With the surge in Delta variants and, now, Omicron around the world, the French authorities regularly update their travel recommendations to foreign countries. In force since June 9, the classification by color of the countries of the world depends on the level of circulation of the virus and the presence of variants of Covid-19. It goes from
green
, the most favorable level, to
red
, the most unfavorable - the majority of countries being classified in
orange
. On December 4, a new category made its appearance:
scarlet red
. It designates the countries most at risk to which all tourist travel is prohibited. Since January 6, no country is listed.
Read alsoNew rules for the health pass, vaccination pass... What changes for your travels
What does this color code concretely change for our journeys?
Each shade corresponds to a level of restrictions on departure and return, which depends on whether you are vaccinated or not.
This reading grid has evolved for vaccinated travelers, who can travel to any country, whatever their color, without justifying a compelling reason, except for the countries which would appear in scarlet red.
The compelling reasons for travel from the UK to France ended on January 14.
Read alsoCovid-19 and travel: which countries can the French visit?
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At first glance, nothing very complicated, then.
Except that, and this is where the shoe pinches, each state remains sovereign and free to impose additional measures on travellers, such as tests - this is the case of the United States -, quarantines, or even outright simple access denial.
Classified as "green" by the government and Europe, Japan does not accept, for example, the arrival of foreign tourists, including the French.
And there are almost as many rules as there are countries... In summary, as the government website explains:
To or from a green country
The situation on the spot according to the government:
“no active circulation of the virus is observed and no worrying variant is identified”.
Countries concerned on January 22:
the countries of the European area (27 Member States + Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican), to which are added Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Bahrain, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, Taiwan, Uruguay and Vanuatu.
Can we travel to these countries? Yes
, whether you are vaccinated or not.
But always provided that the country in question authorizes access to French travelers and according to the terms it has defined (see our world map country by country).
Vaccinated or not, formalities to and from a green country:
The rules to or from a green country.
Government Information Service
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To or from an orange country
The situation on the spot according to the government:
“active circulation of the virus in controlled proportions, without dissemination of worrying variants”.
Countries affected as of 22 January:
all countries not included in the lists of "green", "red" and "scarlet" countries, for example, in Europe, the United Kingdom and Balkan countries such as Bosnia or Albania.
Argentina and Australia have just made their entry.
Can we travel to these countries? Yes, but
only if you are vaccinated and the country accepts French tourists.
The non-vaccinated must, themselves, justify a compelling reason, family or professional.
Tourism is not one of them.
Vaccinated or not, formalities to and from an orange country:
The rules to or from an orange country.
Government Information Service
To or from a red country
The situation on site according to the government:
“active circulation of the virus and presence of worrying variants”.
Countries concerned as of January 22:
Afghanistan, Belarus, United States, Georgia, Mauritius, Montenegro, Nigeria, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Suriname, Tanzania, Turkey.
Can we travel there? Yes, but
only if you are vaccinated and the country accepts French tourists.
The non-vaccinated can only travel there for a compelling reason, in no case for tourist reasons.
In both cases, traveling to a red country remains “not recommended” by the authorities.
Vaccinated or not, formalities to and from a red country:
The rules to or from a red country.
Government Information Service
To or from a scarlet red country
The situation on site according to the government:
"particularly active circulation of the virus and/or discovery of a variant likely to present a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape" (category created as a precaution, pending additional data on the Omicron variant).
Countries concerned as of January 6:
none.
Can we travel there? No.
Regardless of vaccination status, you must be able to show a compelling reason, such as the death of a direct family member, a vital medical emergency or a summons by a judicial authority.
Tourism is obviously not a compelling reason.
Vaccinated or not, formalities to and from a scarlet red country:
Rules to or from a scarlet country.
Government Information Service
Originally published on July 13, 2021, this article is regularly updated according to current events.
