France opens to visitors from Europe from Monday

France will open its borders to visitors from European countries, including the UK, from Monday and there will be no more forms to fill in for those wanting to come.

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This includes those wanting to come for tourist trips or to spend time at second homes. The UK is within the boundaries of 'Europe' for Covid-19 border closures.

Tourism Minister Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne confirmed the date in a press conference today, saying he would personally visit the Belgian border on Monday to mark the opening symbolically.

“I will be meeting journalists from European countries to pass on this message of bienvenue en France, welcome, wilkommen, bienvenido.

“It is much awaited and I realise that the European clientele are very keen to come back to France."

France tourism will get a 'boost' from Europe

"There are some real francophiles among them, some of whom have second homes and so it means that together with the relaunch of domestic tourism in France this summer, the sector will also get a boost from Europe, and it’s a good thing,” he said.

Asked by Connexion to clarify that there will be no more attestation de déplacement international to fill in from Monday to come to France, he said: “Yes, from the moment that we lift the border checks it will not be necessary to produce this attestation.”

Mr Lemoyne said however that this does not affect France’s decision to ask for a voluntary quarantine for people coming from the UK, as a reciprocal measure for the UK’s own quarantine requirement.

“We are working with the British authorities, and I hope that the health situation in their country will allow them to lift this quarantine, also allowing us to do it, so we can welcome British travellers, at least in July and August.

“It’s the number one European tourist clientele, in the broad sense of Europe, and some of them have French second homes.”

Travel restrictions remain for those coming from outside Europe, but it is hoped they will be lifted in July.

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