France reopened its border on June 15, 2020 to a list of EU nations, and July 1, 2020 to an expanded list of third-party nations outside the EU.
The information in this article is temporarily out of date due to increased restrictions in 2021. For now, please see our “France Covid-19 Entry Requirements” guide for the most current information.
Which countries can travel to France?
We have a complete list of countries that can enter France updated below. The list includes the EU nations that have been able to travel to France since June, as well as the third-party countries outside the EU that were given permission to travel to France starting July 1, 2020.
EU nations permitted into France
France first reopened borders on June 15st by allowing tourists in from fellow EU nations.
Here is the current list of EU nations that can to travel into France:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Third-Party Countries Permitted Into France
On June 30th, The EU published the list of approved ‘safe’ countries that will be allowed to travel to the European Union for the purpose of tourism starting on July 1st, 2020. The press release made by the EU was only a recommendation. Each country was given the freedom to make their own travel restrictions based on the recommendation.
France has responded favourably to the EU’s suggestion by planning to open borders to all of the 15 approved countries, starting on July 1, 2020.
Since then, the list has been updated and modified a few times.
Third-party countries that can travel to France
- Australia
- Japan
- Morocco
- New Zealand
- Rwanda
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
- Uruguay
This list of countries is to be regularly updated, at least every two weeks.
Grâce au travail entre 🇪🇺 nous rouvrons aujourd’hui nos frontières extérieures aux voyageurs et touristes d’une 1ère liste de pays tiers.
— Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne (@JBLemoyne) July 1, 2020
➡️ Les professionnels du #tourisme 🇫🇷 sont prêts à les accueillir : bienvenue en France ! #CetEteJeVisiteLaFrance https://t.co/nDlXTd8soR
Translated Tweet: “Thanks to the work between ‘The EU' today we are reopening our external borders to travelers and tourists from a 1st list of third countries.”
Overseas territories traveling to france
- Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Barths, Saint-Martin and Réunion: non-urgent travel is permitted from June 22. The two-week quarantine enforcement will be lifted by July 10 at the latest, the date on which the state will declare an end to the health emergency, but a coronavirus test will be compulsory 72 hours before departure to these territories.
- French Polynesia: all quarantine measures will be lifted from July 15 and will be opened to international tourism (all countries).
- New Caledonia: international flights to New Caledonia continue to be suspended until July 31.
Is entry into France based on physical location for the last 14-days, or nationality?
France has said the lists are not based on nationality, but residency plus where the traveler has been the last 14 days.
In an exact quote from the Canadian embassy in France: “From July 1, people from Canada, regardless of their nationality, are now admitted to French territory, particularly for tourist reasons, with a valid passport.”
Travelers from the two above approved lists of countries, as long as they are coming from said countries and have been in said countries for at least 14 days, and are traveling with valid documents, should be granted entry into France.
Is there testing or quarantines upon arrival in France?
No. For the approved countries listed above, at this time, there is no mandatory testing or quarantines upon arrival.
Passengers should expect a health screening from a border officer, as well as agree to temperature scans. Passengers are also being asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing
Other entry rules in France:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in France has made this statement about other rules for entering France at this time:
- Like any other person, of French, European or foreign nationality wishing to go to France or transit through France, you must present an international travel certificate to the transport companies, before boarding, accompanied by supporting documents demonstrating the status invoked. This certificate must also be presented to the authorities in charge of border control. The passenger must also present a sworn statement attesting that he has no symptoms of Covid-19 infection.
- Finally, anyone 11 years of age and over who accesses terminals, passenger transfer vehicles and airplanes must wear a protective mask
Have Flights Resumed Into France?
Yes, flights from all over the EU are flying directly into French airports multiple times daily. Flights from the newly approved ‘third-party’ countries are also starting to resume.
Direct flights are coming in from almost every major city throughout the EU.
Can the USA Travel To France?
No, not at this time.
Is France Allowing Un-Married Couples Separated by the Ban to Reunite?
Yes. France is one of the latest entries to join the Love Is Not Tourism movement, by announcing on August 8th they will be making exceptions for couples to reunite, calling it a ‘laissez-passer’ document.
This means an American (or resident from other banned nation) with a French partner can finally reunite, despite the current entry ban in place.
The couple will need to prove their relationship started before the covid closures, and that it is a “lasting sentimental relationship”.
What’s Open in France?
Mostly everything is open in France, even if it may have different capacity levels or operating hours. Some things include: hotels, restaurants and cafes, parks, gardens, beaches, museums, cinemas, shopping malls, etc.
Update October 28:
The president of France has announced a second national lockdown until at least the end of November.
People would only be allowed to leave home for essential work or medical reasons. Non-essential businesses, such as restaurants and bars will close.
Read More: Want to see what other countries are open? Read our complete list of countries now reopen for tourism
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs / France.fr / @JBLemoyne
Disclaimer: France’s reopening news is ever-changing and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.
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Originally posted July 4, 2020 with updates
Precha
Thursday 29th of April 2021
Hello, I am a Canadian citizen with Turkish residency, can I enter Paris from Bulgaria?
Katherine Lisenby
Friday 12th of February 2021
I am a French Citizen living in the US and want to travel to France to care for my elderly mother. Will I be allow to enter France from the US?
Kashlee Kucheran
Friday 12th of February 2021
French citizens are always allowed to return home to France, however, since you are coming from a high-risk nation you must bring a 72-hour pcr test and you also may be subject to other restrictions right now.
Sachi
Thursday 21st of January 2021
Hi dr ,i live in 🇱🇰.plz tell when open to disneyland the tourists
Suhayla
Saturday 5th of December 2020
Hi, can Mauritian travel to France right now?
Kashlee Kucheran
Sunday 6th of December 2020
No sorry not at this time
Enoch26
Thursday 3rd of December 2020
Travelling from a third country to the uk then to France. Does this allow access?