Data Last Updated: May 11, 2021
General Information
At present France is allowing the entry of travellers from the EEA (European Economic Area) and those countries that are on France’s list of "epidemiologically safe countries".
French/EU citizens arriving from high risk countries outside the EU are subject to testing, more information here
A new measure for undergoing COVID-19 testing upon arrival in France was put into place. Travellers will have the option to present the results of a test taken at most 72 hours before arrival and not take a new one in France.
Citizens of third-world countries can enter France only for absolutely essential purposes, except for those who came from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Starting Sunday, January 24, all travelers entering France must first have a Covid-19 PCR test taken at least 72 hours before their flight to be allowed entry into the country. This new rule applies to all travelers from any country, whether they arrive by air and sea. Only those who are entering France through a land border are exempt from this rule.
Mask Requirement
Mask is required to be worn in all public indoor, public transport and all outdoor areas.
Internal Restrictions/Closures
Following a significant increase in COVID-19 infection rates, authorities in France will further tighten restrictions and introduce a curfew in an additional 38 departments from Oct. 24.
A daily 2100-0600 curfew will be in place in Ain, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardeche, Ardennes, Ariege, Aube, Aveyron, Bas-Rhin, Calvados, Corse-du-Sud, Cote-d'Or, Drome, Gard, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Corse, Haute-Loire, Hautes-Pyrenees, Haute-Savoie, Haute-Vienne, Ille-et-Vilaine, Indre-et-Loire, Jura, Loiret, Lozere, Maine-et-Loire, Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Oise, Pas-de -Calais, the Puy-de-Dôme, the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, the Pyrenees-Orientales; Saone-et-Loire, Savoie, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Var, Vaucluse, and French Polynesia.
People will be permitted to leave their homes for essential purposes such as hospital visits and critical work duties during curfew hours; however, individuals will need a special permit, which is available on the Ministry of Interior's website. Persons who violate the curfew will face fines.
Authorities have mandated the nationwide use of protective face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including shared workspaces, while a number of local jurisdictions, including Paris, also require their use in outdoor public spaces. Nationwide, public gatherings are limited to six people; festivities are suspended.
Most businesses and services, with the exception of those in areas under elevated alert levels, are permitted to resume operations, provided they comply with strict hygiene and social distancing requirements. Individuals from different households are required to observe social distancing of at least 1 meter (3 feet). National authorities can increase a region's alert level at short notice, and local authorities in areas with heightened alert levels can implement additional restrictions on movement, gatherings, and businesses as they see fit.
Airlines & Transport
Flights from all over the EU are flying directly into French airports multiple times daily. Flights from the newly approved ‘third-party’ countries are also starting to resume.
Direct flights are coming in from almost every major city throughout the EU.
Status of Opening to Tourists
Information based on tourists place of residence being in that country for the last 14 days
Select Country of Residence
Test Required For Tourists From:
38 Countries
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Rwanda
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
United Kingdom
Not Allowing Tourists From:
205 Countries
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bonaire
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Macao
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Republic of Congo
Réunion
Russia
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos
Tuvalu
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe
More Details
Last Updated: November 1, 2020
France began relaxing its travel restrictions for tourism as of June 15, 2020, starting with a list of EU nations.
By July 1st, 2020 it was further expanded to a number of third-party nations outside the EU.
Here is the latest information about entry regulations and information about France's reopening
Who Can Travel To France?
Initially France reopened its borders to most of the EU/EEA member states. Later on on July 1st, France responded to the EU's suggestion by allowing travelers from third approved countries to visit:
Serbia and Montenegro have recently been removed due to a growing number of COVID-19 cases in those countries. China will only be included if they allow French tourists in their country as well.
France mentioned that the lists are not based on nationality, but where the traveler has been in the last 14 days.
That is to say that all travelers from the list above are allowed entry, as long as they are coming from one of these approved countries and have been within the approved countries for at least 14 days. Everyone must also be traveling with valid documents, in order to be granted entry into France.
Is There A Mandatory Testing/Quarantine Upon Arrival?
Despite going into a second lockdown, the borders of France remain open to travelers from EU/EEA countries. However, all visitors will now be required to submit a negative Covid-19 test result taken in the past 72 hours.
For the approved countries listed above, at this time, there are no mandatory quarantines upon arrival. However, passengers should expect a health screening from border officials, as well as agree to temperature scans.
French or EU Citizens Arriving From Other Countries
French or EU Citizens eligible to enter France, arriving from these countries are subject to mandatory COVID-19 testing:
- United States
- Brazil
- Algeria
- Bahrain
- Israel
- India
- South Africa
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- the United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Panama
- Peru
- Serbia
- Turkey
- Madagascar.
Other Entry Rules For France
- Above all, like any other person, of French, European, or foreign nationality wishing to go to France or transit through France, you must present an international travel certificate to the transport companies.
- The passenger must also present a sworn statement attesting that he/she has no symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
- Most importantly, travelers should wear face masks and practice social distancing.
What's Open in France?
- Hotels and accommodations
- Restaurants and Cafes
- Parks and gardens
- Beaches
- Museums
- Cinemas
- Shopping malls
- River Cruises
- Stadiums and race tracks with a maximum capacity of 5,000 people.
- As with performance halls, activities involving over 1,500 people must be pre-declared so that the necessary precautions can be guaranteed.
- The maximum capacity of 5,000 people for major events, stadiums, and performance halls will remain in effect until September 1.
To sum it up, mostly everything is open in France today. But have different capacity levels or operating hours.
You may also want to check France on our live map for its detailed restriction/reopening information.
Sources: Re-open EU | France Diplomacy
See the full blog post & comments
Information for Non-Tourists
Travelers who are French or EU citizens coming from these high-risk countries will require a test on arrival:
United States, Brazil, Algeria, Bahrain, Israel, India, South Africa, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Panama, Peru, Serbia, Turkey and Madagascar.
Effective July 30, every passenger and crew member of every flight, whatever their nationality or where they’re flying in from, must provide on arrival a completed Public Health Passenger Locator Form and Int’l Travel Certificate to Mainland France.
5,737,810
Cases110,407
Deaths87,720
Cases Per Million
Graph of COVID-19 Cases In Last 30 Days
For France