France set to ditch Covid tests for vaccinated Brits ‘within days’

France travel rules for UK travellers are set to change with plans to drop Covid test requirements for vaccinated Brits expected to be announced in the coming days

Brits who are fully vaccinated against Covid may soon no longer be required to take Covid tests for France holidays.

Under the current France travel rules, double jabbed Brits can visit provided they have either a negative PCR or antigen test result taken within 24 hours before arrival.

However, France could be set to ditch Covid test requirements, provided a traveller is double jabbed.

The country would be following in the footsteps of Portugal and Greece, both of whom have eased travel rules and scrapped pre-departure Covid tests for vaccinated Brits, just in time for the half term holidays.

Sign up to the Mirror’s travel newsletter for more updates.

The French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Clement Beaune, revealed in an interview with France 2 television that test would no longer be needed for vaccinated arrivals. He didn’t confirm details of when the new rules would come in place although he did say they would be due ‘in the coming days’.

The Covid test requirements were initially put in place in December due to concerns over rising case numbers of the Omicron variant at the time.

It’s worth noting that just recently, France did tighten up its rules as part of an EU move regarding what counts as ‘fully vaccinated’.

Under the new rules, you’ll need to have received your full vaccination course within 270 days – or nine months – of arrival. Otherwise, you’ll need to show proof of a booster jab to be considered as fully jabbed.

Meanwhile, unvaccinated travellers are still required to have an essential reason for travelling to France – and a holiday won’t fall under this.

The rules apply to anybody aged 12 or over. As for As for unvaccinated children? According to the UK Foreign Office’s travel advice for France: “The same measures applied to vaccinated adults are applied to any minors who are travelling with them, whether vaccinated or not.”

Travel restrictions can change quickly during the pandemic, so if you are considering a trip then you should always check the Foreign Office’s latest France travel advice before booking or going on a trip.

It’s worth noting that there are still local Covid rules in place throughout the holiday hotspot.

For example, anyone aged 16 or over will need a ‘pass vaccinal’ to access the likes of restaurants, bars, museums and other venues. To obtain this you need either proof of vaccination, proof of recovery, or proof of a medical exemption from vaccines from a doctor.

For children aged 12-15 there is a ‘pass sanitaire’ option which can be obtained with a negative Covid test result or proof of vaccination.

What do you think about France’s travel rules? Let us know in the comments below.