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Pre-departure information: travelling between the UK and France

This article was last updated 18/03/22 PLEASE NOTE: This is our interpretation of the guidelines in place. Please satisfy yourself that you are aware of the latest rules before you travel. inside a plane Advice from the UK government for travel to France can be found here: FCDO Advice – France. We also recommend that you visit the website of your airline or, if you are driving, the Eurotunnel or ferry company website, which will also contain useful information for entering France. If you are travelling through another country on your way to France e.g., Switzerland, please check the specific entry requirements for that country too. Advice from the UK government for travel to, or transit through, Switzerland can be found here: FCDO Advice – Switzerland

What to prepare: travelling to France from the UK

Fully-vaccinated adults travelling to France

If you are a fully-vaccinated* adult or if you have a Recovery Pass**
  • You do not need an ‘essential reason’ to travel to France
  • You do not need to self-isolate when you arrive in France
* In France, fully vaccinated is dictated as: 4 weeks after the single and only dose of Johnson & Johnson, or 1 week after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca. If you received your vaccination through the NHS, you should download your NHS COVID pass as proof. ** A Recovery Pass is proof of recovery from COVID, generated through the NHS app. You will need to have had a positive PCR test more than 11 day and less than 180 days before you travel. The Pass will include a QR code. There are two documents you will need to have:
  1. A ‘déclaration sur l’honneur’ (Sworn Statement): a form agreeing that you do not have any COVID symptoms and have not been in contact with anyone confirmed to have COVID, in the two weeks before you travel to France. Please note, the UK is considered an amber country by France.
  2. Proof that you have been fully vaccinated. France recognises the following vaccines: a. Pfizer b. Moderna c. Oxford/AstraZeneca d. Johnson & Johnson.

Unvaccinated adults travelling to France

If you are an adult that is not fully vaccinated, or don’t meet France’s criteria for being fully vaccinated (see above) by the time you want to travel to France, you will need:
  1. An essential reason to travel to France. View the French Government’s website for details on suitable reasons.
  2. A completed International Travel Certificate.
  3. A negative test result (PCR or antigen) taken within 48 hours of departure. This can be a PCR or Antigen test (Lateral Flow), but you should not use NHS tests for this and you cannot use self-administered tests. (If you are transiting through Switzerland and use an Antigen test, take it within 24 hours of departure as this is the rule for Switzerland.)

Children travelling to France

  • All children will also need to complete the above ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) and provide proof of vaccination.
  • Children under the age of 12 are exempt from COVID travel restrictions between the UK and France.
  • For children between the ages of 12 years 2 months and 18, unless they have been double vaccinated, the French authorities will treat them as not fully vaccinated.
  • All under 18s, who are not fully vaccinated, must also present a negative test result (PCR or antigen) taken within 48 hours of departure. This can be a PCR or Antigen test, but you should not use NHS tests for this and you can not use a self-administered test.
  • Assuming they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, the child does not need to provide an essential reason for travel nor self-isolate on arrival.

Travelling from the UK to France via Switzerland

  • In addition to the documents and rules outlined above, to gain entry to France, all travellers transiting through Switzerland to reach France must have proof of their accommodation in France and of their onwards transfer to reach it.
  • Only unvaccinated travellers entering Switzerland to transit to another destination (e.g. France) are required to show a negative Lateral Flow or PCR test less than 24 hours before boarding a plane to Switzerland. (Children under the age of 16 are exempt).

Other things to plan/prepare for your trip:

  • Face coverings will need to be worn on all public transport, this includes gondolas. Ideally, these must be Approved Masks (Surgical or Class 1 Medical).
  • The Pass Vaccinal is only required in healthcare locations like hospitals and medical centres.
  • There may be different rules, depending on if you are travelling back to (or through) England, Scotland or Wales after your ski holiday. Please make sure you check the exact details for the country you’re returning to here: https://www.gov.uk/uk-border-control
  • Double-check the latest travel restrictions - they may have changed while you are on your holiday!
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