Travel to France severely restricted

Jaxjacky it is because Omicron cases are still low here in France. They are trying to keep it out or more pertinently to delay the spread until more people have had booster jabs. There were 800,000 vaccinations yesterday.

mokryna

But her companion is English

Has he got French residence permit, is the key here.

No, he hasn’t but they say they are checking the ins and outs. Thank you

Ah, understood Mamie thanks.

Residence will be the key, not nationality.

Mamie

growstuff I thought your post said that his wife and children are French. As I understand it, he would be allowed in, but not them unless they have dual nationality.

Yes, his wife is French and the children have dual nationality.

I think his wife might possibly be allowed in as a family member, but I have seen conflicting reports. ?for them.

I think (but not 100% sure) that they will all be able to travel both ways. They're fully vaccinated and are happy to pay for the PCR tests and complete any formalities. The problem is likely to be the requirement to self-isolate in the UK until they have a negative PCR test result, as they have a schedule to visit various relatives. In any case, they're having second thoughts about travel. Personally, I'd like to know soon because I'm going to be responsible for feeding them.

From Connexion, the Newspaper for British 'expats' in France

Reader question: Can close family (namely our two adult daughters who are British and live in the UK) visit British residents in France when the rules change this Saturday?

Unfortunately, this will not be possible as all travel from the UK to France is now subject to a restricted list of motifs impérieux (very important - essential - reasons) and this does not include visits from adult children who live independently in the UK.

The list of motifs impérieux for coming from the UK can be found at the bottom of this page, and it is the right-hand column that applies.

All residents of France can come in, with proof of their residency status (or if French, of their nationality).

For example, for UK nationals living in France since before 2021 this could include a Brexit Withdrawal Agreement residency card or an email proving that you have applied for one. Their minor children who live with them in France or spouses of other nationalities who share their rights would also be allowed to come.

People of other non-EU nationalities or Britons who came this year would need to show a visa and/or residency card.

The rules say people benefiting from the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement (WA) may come in. In a narrow legal sense could include certain close non-French-resident family members of WA Britons living in France, such as spouses or dependent children or children under 21, as they benefit from an ongoing right to come to live in France with their British relatives where the relationship existed before 2021. It does not include adult children who live independently in the UK.

The rules on reasons for travel also state that French nationals can come in, whether they are residents in France or not, as well as their spouses and partners and children. The rules do not clarify if the family members must travel with the French person or not.

EU/EEA citizens, and their partner and children, can come in if they live in France or are transiting through to an EU/EEA country where they live.

The other motifs impérieux relate to certain study or work reasons and those transiting through to other countries. There are no ‘compassionate’ reasons given for coming into France from the UK.

Just thinking here, what's to stop British residents living in the UK travelling from Dover to Ostend and driving into France?

The border! And British number plates and passports!

But are there checks between Belgium and France? Ir fly into Bruxelles and hire a car?

Yes, there is a border! Schengen does not stop them checking. If they hire a car, it might be easier on Belgian plates- but if the get stopped and they don't speak fluent, accentless French- it will be pretty obvious. If Border Guards are suspicious, they can ask for passports/driving licences, etc.

We will run the gauntlet tomorrow- on British passports with our UK address.

We will give it our best shot, and if turned away, will go and spend Christmas in Bruges- that's it.

If you can't get to France, get France to come to you! Where there's a will, there's a way.
Cheese done, booze delivery next week.

I could have brought you the Comté- and Morbier and Mont d'Or ...all made on my doorstep.

Mamie

growstuff I thought your post said that his wife and children are French. As I understand it, he would be allowed in, but not them unless they have dual nationality.

He is British, but has French residency.

His wife is French and lives with him in France.

The children both live in France and are dual nationals.

My understanding is that he can travel to the UK because he's British and can then return to France because he lives there. He needs to take PCR tests and self-isolate until there's a negative result.

His wife can travel to the UK, but will need to take a PCR test two days before she travels and another one on arrival in the UK and must self-isolate until there's a negative result.

The children can travel anyway.

The adults are both fully vaccinated.

They are all legally entitled to travel and are prepared to pay for the PCR tests. The issue is whether they want to self-isolate in the UK.

Kali2

I could have brought you the Comté- and Morbier and Mont d'Or ...all made on my doorstep.

Merci. I could have swapped you some Devon Harbourne Blue and Ticklemore.
Luckily Borough Market came to my rescue!

Borough Market - and Neal's Yard - great cheeses indeed.

Failing that, this is a great cheese place in Picadilly

www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk/

but we digress. I am a huge fan of British cheeses-

I ❤️ Borough Market. A fabulous place.

Also la Fromagerie in Marylebone High street and as you say of course Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden (where I blagged some free Montgomery’s Cheddar because it is made by DH’s cousin Archie Montgomery.

Kali2 we get Connexion as well and find it very useful.

We are feeling smug because we bought all the food we usually bring back from France for Christmas, on our October visit. We were not expecting anything in particular to happen but I decided it was better to be cautious just in case everything changed, memories of last year.

Kali2

Failing that, this is a great cheese place in Picadilly

www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk/

but we digress. I am a huge fan of British cheeses-

Still there! After all these years. I used to shop there when I first moved to London in the mid sixties. Great cheese

My brother and his family have had to cancel their French skiing trip ( was rescheduled as cancelled a year ago for same reason). They have had a horrible year - his father-in-law passed away late November after being nursed at home for 11 months by my brother's wife and her sister and my brother's wife's sister died suddenly about 2 weeks before that. They have been travelling between North of England and Cambridge every 2 weeks for almost a year and he has also been up to help with my Mum in Edinburgh. I feel so sorry for his family but there is nothing I can do other than keep talking and thank God that we have all kept well and Covid free. The holiday was to help recuperate but whatever will be etc ...