TRAVEL TO FRANCE during the pandemic

Étudiants, Chercheurs

Pays concerné(s)

Afrique du Sud

Despite the coronavirus, France continues to welcome international students and researchers. Depending on the country, the procedures to follow to enter French territory vary.

Updated on June 1st 2021

Despite the coronavirus, France worked to be able to welcome international students and researchers, and help them join or return to their educational institution safely.

Since January 31st, new processes to enter the French territory apply to travellers. Processes differ depending on the country of origin.

YOU ARE COMING TO FRANCE FROM A COUNTRY LOCATED IN THE EUROPEAN AREA

Foreign students and researchers coming to France from the European Union (EU) Member States, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, the Holy See and Switzerland must provide:

A negative RT-PCR test, dated from less than 3 days before departure.
A sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of Covid-19, has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test upon arrival.

Download the sworn declaration

YOU ARE COMING TO FRANCE FROM AUSTRALIA, SOUTH KOREA, ISRAEL, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, SINGAPORE

Foreign students and researchers coming to France from Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore must provide:

A negative RT-PCR test dated from less than 3 days before departure.
A sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test upon arrival. This declaration also certifies that the traveller undertakes to respect isolation for 7 days after arrival and to carry out a virological test "RT-PCR COVID" at the end of the isolation period.

Download the sworn declaration

YOU ARE COMING TO FRANCE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM

Since June 1st 2021, students and researchers coming from the United Kingdom are welcome to France for a long stay (>90 days). To come to France, they must prove a compelling reason and provide at boarding:

A negative RT-PCR test dated from less than 2 days before departure.
A sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test upon arrival. This declaration also certifies that the traveller undertakes to respect isolation for 7 days after arrival and to carry out a virological test "RT-PCR COVID" at the end of the isolation period.
An exempted international travel certificate mentioning the reason for travel.
One or more documents justifying the reason for travel.

The list of compelling reasons is available in the certificate of travel.

The list includes:

Students registered in FLE class (French as Foreign Language) prior to a registration in higher education
Students admitted to oral exam of entry exams in French higher education institutions
Students registered for the academic course 2021-2022
Researchers settling in France at the invitation of a research laboratory for research activity imperatively needing physical presence, and their spouse (married, “pacs” contract, partner upon presentation of a proof of joint living) and their children.

Download the certification of travail from the United Kingdom to France

YOU ARE COMING TO FRANCE FROM SOUTH AFRICA, ARGENTINA, BANGLADESH, BAHREIN, BRAZIL, BOLIVIA, CHILE, COLOMBIA, COSTA RICA, INDIA, NEPAL, PAKISTAN, SURINAM, SRI LANKA, TURKEY AND URUGUAY

Since 24 April 2021, the French government strengthened measures at borders for a number of countries to tackle the spread of coronavirus variants.

The list of reasons and categories of individuals coming from the aforementioned countries and allowed to enter the French territory is limited mainly to national citizens only, their partner and children, and to citizens from the UE or a third country with their main residence in France. Study and research stays are no longer authorised.

Additional information on the Ministry of the Interior website

YOU ARE COMING TO FRANCE FROM A COUNTRY LOCATED OUTSIDE THE EUROPEAN AREA

Foreign students and researchers coming from other countries located outside the European Area are welcome to France for a long stay (>90 days). To come to France, they must prove a compelling reason and provide at boarding:

A negative RT-PCR test dated from less than 3 days before departure.
A sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with Covid-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test upon arrival. This declaration also certifies that the traveller undertakes to respect isolation for 7 days after arrival and to carry out a virological test "RT-PCR COVID" at the end of the isolation period.
An exempted international travel certificate mentioning the reason for travel.
One or more documents justifying the reason for travel.

The list of compelling reasons is available in the certificate of travel.

The list includes:

Students registered in FLE class (French as Foreign Language) prior to a registration in higher education
Students admitted to oral exam of entry exams in French higher education institutions
Students registered for the academic course 2021-2022
Researchers settling in France at the invitation of a research laboratory for research activity imperatively needing physical presence, and their spouse (married, “pacs” contract, partner upon presentation of a proof of joint living) and their children.

For students and researchers who come from a country where it is impossible to carry out a “RT-PCR COVID” virological test, it is possible, provided that they have a negative antigenic test, to apply to the French Embassy for a waiver of the test on the basis of a compelling reason, subject to prior acceptance of a 10-day stay in a predetermined accommodation on arrival, and to undergo a “RT-PCR COVID” virological test at the end of the isolation.

The certificate of travel and travel from outside Europe and the certificate on honour are available in French and English on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.

Download the travel certificate and the sworn declaration

A special case: Lebanon

Entry conditions to France are the same as French and European citizens.

YOU HAVE ARRIVED IN FRANCE

When you arrive in France, we recommend that you:

Respect, when requested, the 7-day isolation period, by staying at home as much as possible and limiting outings to essential needs.
Respect the curfew in force from 21:00 to 6:00 am.
Wear a mask, compulsory outdoors and recommended indoors when the distance of one metre is not possible.
Follow the official information from the French government
Download the TousAntiCovid government application
Contact your host institution for distance learning support for your course.
Immediately contact a doctor in case of symptoms

YOU ARE EXITING FRANCE

Any exit from the French territory to a country outside the European area* must be justified with a compelling reason. The list of compelling reasons is shown on the certificate of travel from the French territory to be presented at boarding. This document is available in French and English on the Ministry of the Interior website.