France plans to ease travel restrictions with UK
The French government plans to expand its list of ‘compelling reasons’ for entry into the country
The French government is ready to ease Covid travel restrictions with the UK, according to a statement by a government spokesperson.
The spokesperson, Gabriel Attal, told UK newspaper the Daily Telegraph that France would make travel between the two countries ‘a bit easier’. Attal stated that the French government intended to ‘widen the list of compelling reasons, notably professional’ which are permitted for entry into the country from the UK.
Travellers entering France from or via the UK have previously only been allowed to pass through if they had a specific, compelling reason to do so according to French government guidelines. This included being a returning French national or resident, having an urgent family matter to attend to, or being employed in essential work. British nationals with a post-Brexit stay permit can also enter the country. British nationals with a post-Brexit stay permit can also travel.
The extended list of valid reasons for travel has not yet been formally published, however Attal stated that the precise changes would be decided at a defence council meeting in the coming days.
The news follows the announcement by the UK government that pre-departure Covid tests will be scrapped for travellers visiting England from 7 January, alongside the requirement to self-isolate on arrival until the receipt of a negative PCR test result.