OBSOLETE COVID THREAD Travel UK to France (Biarritz) - February 2022

[Domsa]

Hello

I'm starting my Camino in a couple of weeks (18 February) and looking for advice from someone who has recently travelled UK to Biarritz.

What are the French entry requirements please? I have a UK Gov vaccine passport. Do I need to take a home test (free) PCR or order a private test?
What forms or apps do I need to complete?


Entry & exit to Spain? I'll cross the land border from France in Spain - do I need to register or have anything in order to stay at hostels or when I come to leave Span (Bilbao) on 26 February?

Many thanks

 

[henrythedog]

Look here:

Entry requirements - France travel advice

FCDO travel advice for France. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Don’t take opinion, don’t believe what the papers say; only look at the UK and France government sites.

If you ever do need a test a NHS provided lateral flow test will never be, and has never been, acceptable. It needs to be privately paid for and certificated.

The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ varies between European countries, and is being reported incorrectly at the moment. Three shots (2+booster) is indisputable, but two shots is increasingly being subjected to a time limit, which varies between countries.

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Look here:

Entry requirements - France travel advice

FCDO travel advice for France. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Don’t take opinion, don’t believe what the papers say; only look at the UK and France government sites.

If you ever do need a test a NHS provided lateral flow test will never be, and has never been, acceptable. It needs to be privately paid for and certificated.

The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ varies between European countries, and is being reported incorrectly at the moment. Three shots (2+booster) is indisputable, but two shots is increasingly being subjected to a time limit, which varies between countries.

Yes, definitely watch out for the different time limits on 2 shot vaccination. In some countries the rules for entry (into the country) have one time limit and the rules for accessing services (bars/restaurants etc.) have a different time limit.

 

[Sue127]

@Domsa Just for information, I travelled back to France with the certificate to Fly antigen entry (although I entered by Ferry - it's the same) on Saturday. I ordered mine from Randox. Down load app, test at home, take photo of test strip with QR code and complete app. Do NOT lose your order number (I had junked mine!) as you need it to complete the app. Certificate arrives in APP (don't wait for an email, like I did - frantically sitting at the ferry port!) within three hours. At the moment it has to be within 24 hours of leaving, but by the time you leave, it may well have changed again. Antigen or PCR is accepted - antigen much cheaper!

 

[Domsa]

Look here:

Entry requirements - France travel advice

FCDO travel advice for France. Includes safety and security, insurance, entry requirements and legal differences.

www.gov.uk

Don’t take opinion, don’t believe what the papers say; only look at the UK and France government sites.

If you ever do need a test a NHS provided lateral flow test will never be, and has never been, acceptable. It needs to be privately paid for and certificated.

The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ varies between European countries, and is being reported incorrectly at the moment. Three shots (2+booster) is indisputable, but two shots is increasingly being subjected to a time limit, which varies between countries.

Thanks. Good advice about not taking “advice” about customs entry.

 

[Domsa]

@Domsa Just for information, I travelled back to France with the certificate to Fly antigen entry (although I entered by Ferry - it's the same) on Saturday. I ordered mine from Randox. Down load app, test at home, take photo of test strip with QR code and complete app. Do NOT lose your order number (I had junked mine!) as you need it to complete the app. Certificate arrives in APP (don't wait for an email, like I did - frantically sitting at the ferry port!) within three hours. At the moment it has to be within 24 hours of leaving, but by the time you leave, it may well have changed again. Antigen or PCR is accepted - antigen much cheaper!

Thanks for sharing your experience- it’s really helpful.