With the outbreak of the Omicron variant across the world, the French authorities regularly update their recommendations for travel 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.
Initially composed of three and then four colors, since February 4 it has only had two:
green
, the most favorable level, and
orange
, the most unfavorable.
Classification confirmed by a new update, on February 12, 2022, accompanied by reductions in restrictions for returning to France.
What does this color code concretely change for our journeys?
Both shades correspond to a level of restrictions on departure and return, which varies according to whether one is vaccinated or not.
This reading grid has evolved for vaccinated travellers, who, to and from all countries, are no longer subject to the obligation of a compelling reason or PCR test.
Read alsoVaccination pass: what changes for your trips this February 15
At first glance, nothing very complicated, then.
Except that, and this is where the shoe pinches,
each state remains free to impose additional measures on travelers
, such as quarantine tests, or even an outright ban on access.
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...
Here are the rules imposed by the French authorities, as explained on the government website:
Read alsoCovid-19 and travel: which countries can the French visit?
Our updated menu
To or from a green country
The situation on site according to the government:
“countries or territories experiencing negligible or moderate circulation of the virus, in the absence of an emerging worrying variant”.
Countries concerned as of February 12, 2022:
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, Bahrain, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Senegal, Taiwan 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 site according to the government:
“countries or territories experiencing active circulation of the virus, in the absence of an emerging worrying variant and not presenting any vaccine or immune escape”.
Countries concerned on February 12:
all countries not included in the lists of “green” countries.
For example, in Europe, the United Kingdom and the Balkan countries like Bosnia and Herzegovina or Albania.
Turkey and the United States 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 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
According to the government site, a country may be classified red in the event of “an emergency characterized by the appearance of a variant likely to present a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape”.
Countries concerned as of February 12:
none.
Could we travel there? No.
The classification of a country in red would imply the obligation to present a compelling reason to travel, the obligation to present a negative test on departure and the obligation to submit to a test on arrival conditioning the placement in quarantine decided by the prefects and controlled by the police.
This article is regularly updated according to current events.
