(Covid-19) Additional travel requirements for entering Metropolitan France
The French Interior Ministry has required travelers entering Metropolitan (mainland) France to fill out and carry with them extra travel documents (in addition to the usual travel requirements — valid passport and visa — among others).
*Last update: 17 Jun 2021
These additional requirements must be presented to transportation companies before boarding, as well as to border control authorities.
Additional requirements for travelers coming from "orange/amber" countries
Depending on your vaccination status, there are different protocols to follow. Please read the information carefully.
A) Vaccinated students and researchers coming from an “orange” country
Fully-vaccinated students and researchers* who are coming to France from “orange” countries may enter France without restrictions and will not be subjected to a required quarantine period upon arrival.
* NB: Vaccines accepted in France are those which are recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA): AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech
They must provide the following information before boarding and to border control authorities:
1) Proof of vaccination (this will only be considered as valid as long as it confirms a full vaccination)
- 2 weeks after the second shot for two-shot vaccines (AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer)
- 4 weeks after the shot for single-shot vaccines (Johnson & Johnson)
- 2 weeks after the shot for vaccines in people with a history of Covid-19 (only 1 shot required).
2) A negative virological RT-PCR test taken less than 72 hours or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight
3) A sworn declaration certifying that the traveler does not show signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days
The required sworn declaration can be downloaded from the website of the French Interior Ministry ➜ https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel#from4
- Select: Travel from an amber list country → You wish to enter Metropolitan France → Section 2.2. Health control measures → Download the ”Statement of Honor” document
B) Non-vaccinated students and researchers coming from an “Orange” country
Non-vaccinated students and researchers coming from “orange” countries must prove a compelling reason (see list of authorized travelers for essential travel from the French Interior Ministry) to come to France and present these documents upon boarding and to border control authorities:
1) A negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight
2) A sworn declaration certifying that the traveler does not show signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test at the arrival.
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This declaration also certifies that the traveler undertakes to respect isolation for 7 days after arrival and to carry out a PCR test at the end of the isolation period.
3) An international travel certificate mentioning the compelling reason for travel, which include the following relevant categories:
- Students enrolled in French as a foreign language (FLE) course prior to and must be followed by enrollment in a French higher education institution for a degree program
- Students of Undergraduate/Licence, Master's, or PhD degrees, who are accepted into or enrolled/registered at a French higher education institution for the start of the 2021-2022 academic year
- Researchers settling in France on the invitation of a research laboratory, for research activities that require a physical presence
4) One or more documents justifying the reason for travel
Please make sure to visit the website of the French Interior Ministry (https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel#from4) for the following information and documents:
- International travel certificate which contains the list of authorized travelers for essential travel (compelling reasons for travel)
- Select: Travel from an amber list country → You wish to enter Metropolitan France → Section 2.1. Mobility rules and regulations → ‘If you are not vaccinated…” → Download the travel certificate to Metropolitan France
- Sworn declaration
- Select: Travel from an amber list country → You wish to enter Metropolitan France → Section 2.2. Health control measures → Download the ”Statement of Honor” document
❗️Please remember❗️
If you are unvaccinated (including those who are not vaccinated with EMA-recognized vaccines, see above) and if your situation is not listed in any of the categories identified as essential travels, then you are not authorized to enter France until further notice.
