The free movement in Europe dear to the French has not yet returned, but we are getting closer. With the improvement of the health situation and the coronavirus pandemic which is losing momentum, many European countries have lifted border restrictions on Monday June 15, a few days before the start of the summer season.
Now, a Frenchman who would like to travel and go on vacation abroad on Monday has much more choice, at least in Europe. Elsewhere in the world, the situation remains more complicated.
By informing us, for each country, from the French Embassy, the government site, or the "Re-Open" application set up by the European Commission, we have designed a small guide to find you there.
A Europe at several speeds
End of many restrictions
A majority of European countries now accept on their soil all travelers from France, whatever their nationality. Since Monday June 15, this has been the case, in particular, in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. Italy had launched the movement on June 3, and Poland had followed suit ten days later.
VIDEO. Coronavirus: easier to go to Italy… than to come back!
On the other hand, more often than not, if you are French but you come from an area outside Europe, you must have a family or professional reason and you will be subject to a compulsory fortnight. The European Union has not yet lifted restrictions on its external borders (see below).
Newsletter - The essentials of the news
Every morning, the news seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
Fortnight and / or mandatory screening upon arrival
In seven other countries (including the United Kingdom, even though it has no longer been part of the European Union since Brexit), passengers coming from France are subject to around fifteen. In some cases, this measure is accompanied by compulsory screening. This therefore does not only concern French people arriving from outside Europe.
These countries consider that France is still one of the health risk areas, the list of which is updated regularly, and which require more controls. France could emerge from it in the coming days or weeks. Indeed, "the bulk of the epidemic is behind us", rejoiced the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran, this Monday.
Spain has already announced that it will lift this restriction on travelers from France on Sunday June 21. But our neighboring country will keep its border with Portugal closed until July 1. Until then, a Frenchman will not be able to travel to Lisbon or Porto by land, but only by plane.
Note that Greece only imposes quarantine and screening on passengers who have taken off from an airport located in Île-de-France. It was indeed the last French metropolitan area classified in orange (until Monday, where it went green). This measure should be lifted by July 1 at the latest.
Since Thursday 11 June, Turkey has only forced a simple "health check" upon arrival on its soil. If symptoms are detected, the traveler must however undergo a PCR test.
Entry still prohibited
Lastly, four countries of the European Union (Finland, Denmark, Malta, Cyprus) as well as Norway always prohibit the entry on their soil to the travelers coming from France, except particular reasons.
To be able to go to Finland, you have to have an imperative family reason, to have an accommodation there, or to pass there only in transit.
Denmark also accepts, since this Monday, travelers whose family member is Danish or lives in the Scandinavian country. But the country only welcomes tourists on vacation from Germany, Norway and Iceland. Norway has also only reopened its doors to travelers from other Nordic countries.
And elsewhere ?
Outside the European Union, vacation departures are still very controlled. It is always impossible to travel to the United States, Canada or Brazil from France except in the case of a compelling professional or family reason (if part of your family is of the nationality of the country where you wish to go , for example).
Closer to home, departures from France to Morocco are suspended "until July 10", according to the French Embassy.
In Tunisia, the air, land and sea borders should reopen "from June 27". To enter the territory, travelers must nevertheless present a negative test dating back less than 72 hours and not have a temperature.
Conversely, arrivals at the external borders of the European Union remain subject to strong restrictions until July 1, at least, for lack of agreement between the various European states.
PODCAST. The pandemic forced her to leave Colombia urgently: "We had 24 hours to move"
France has already decided to authorize the arrival on its soil of international travelers from July 1 but "in a gradual and differentiated manner according to the health situation of the different third countries", according to a joint statement by ministers Christophe Castaner and Jean-Yves Le Drian, in charge of the Interior and Foreign Affairs respectively, published Friday June 12.