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COVID-19

What are the current travel links between France and the UK and Ireland

As travel between France and the UK and Ireland remains heavily restricted, the news that the UK will delay the easing of lockdown until mid-July is causing some travel companies to cancel their services. Here's a round up of the current links between France and the UK, and between France and Ireland.

Published: 17 June 2021 17:37 CEST
What are the current travel links between France and the UK and Ireland
With Britain unlikely to reopen overseas travel until August, airlines are cancelling flights as demand plummets. Photo: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

Travel between the UK and France

France is on the UK’s amber list for travel, which means travellers must present a pre-departure test, plus quarantine at home for 10 days upon arrival in England, Wales or Scotland. In addition, PCR tests will be required on days two and eight of quarantine.

The UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, has warned that the amber list features “places that you shouldn’t go to unless you have an absolutely compelling reason”, and concern over new Covid variants, particularly from India, is making it unlikely the situation will change soon.

You cannot currently enter the UK if you’ve been in or through a country on the red list, unless you’re British, Irish or you have the right to live in the UK.

The UK is listed as “orange” for France, which means travellers need a negative Covid-19 test, and, unless you are fully vaccinated, an essential reason for travel.

Here is a full list of requirements for travel  between France and orange list countries.

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about travel between France and an orange-list country

Flights

The number of flights to and from France are dwindling, with Britain unlikely to really reopen overseas travel until August.

According to the Telegraph, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and EasyJet have already started cancelling flights until after July 19 – the date of the next stage of reopening – as demand plummets.

A spokesperson for EasyJet told the Local that “due to the recent UK government decision not to further open up international travel for the summer we have been required to evaluate our schedule in line with where we see the restrictions impacting demand.”

“As a result, we are currently not able to fly as much as we had hoped between the UK and France and this means some flights will be cancelled.”

Customers will be offered a refund, a voucher, or a free of charge transfer to an alternative flight.

Eurostar

Eurostar is currently operating two services a day in each direction between Paris and London. A spokesperson for Eurostar told The Local that while they are not cancelling services, “they are already operating a minimal timetable which is based on demand.”

“We will continue to monitor demand, and adapt services should there be an increase in bookings,” they said.

The tickets sold by Eurostar are now flexible, which means you can change your ticket free of charge up to 7 days before departure.

See the full list of rules for travelling to the UK with the Eurostar HERE.

Ferries

Brittany Ferries is currently operating a daily passenger service between Portsmouth and Caen and Poole and Cherbourg, as well as a weekly service between Portsmouth and Cherbourg.

The passenger service between Portsmouth and Le Havre is suspended until further notice. The service between Portsmouth and St Malo will resume on 27 June. Further services are expected to start from 20 June. More information HERE.

P&O is operating its route between Dover and Calais, with around 15 daily sailings.

Irish Ferries is launching a new Dover-Calais service on June 29th, with up to 10 daily sailings. 

Eurotunnel

The Eurotunnel is open with shuttles running regularly (one an hour each way). However, all bookings must be made at least 24 hours in advance, and it is no longer possible to purchase a ticket at check-in.

The service is also offering refundable tickets, so travellers can receive a full refund should they need to cancel.

The tunnel’s Covid-19 travel information can be found HERE.

TRAVEL TO IRELAND FROM FRANCE

Ireland is classed as “green” for France, which means fully vaccinated travellers do not need to follow any travel restrictions. More information can be found HERE.

France was removed from Ireland’s hotel quarantine list, so people arriving from France no longer have to isolate themselves at a pre-booked hotel. However, they will have to show a negative Covid-19 test and fill out a passenger locator form. More information about travel to Ireland from France can be found HERE.

Flights

Several airlines such as Aer Lingus, Air France and Ryanair are currently running flights to Ireland.

However, Aer Lingus has cancelled summer flights to several European destinations including cities in France due to a lack of demand. The company told the Irish Times it was rearranging its summer schedule after the government announced that restrictions on international travel would be eased from the middle of next month.

Ferries

Irish Ferries is continuing to operate its schedules between Cherbourg and Dublin, three crossings a week each way, for people travelling for essential reasons. Flexible tickets are available.

More information HERE.

Brittany Ferries is operating a service between Rosslare and Cherbourg, and is scheduled to resume its service between Cork and Roscoff on June 29th.

This article is based on the latest information provided by transport operators – anyone who has a trip booked is advised to check directly with their operator.

Member comments

  1. Thanks for including information for Irish (and other English speaking EU citizens) visitors to France. Much appreciated
    Bill Godwin

  2. A WARNING IF YOU HAVE YOUR MARRIED NAME ON YOUR PASSPORT! I showed my TousAntiCovid app PCR test result at an Air France check in desk and it was going to be refused as proof because the certificates in the app only show your BIRTH NAME. Luckily I had the paper copy of the test result which also had my married name. My first vaccination attestation has both names, the second only has my birth name as it has been decided that the vaccination passport will also just have birth name. I am travelling this weekend and have a copy of my birth cert, marriage cert, tax payment and utility bill just in case!

    1. Mon nom marital ne figure pas sur mon attestation de vaccination, est-ce normal ?
      Oui. Depuis le 3 juin 2021, l’attestation de vaccination certifiée comporte uniquement le nom de naissance. C’est la norme qui sera adoptée sur la future attestation de vaccination européenne qui entrera en vigueur le 1er juillet 2021.

      (SOURCE: https://www.ameli.fr/bouches-du-rhone/assure/covid-19/vaccination-contre-la-covid-19/lattestation-de-vaccination-certifiee-en-pratique)

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EES PASSPORT CHECKS

EES border checks could undergo ‘soft launch’, UK says as app concerns mount

The UK government is preparing for a "soft launch" of the new EU border system – the Entry/Exit (EES) system - in October but authorities are still waiting for European Commission to confirm the start date, amid concerns over the delay of a new app.

Published: 4 May 2024 09:30 CEST
EES border checks could undergo 'soft launch', UK says as app concerns mount

The government is working on the assumption that the system will go live on October 6th, ministers told a hearing at the House of Commons European scrutiny committee this week.

But the European Commission is expected to confirm the exact launch date of the new biometric checks for non-EU travellers entering the Schengen area at some point this summer, they added.

“We are very much working on a basis whereby this policy will go live on the 6th of October. It is important that we plan for that eventuality. We are expecting to hear definitively from the European Union that ‘go live’ arrangement in the summer,” Tom Pursglove, UK Minister for Legal Migration and the Border told the committee.

The parliamentary committee is conducting an inquiry on the disruptions the system will cause in the UK.

Pursglove also said that “precautionary measures” have been agreed by the EU, that will be put in place in certain circumstances after the start of EES, for example if delays at the borders exceeded a certain length of time.

Guy Opperman, Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport, said that in practice this meant a “soft launch” of EES for 6 months before “a full go live”. During that soft launch EU member states and the UK could deploy flexibility measures should problems occur.

“The likelihood is, after multiple delays, that the 6th of October will proceed” and the implementation looks “very different” compared to previous scenarios considering the flexibility allowed in the first 6 months, he argued.

No details were given on what these “flexible” measures would involve however. 

READ ALSO: Your questions answered about Europe’s EES passport checks

He conceded that “a lot of work” still needs to be done but the UK “should be as ready as everybody” and “better be at front of the queue”.

App not ready

During the meeting, it also emerged that a much-anticipated app that would allow remote pre-registration of non-EU citizens subject to the checks will not be available for testing until August “at best”, prompting concerns about the EES launch date.

“You don’t need to be a sceptic about future projects to think that the provision of the app in August for going live in October is optimistic,” Opperman said.

Ministers confirmed that the app will not be ready in time for October and the committee previously stated it might be delayed until summer 2025.

The app will facilitate pre-registration, but photo and fingerprints will still have to be taken at the border in front of a guard, the committee heard.

READ ALSO: How do the EU’s new EES passport checks affect the 90-day rule?

Several MPs asked whether the entry into operation of the EES should be delayed again if technology is not ready. But Under-Secretary Opperman said the app “is not going to be a panacea to fix all problems”.

The main aim of EES is to increase security and to ensure that non-EU nationals visiting the Schengen area for a short-term do not stay more than 90 days in any 180-day period.

The entry into operation of the system has already been delayed several times and there have been calls from certain travel companies and national authorities to delay it again.

Under the new scheme, non-EU/EFTA travellers who do not need a visa will have to register their biometric data (finger prints and facial images) in a database that will also record each time they enter and exit the Schengen area.

Instead of having passports manually stamped, travellers will have to scan them at self-service kiosks before crossing the border. However, fingerprints and a photo will have to be registered in front of a guard at the first crossing and there are concerns the extra time needed will generate long queues, especially in Dover, Folkestone and St. Pancras station in London, where there are juxtaposed French and UK border checks.

Progress in preparations

Minister Pursglove also updated MPs on ongoing preparations. He said some testing of the system will take place within days, 5 kiosks have been installed at St. Pancras station and are available for testing. “You are beginning to see the physical infrastructure appear,” he said.

Kiosks and extra lanes are also being created at the port Dover and it was agreed with the EU passengers travelling by coach will be checked away from the Eastern dock, where controls usually take place, allowing to gain space. The vehicles will then sealed and drive on the ferries.

MPs also discussed the infrastructure cost linked to the introduction of the EES. Opperman said all EU countries will have to make “huge investments” in their ports. In the UK, he argued, this will help “address problems that have existed for some time”. Because of this “massive investment”, in a few years time “Dover will be totally transformed,” he said.

This article is published in cooperation with Europe Street News.

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