France puts restrictions on UK visitors

TRAVELLERS from the UK will have to provide “compelling reasons” to enter France as French authorities tighten restrictions to prevent the spread of the Indian variant of coronavirus.

Starting yesterday, travel to France from the UK will only be permitted for EU nationals, French residents or those travelling for essential reasons.

Those who are allowed to make the journey must take a pre-departure Covid test and quarantine for seven days on arrival.

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the new French rules apply to all air, car, ferry and train passengers.

France is currently listed as an “amber” destination by the UK Government, which advises against travel there, with British authorities requiring people to self-isolate for 10 days and take two Covid tests on return.

Stricter rules for visitors from the UK were first raised by French foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week amid concern over the Indian variant.

An explanation of the new rules on the website of the Consulate General of France in London said: “Given the development of the so-called Indian variant, health measures have been tightened for people travelling to France from the UK.”

It added that, from yesterday morning, “compelling reasons will be required for foreign nationals outside the EU not resident in France to travel to France from the UK”.

The website said “a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old will be required from anyone travelling to France from the UK” while on arrival “travellers are obliged to self-isolate for seven days”.

The information added that “due to the low incidence of Covid in the UK, for the moment, they will not be subject to systematic checks where they are staying”.