France - double vaccinated Idiots guide please

JudoCC

Hello all,

We have had last years holiday to France moved to the week after next (initially booked in 2019!). Just to give you the breakdown of our unit:
2 x fully vaccinated adults with the covid passport thing from NHS app.
1 x 11 year old
We're flying to France on Sat 24th using Ryanair, stansted. Returning Thu 29th. 

So my questions: 
Now we are double vacs'd we treat France as a green destination? which for us means:

• For Entry to France the adults need a negative antigen tests ... and a fit to fly certificate? Does this mean no tests in france after we land? Are antigens the same day? 
• My 11 yo needs a PCR 72 hours before our flight on sat. Or just antigen?
• Then all 3 of us need a PCR on day 2 of our return? But no one has to isolate on our return?(we would lat flow with NHS thing anyway just to be safe)
• The travel certificate needed by Ryanair says this: 

The Heading: 
TRAVEL CERTIFICATE TO METROPOLITAN FRANCE FROM A COUNTRY CLASSIFIED AS A "RED ZONE" FOR SARS-CoV-2 VIRUS CIRCULATION*

(*ALL COUNTRIES EXCLUDING EU MEMBER STATES, ANDORRA, ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN, MONACO, NORWAY, SAN MARINO, SWITZERLAND AND VATICAN CITY / SPECIAL CERTIFICATE FOR TRAVELLERS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM) 

• Does this mean we do need a travel certificate - and if we do does it mean we all have to have a PCR prior to departure (as it says below):

For persons aged 11 years or more, a virology screening test (PCR) carried out less than 72 hours before boarding, showing no COVID-19 contamination

• Do we need to Antigen or lat flow before we board plane back to UK from France

I can't quite believe the amount of information that is out there, it's baffling - but hoping the lovely MSE forum brains can hopefully confirm what I think... or break it down in a wholly fool proof way. I know each case is always slightly different, but hoping the general info and answers will be helpful to other france bound folks. 

Thank you! 

soolin

I can’t comment on the tests but it might be worth keeping an eye on the news as there are beginning to be some reports suggesting that France might actually go red. 

JudoCC

 o m g  

zanzebrak

No its not a green destination even if you've been doubled vax'd so you need to have antigen test in France I believe,  and back in the UK a day 2 PCR test when you come back.  Fortunately you no longer need a day 8 test too anymore if you are double vax'd.       We've not been able to go even though we are now double vax'd and we're second home owners in France. The costs of the tests are expensive if you add them to the price of travel.     However I would be wary of travelling just now as UK ministers are talking about putting France on the red list as they have an increase of the South African variant.  If you do go then I gather from others who have travelled over its best to print out your NHS proof of vaccine rather than show a tablet or phone displaying the proof.     If you need more info maybe you could contact the French consulate in London as to France's requirements for double vax'd Brits entering France.  Its changing so fast I can't keep up with the latest requirements.  Macron announced update this Monday but I've not caught up with what he said.

sheramber

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

On 12 July, the French government announced that unvaccinated arrivals aged 11 years old or over are required to present evidence of a negative test taken within 24 hours of departure

PCR TEST   is for those 11 or older who are fully vaccinated

• those travelling aged 11 years old or over, will need evidence of a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of departure, or a negative antigen test result taken within 48 hours of departure

Also check your vaccination status as France does not accept the Indian version of vaccination

Vaccination status

The French Government recognises the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson (the vaccines recognised by the European Medical Agency). “Fully vaccinated” is defined by the completion of a vaccination schedule, specifically:

• 2 weeks after the second dose of Pfizer, Moderna, Oxford/AstraZeneca
• 4 weeks after the single and only dose of Johnson & Johnson
• 2 weeks after the single dose of any of the above vaccines if you have previously tested positive for COVID-19

The French government have provided information on how to prove your vaccination status.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/france-red-list-travel-b946083.html

JudoCC

Thanks for all the information - I really appreciate it - it’s such a muddle, and a multitude of what ifs. I know the sensible thing is to just not go - just gutted as the place won’t roll it over for another year. I know it’s not the worst problem to have whatsoever but still sucks. 

sheramber

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57869880

Fully vaccinated travellers returning to England from France will still have to quarantine for 10 days from Monday.

..........................

The change means that anyone who has been in France in the previous 10 days will need to quarantine on arrival to England in their own accommodation and will need a day two and day eight test, regardless of their vaccination status. 

This includes any fully vaccinated individual who transits through France from either a green or another amber country to reach England. 

However, travellers have the option of shortening their quarantine period through the Test to Release scheme - if they pay for a test on day five and are negative.

lisyloo

Wow, the rules changed during a 7 hour thread.

sheramber

France was already on the amber list so it is no change for those already on holiday or who booked before the announcement .

They were already required to self isolate on return.

Only people affected are those who rushed to book after the announcement  was made of changes to the amber list requirements.

lisyloo

You are making it sound like people are being rash and stupid by rushing to book.
for holidays I admit I have little sympathy, but couples/families have been split up for long periods of time now.

my point was really highlighting how quickly things can change,

and yes of course we have to balance the split up families with public health.
its just coming out this morning that Beta is more evasive of the AZ immune response and that’s where the concern is.
I don’t think that was clear to people yesterday.

Thrugelmir

lisyloo said:

my point was really highlighting how quickly things can change,

By now no one can say that they don't factor this into their personal decision making.