In response to the health crisis linked to the Coronavirus, the French government has introduced border controls (land, air and sea) for travellers and carriers entering France.
These restrictions depend on the origin of the travellers or carriers.
Countries have been classified according to health indicators. Three colour-coded lists have been drawn up (“green”, “orange” and “red”). These determine the entry conditions for travellers and carriers visiting France.
This classification is subject to change as the health situation in each country evolves.
Special entry formalities have also been introduced for travellers who have been vaccinated. To qualify, travellers must be vaccinated with one of the vaccines recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.
Proof of vaccination will only be valid if the traveller has proof of a complete vaccination schedule, i.e.:
- 14 days after the second injection for double-injection vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca).
- 28 days after the injection for single-dose vaccines.
- 14 days after the only injection required for people with a history of Covid-19.
Restrictions for green zone countries
Countries classified in the green zone have a low level of virus circulation and no worrying variants.
Travellers and carriers coming from one of the following countries are therefore exempt from certain obligations:
- One of the Member States of the European Union ;
- Albania ;
- Andorra ;
- Saudi Arabia;
- Australia ; Bosnia
- Bosnia ;
- Canada ; South Korea
- South Korea;
- United States ;
- Hong Kong ;
- Iceland;
- Israel ;
- Japan;
- Kosovo ;
- Lebanon
- Liechtenstein ;
- Northern Macedonia ;
- Montenegro ;
- Monaco ;
- New Zealand ; Norway ;
- New Zealand ;
- San Marino ;
- Serbia ;
- Singapore ;
- Switzerland ;
- Taiwan ;
- Vanuatu ;
- Vatican City.
To enter France, travellers and carriers must comply with the formalities set out below, regardless of the mode of transport used (air, land or sea):
If the traveller has been vaccinated:
- Submit a full vaccination certificate
- Provide a sworn declaration (in French) that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to their trip.
If the traveller has not been vaccinated:
- Present a PCR or antigen test dated less than 72 hours before departure to the airline at the time of boarding.
- Provide a sworn statement (in French) to the effect that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to their journey.
All travellers and employees seconded to France who wish to leave French territory to go to a “green” country should find out about the entry conditions in the country of destination.
Restrictions for Orange zone countries
Countries classified in the orange zone are characterised by active circulation of the virus in controlled proposals, without any worrying spread of a Covid-19 variant.
These are all countries not included in the list of “green” or “red” countries.
In order to obtain travel authorisation, seconded employees or carriers coming from one of the “orange” countries must present to the transport company, at the time of boarding, a negative PCR test dated less than 72 hours before departure, or a negative antigen test dated less than 48 hours before departure;
They must also comply with the formalities defined in the following cases:
If the traveller has been vaccinated:
- Submit a full vaccination certificate.
- Provide a sworn declaration (in French) that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to their trip.
If the traveller has not been vaccinated:
- Provide proof of a compelling reason stated on the certificate of entry into metropolitan France (in French).
- Provide a sworn statement (in French) to the effect that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the fourteen days prior to their journey.
- Submit a sworn undertaking (in French) to undergo a screening test on arrival in France.
- Undertake on their honour (in French) to isolate themselves for seven days once they arrive in France, and to undergo a PCR test again at the end of this period.
On the other hand, any traveller or employee seconded to France who wishes to leave French territory to go to a so-called “orange” country should find out about the conditions of entry into the destination country.
Restrictions for red zone countries
Countries classified in the red zone are characterised by very active circulation of the virus, or by the spread of certain variants of SARS-coV-2.
The countries on the list below are therefore considered to be “red” countries, and their nationals may not enter France freely:
- Afghanistan;
- South Africa;
- Argentina
- Bahrain;
- Bangladesh;
- Bolivia;
- Brazil;
- Chile;
- Colombia;
- Costa Rica;
- India;
- Maldives;
- Namibia;
- Nepal;
- Pakistan;
- Paraguay;
- Russia;
- Seychelles;
- Sri Lanka;
- Suriname;
- Uruguay.
Any traveller or carrier whose country of origin is one of the countries listed above is required to provide a compelling reason on the certificate of entry into metropolitan France.
They must also show the transport company at the time of boarding, and the border control authorities, a negative PCR or antigen test dated less than 48 hours before departure.
They must also comply with the formalities defined in the following cases:
If the traveller has been vaccinated:
- Submit a full vaccination certificate.
- Provide a sworn statement to the effect that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the 14 days prior to their trip.
- Submit an undertaking on their honour to isolate themselves for seven days once they arrive in France, and then to repeat a PCR test at the end of this period.
If the traveller has not been vaccinated:
A ten-day quarantine period must be observed, with restrictions on departure times from the place of isolation (except for transit to the international zone).
Travellers must also be in possession of:
- A declaration on their honour that they have no symptoms of Covid-19, and that they are not aware of having been in contact with a case confirmed positive for Covid-19 in the fourteen days prior to their trip.
- A sworn undertaking (in French) to undergo a screening test on arrival in France.
- Proof of accommodation address, except in the case of isolation in accommodation provided by the French authorities, or in the case of transit through an international zone.
However, any traveller or employee seconded to France who wishes to leave French territory to go to a “red” country should find out about the conditions for entering the destination country.
Restriction to enter a territory Overseas
In Overseas France, the entry of foreign nationals is subject to compliance with one of the following overriding requirements:
- a compelling personal or family reason ;
- an urgent health reason; or
- a professional reason that cannot be postponed.
People benefiting from one of these exceptions must carry a certificate of entry to the overseas territories (in French), as well as the necessary documents proving the reason for their trip.
What’s more, travellers will have to show airlines the negative result of a COVID RT-PCR screening test carried out within 72 hours of travel, regardless of the country of departure.
Lastly, depending on the local epidemiological situation, other restrictions may be applied in accordance with the prefectoral orders for each area.
Useful links:
- Certificate of travel to and from the overseas territories (paper version, French and English)
- Certificates for journeys within mainland France (paper version, French and English)
- European certificate and undertaking on honour for international road hauliers (paper version, French and English)
- List of compelling reasons for orange countries (paper version, French)
- List of compelling reasons for red countries (paper version, French)
- Summary table of rules to be complied with for international journeys to and from France (paper version, French)
