Urgent Important Information:
We have just been informed that the French Authorities have directed that all UK passport holders entering France from Ireland will need to present printed evidence of a negative result from a privately undertaken (not NHS) pre-departure COVID-19 PCR or other antigen test taken up to 72 hours prior to their arrival. A COVID-19 Declaration Form must also be completed. UK passport holders who permanently reside in the Irish Republic are exempt but must have proof of Irish residence (e.g. scanned utility bill).
- The French decree extending the testing regime states that all people coming from the UK should present a declaration saying that they do not have Covid symptoms and that they have not been in contact with a confirmed case in the 14 days preceding their journey and be in possession of a negative PCR / Antigen Covid test taken less than 72 hours before embarking on their journey. The test has to be carried out on British territory (includes NI).
- HGV/LCV drivers arriving in Cherbourg with UK passports are now being asked to prove that they are resident in Ireland to be allowed into France without a negative COVID test. The French authorities are aware that a driver could hold a UK passport and still work and live in the South. If the driver can prove by showing proof of address in Ireland – a scanned version of a utility bill etc. - they will be allowed in without proof of a negative test. There have been a number of cases of UK passport holders driving Irish trucks and who could prove they lived in Ireland that have been allowed in.
- Drivers with UK passports driving NI registered trucks or working for NI haulage companies may have more difficulty in entering France. They risk being sent back if they do not have a valid PCR / antigen test.
The list of antigen tests approved by France is available here: https://uk.ambafrance.org/List-of-antigen-tests-authorized-for-entry-to-France-from-UK-29434
