News Digest: France Closes Borders to Unvaccinated US Travellers

In last week’s News Digest, we reported that the EU had removed the United States from its ‘White List’ – the list of ‘safe’ non-EU countries from which travellers can enter the EU without an ‘essential reason for travel’. As predicted, France has decided to heed the EU’s guidance and, as of Sunday, September 12th has changed its classification of the US from a ‘Green country’ to an ‘Orange country’.

This means that while vaccinated travellers will still be able to visit France (and will not need a Covid test), unvaccinated travellers cannot enter the country without an essential reason (see the link above). This excludes second-home owners, property buyers, and anyone hoping to visit family or holiday in France.

Read more about France’s traffic light system here.

British expats living in France after Brexit will only be guaranteed their rights under the Withdrawal Agreement if they apply for a French residency card – a Titre de Séjour – and the final deadline is fast approaching. Initially, the deadline was June 30th 2021, but the French government agreed to a three-month extension, moving the deadline to September 30th.

It is unlikely that this deadline will be extended again, leaving just two weeks for Brits to make their application or risk losing their rights to residency. If you were legally resident in France before January 1st, 2021, and have not yet applied for your Titre de Séjour, you must file your application before the end of the month. Our guide to Applying for a Titre de Séjour will talk you through the process.

Rural residents in France will likely be well accustomed to the French hunting season, known as ‘La Chasse’. Hunting remains one of France’s most popular – if controversial – pastimes, with more than a million licences issued by the Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs, and it’s legal to hunt more than 90 species throughout the country (although there are strict rules and regulations in place).

The fall hunting season starts from September 12th (exact dates depend on the region) and runs through to February. If you plan to walk, cycle, horse ride, or enjoy other outdoor activities in rural areas, it’s important to be extra careful during these times. Contact your local Mairie to find out about organised hunts in the area, avoid all areas marked ‘La Chasse’, wear hi-vis clothing (and use hi-vis clothing for your dog or horse too), stick to marked roads and footpaths, and keep your dog on a leash.

You can see the official hunting calendar for all French departments here.

The first of our three-part Destination France webinars is taking place tomorrow (Wednesday, September 15th) at 10 am UK (UPC) time. Whether you want the inside scoop on the French property market in 2021, need advice on French tax and residency for your future move to France, or have concerns about health insurance when moving or retiring to France – this is your chance to put your questions to the experts!

I will be hosting tomorrow’s webinar via Zoom, and I’ll be joined by a panel of experts from Blevins Franks, Beaux Villages, and Agence AXA International. Don’t miss out – sign up for the webinar here!

Don’t worry if you can’t make it – we’ll be recording the session, and it will be available to view on our past webinars page.