Covid-19: the government eases border controls for vaccinated people

Europe 1 with AFP 07:01, February 12, 2022

The government is easing the health checks applying to vaccinated travelers arriving in France from Saturday, in particular by abolishing the test on departure, Matignon announced on Friday evening.

Obligation to present a negative test for non-vaccinated

“For travelers vaccinated within the meaning of European regulations, no more tests will be required on departure”, indicates a press release from Prime Minister Jean Castex, invoking “the new phase of the pandemic characterized, in most countries, by the predominance of the Omicron variant and a high level of vaccination".

"The proof of vaccination becomes sufficient again to arrive in France, whatever the country of origin, as was the case before the distribution of the Omicron variant", continues the press release.

For unvaccinated travelers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, "but the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the 'green' list", that is to say those where the coronavirus circulates the least.

Presentation of a compelling reason for unvaccinated arriving from a country on the "orange" list

On the other hand, unvaccinated travelers arriving from a country on the "orange" list must continue to "present a compelling reason justifying the need for them to come to mainland France and may still be subjected to a random test on their arrival", explains Matignon.

Tests for entry into France were added in early December to the system aimed at limiting the circulation of the virus, in order to cope with the explosion in the number of contaminations caused by the Omicron variant.

Since that date, the government has required all travelers from a country outside the EU to test negative within 48 hours, whether these travelers are vaccinated or not.