By Alison Fox
Jun 14, 2021
FRANCE HAS LAID OUT A REOPENING strategy that eases travel restrictions, categorizing countries in a color-coded system based on perceived risk of Covid prevalence.
As of June 9, there aren’t any travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers heading to France from a “green” country, according to the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, which includes other European countries, Australia, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Singapore and South Korea. Unvaccinated travelers from those destinations will have to complete a COVID-19 PCR or antigen test within 72 of their departure.
Vaccinated tourists coming to France from an “orange” country, which includes travelers from the United States, have to get a PCR test within 72 hours of their trip or an antigen test within 48 hours of their trip.
Unvaccinated travelers in this category can only go to France “with a pressing reason” and are subject to the same testing protocols. Unvaccinated travelers may also be tested upon arrival and have to self-isolate for seven days.
Additionally, France has created a list of “red” countries from which travelers will be required to have a valid reason to enter.
France’s easing of travel restrictions comes amid the reopening of several other European countries, including Croatia, Italy, Greece, and Spain. Europe as a whole plans to reopen to vaccinated travelers later this summer.
The reopening also follows the easing of a strict lockdown in France in which residents were required to remain within about 10 kilometers of their homes and non-essential shops were closed. Since then, popular attractions have planned reopening dates, including Disneyland Paris and Monet’s gardens in Giverny.
Beyond experiencing Paris, tourists who head to France this summer can see the best of the country on a river cruise with several cruise lines, including Viking and AmaWaterways, making plans to restart sailings.
