COVID: Why are travel rules for France different from other amber list countries?

August 2021 | Reading time: 3 minutes

Fully vaccinated travellers and under 18s returning to the UK from amber list countries no longer need to self-isolate except when returning from France.

Update: From 8 August, the ‘quarantine exemption for fully vaccinated and under-18s’ rule will apply to France along with all other amber list countries.

Since the government’s travel updates on 19 July, people who have received both COVID-19 jabs in the UK from the NHS as well as under 18 travellers are exempt from quarantine requirements when returning from a visit to amber list countries.

Furthermore, they are no longer obligated to take Day 8 PCR tests either. Only pre-travel PCR tests and Day 2 PCR tests still apply.

The rule for fully vaccinated returnees from amber list countries was expanded to include travellers who have received their COVID-19 shots from the US and most EU countries from 2 August.

However, despite being on the UK’s amber list, France does not qualify for the ‘fully vaccinated travellers’ exemptions. Everyone returning from France must quarantine for ten days and undergo Day 2 and Day 8 PCR tests regardless of vaccination status.

‘Persistent’ Beta variant cases

The chief concern behind the government’s easing of rules for fully vaccinated travellers not applying to France is the rise in Beta variant cases.

Experts worry that the COVID-19 vaccines are not quite so effective against the Beta variant.

According to the Health Secretary, Sajid Javid: ‘We have always been clear that we will not hesitate to take rapid action at our borders to stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect the gains made by our successful vaccination programme.

With restrictions lifting on Monday across the country, we will do everything we can to ensure international travel is conducted as safely as possible and protect our borders from the threat of variants.’

The Beta variant, which was first encountered in South Africa, is now responsible for 10% of the new COVID-19 infections in France. This statistic includes the French territories on the Indian Ocean – Reunion and Mayotte. The Beta variant is behind almost all new cases of COVID-19 in the two islands.

Travelling to France

Meanwhile, the French authorities have increased restrictions for UK visitors who are not fully vaccinated. Travellers must produce a negative PCR test taken within 24 hours of arrival as opposed to the previously imposed 48-hour time window.

However, UK travellers who have been fully vaccinated with shots from AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen will not have to provide a negative PCR test on arrival in France.

The decidedly more infectious Delta variant now accounts for most of the new COVID-19 infections in the UK. The Delta variant was first identified in India.

Visit VIVO Clinic’s foreign travel portal for the latest information and entry requirements of countries worldwide.