What Are the Essential Reasons For Travel To France From Orange & Red Countries?
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From June 9th, all travellers entering France must follow the rules according to France’s traffic light classification. Travellers arriving from Green countries, which include Australia, New Zealand, and the EU, do not need an essential reason for travel. But what about travellers from Orange and Red countries? Here’s what you need to know.
Travelling to France from an Orange Country
For travellers arriving in France from Orange countries, which include the United States, Canada, and the UK, the rules are as follows:
- Vaccinated travellers do not need an essential reason to travel
- Non-vaccinated travellers must have an essential reason travel
Essential Reasons for Travel to France from Orange Countries
- French citizens, their spouses (married, civil union and cohabiting) and their children.
- Citizens of the European Union or equivalent, their spouse (married, civil union or cohabiting partner) and their children, whose main residence is in France or who are in transit through France on the return trip to their main residence in a European Union country or equivalent or to a country whose nationality they hold;
- Citizens of other countries with a valid French or European residence permit or long-stay visa, whose main residence is in France or who are in transit through France on the return trip to their main residence in a European Union country or similar country.
- British citizens and their family members who are eligible under the agreement for the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community.
- Citizens of other countries holding a long-stay visa issued for the purpose of family reunion or reunification of refugee families, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless persons.
- Foreign health or research professionals engaged in the fight against COVID-19, their spouse (married, civil partner, cohabiting partner upon presentation of proof of community of life) and their children. (also: Foreign health or research professional engaged as an associate trainee.)
- Citizens of other countries with a “Passeport Talent” (talent passport) long-stay visa (LSV), their spouse (married, civil union or cohabiting partner upon presentation of proof of cohabitation) and their children.
- Students enrolled in French as a foreign language (FLE) courses prior to enrolment in a higher education institution, or who have passed the oral examinations in French higher education institutions or enrolled to start the 2021-2022 academic year. Researchers settling in France on invitation by a research laboratory, for research activities requiring a physical presence, their spouse (married, civil union, cohabiting partner on presentation of proof of community of life) and their children.
- Workers in the land, sea and air transport sector or transport service providers, including drivers of any vehicle carrying goods for use in the territory, as well as those merely transiting or travelling as passengers in order to establish themselves or train at their home base.
- Foreign citizens working for a diplomatic or consular mission, or an international organisation with its headquarters or an office in France, as well as their spouse and their children or a foreign citizen of a third country staying in France for a compelling professional reason under a mission order issued by their country of origin;
- Traveller in transit in the international zone for less than 24 hours.
- Diplomatic officials discharging their duties, border police officers and customs officers.
- Channel Tunnel staff (engaged inter alia in operations, maintenance, security) or cross-Channel facilities staff.
These rules are taken from the official Certificate to Travel to Metropolitan France from the United Kingdom, which you can download here. You will need a signed copy of this certificate plus the necessary proof to back up your reason (e.g. a residency card, an employment contract, or proof of your onward travel).
Travelling From France To an Orange Country
French residents travelling to an Orange country who are vaccinated do not need an essential reason to travel. However, if you plan to travel to an orange country and are not vaccinated, you must have an essential reason. Remember that you will also need to follow any rules or regulations put in place by the country you are travelling to.
Essential Reasons for Travel From France To Orange Countries
The essential reasons for travel to an orange country are slightly different. Here’s the full list:
- Foreign citizens, their spouses (married, civil union and cohabiting) and their children returning to their country of residence.
- Death of a direct family member or to visit a direct family member in critical condition (death certificate or medical certificate required)
- Travel in order to exercise custody rights (court order required)
- Judicial summons (proof required)
- Legal or economic reason to leave the country (proof of visa expiry or job redundancy required)
- Participation in a University exchange program (proof required)
- Urgent medical reason (medical certificate required)
- Essential work which requires an on-site presence and cannot be postponed, e.g. transport professionals, freight transport crews, etc. (proof required)
- Foreign health or research professionals engaged in the fight against COVID-19, their spouse (married, civil partner, cohabiting partner upon presentation of proof of community of life) and their children. (also: Foreign health or research professional engaged as an associate trainee.)
- Diplomatic officials discharging their duties, border police officers and customs officers.
- Professional sports competitor (certificate and sports license required)
Travelling To and From a Red Country
Red countries include India, Brazil, and South Africa. France advises against all travel to these countries and as such, if you wish to travel to or from France from a red country you must have an essential reason, regardless of whether you are vaccinated or not. For French residents wishing to travel to a red country, the essential reasons are the same as for orange countries. For citizens of or travellers arriving in France from a red country, the essential reasons are as follows.
Essential Reasons for Travel to France from a Red Country
- French citizens, their spouses (married, civil union and cohabiting) and their children.
- Citizens of the European Union or equivalent, their spouse (married, civil union or cohabiting partner) and their children, whose main residence is in France or who are in transit through France on the return trip to their main residence in a European Union country or equivalent or to a country whose nationality they hold;
- Citizens of other countries with a valid French or European residence permit or long-stay visa, whose main residence is in France or who are in transit through France on the return trip to their main residence in a European Union country or similar country.
- Citizens of other countries holding a long-stay visa issued for the purpose of family reunion or reunification of refugee families, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless persons.
- Workers in the land, sea and air transport sector or transport service providers, including drivers of any vehicle carrying goods for use in the territory, as well as those merely transiting or travelling as passengers in order to establish themselves or train at their home base.
- Foreign citizens working for a diplomatic or consular mission, or an international organisation with its headquarters or an office in France, as well as their spouse and their children or a foreign citizen of a third country staying in France for a compelling professional reason under a mission order issued by their country of origin;
- Traveller in transit in the international zone for less than 24 hours.
- Diplomatic officials discharging their duties, border police officers and customs officers.
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By Zoë Smith
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