border (to mainland) opened on Wednesday and they have 3 cases already after nothing for months.

 

Doesn't sound many does it, but the way its been managed so far has meant a pretty normal life for a long time

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