Return to EU for British expats after Christmas ..

All to do with France’s rocketing Covid figures I expect.
It’ll pass.

This headline in the Telegraph just now illustrates just that it seems:

“British travellers 'denied entry to France' through the Eurotunnel due to Covid rules
A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry has said Brits can access the Eurotunnel provided they have the correct documentation”

Can I add from the other thread?

Feel free. ?. What other thread?

My guess it is because of covid.

Thanks, fingers crossed it's because of covid. We use Brittany Ferries and they are always notoriously slow, if at all, to update information. Impossible to plan anything for 2022.

I feel like I need a crystal ball. Whatever info is good for today may have no relevance tomorrow. At least the change in the pass from test to vaccination is preferable. No one can challenge that.

Urmstongran

Feel free. ?. What other thread?

Whitewavemark2 posted about it on a Brexit thread this morning.

There seems to be a lot of confusion and possibly a misinterpretation at Eurotunnel. The French interior ministry seems to be saying that migrants with permanent residency in an EU country under the Withdrawal Agreement can return home to their country of residence.
It seems very odd that you could cross France into Belgium on Eurostar but not by car.
I hope it gets cleared up soon, very hard for people who have already suffered enough because of Brexit.

Sorry the above is a bit of a jumble. We were discussing looking on travel websites for the latest correct information, because it isn't evident for all.

Yes, cross post Mamie. Confusion.

Covid. Not Brexit.

“French authorities have yet to clarify the guidelines despite multiple requests for comment from the Daily Telegraph. One source at the ministry of interior said they could not confirm nor deny the changes as discussions were currently taking place on the matter at the Prime Minister’s office.

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, which operates the railway between Folkestone and Calais via the Channel Tunnel, said late on Wednesday that French guidelines had changed, leaving Brits hoping to reach their homes in Europe for the holidays confused.

“Following a French Government decision, on 28/12/2021, unless they hold French residency, British citizens are now considered 3rd country citizens and can no longer transit France by road to reach their country of residence in the EU,” the company tweeted.”

Fair enough I think?

“One Brit, Roland Moore, a British public affairs director based in Brussels, said he had been denied access to the Eurotunnel by French border police after being told being a resident in Belgium was no longer a compelling reason to transit through France.

He was allegedly handed out a piece of paper clarifying the new guidelines issued by the French government: “From now on, border guards should no longer consider as a compelling reason the fact, for a British national beneficiary of the [Brexit] withdrawal agreement residing in a Member State other than France, to transit through France to regain his domicile.”

Under Covid rules, air travellers can still transit through French airports on their way to a third country.

Mr Moore, after being denied entry into the tunnel, was allowed to board a Eurostar to Brussels.”

*

It would seem the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing, in France. Exasperating for those affected?

* 30/12 Update on British nationals transiting France from The British Embassy in Paris*

The French government have indicated to us that UK nationals travelling from the UK who are not resident in France will not be permitted to transit France to return to their country of residence, unless they are travelling by air.

We are urgently seeking further clarification from the French government and, in the meantime, advise UK nationals returning to other European countries via France to check with their carrier before travelling.

Carriers like Eurostar will err on the side of caution because it will cost them money otherwise. I can see their dilemma.

I suppose France is trying to limit the wave of Covid carriers. Nothing they can do about the Schengen reciprocity so they’ll limit where they can. A nuisance for those who weren’t flying back home.

As the people most affected by this will be driving to Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland etc, I think it is likely that the majority will be people returning to work.

French government have suspended the transit ban for UK nationals with EU residence. Good news.

Well I'm pleased for all those affected.
All this gesturing and then backtracking is so tiresome.

Massively beyond 'tiresome' - some of my friends have been truly stressed and totally panicked by this, as they have to return to work and the kids to school by Monday.

Kali2

They were told before Christmas no tourism.

We are not talking about tourism - but British citizens returning to their main residence and jobs in the EU.

The Gardain 20h
France will allow people from the UK to drive through as they return to EU countries, suspending a ban on British people returning to their homes in the EU after spending the holidays in the UK.

The UK government clarified: “The French authorities confirmed on 30 December that UK nationals who are resident in other EU member states and who have travelled to the UK for the Christmas period will be able to transit France over the New Year period in order to return home to their country of residence.”

“Transit for less than 24 hours in the international zone of an airport is listed under ‘essential reasons’ to travel,” the UK government guidance added.

the guardian.com