Travel Restrictions

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
I read that France has just introduced new travel restrictions for visitors from the UK - do you think Switzerland will follow suit - although no doubt they want to avoid the confusion of a few weeks ago, when UK visitors were excluded, then quarantined and then allowed in with a PCR. Keeping my fingers crossed that the border stays open for Christmas.

2
This is so stressful - we have no idea about Swiss residents going to and returning from the UK, by road, via France.

3
https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/co...ange-countries

seems we will be OK

Make sure you have a residence permit though. Our Canton does not do those normally, so last time we went to UK late June, we went to our Commune (Gemeinde) to ask for one- with names, address, dates and official stamp and signature, 'just in case' - and we were glad we did as we were asked for them at the Tunnel by French Border guards. Even more important this time.

4
Yes, super stressful for all. All beginning to be rather reminiscent of Christmas 2020/21.

5
We had to cancel last year- this year I AM GOING !!!

No intention of going to any pubs, venues, clubs, restaurants - just our own direct family, daughters and grandchildren.

6
I expect some changes but not more than the 2G+ that Italy just introduced. We'll know more following the Bundesrat decision tomorrow.

7
Yes, my view too. I'm trusting we'll all be together in Switzerland this Christmas.

8

Nope, it’s just changed today.

Just seen this on the Beeb website:

"It says as Omicron spreads “extremely quickly” in the UK, the French government has decided to reimplement compelling reasons for travel between the countries and reinforce mandatory tests at departures and arrivals.

It says: "According to the British government’s own words, the United Kingdom is about to face a ‘landslide’ linked to the Omicron variant in the upcoming days.

"Therefore, starting from this Saturday morning (00:00), the following rules will be established for travel between the United Kingdom and France:

A compelling reason will be mandatory for travellers leaving or going to the United Kingdom, for both unvaccinated and vaccinated people. (See list of compelling reasons below*). These compelling reasons do not include professional and tourist trips. However, these compelling reasons will not apply to French citizens, their partners and children, who will still be able to come to France

Before their departure, vaccinated people will have to show a negative test (PCR or antigen) taken less than 24h ago, which falls into line with the measures that were already in place for unvaccinated people

Every traveller coming from the United Kingdom will have to register, prior to their trip, on a digital platform to indicate their destination address in France. This platform will generate prefectural decrees ordering the mandatory isolation of every unvaccinated and vaccinated traveller in the location of their choice. This mandatory quarantine can be lifted after 48h, under the conditions of showing the proof of a new negative test (PCR or antigen)"

Link to the full statement

https://twitter.com/GuillaumeBazard/…07935653875714

You’re not going to be driving over there JackieH, no way.

And your canton doesn’t do residence permits? What!

9
Covid is mainly spread in the household, not pubs, venues, clubs, restaurants. Last Christmas we went to Madeira. Among the tourists there were almost no infections. But the island has a large diaspora, and many returned to visit for the holiday season. Among islanders covid rates therefore rocketed because of spending time with family.

Those are the realities, sorry.

10
I believe she’s a Swiss Citizen.

I’d take something fairly recent that has a full address on it. A bank statement or utility bill.

Jackie, can you get across France without stopping for anything, even petrol? Alternatively travel via Belgium or Netherlands. Or fly?

11
Ma parents were due to go to gare de nord where i would pick them up in a car and take them to Switzerland. we are cancelling, its too much unknown. even if you could argue about ultimate destination there is so much changing on a daily basis now planning is just impossible.

12
Rules are now clear, EU and Switzerland can transit via France to return home to residence.

13
We are all vaccinated, and all have had confirmed Covid.

14
If you can't accept the probably consequences, should you really go ?

Rules and regulations change faster than Boris makes kids, with no warnings, you know their is a high chance you'll have a problem, somewhere in UK, France or may even in Switzelrand, is it the actions of a responsible person with a whole lifetime of experience to travel under these circumstances ?

15
From official French site - and lists of exceptions to travel : ''European Union nationals or equivalents, as well as their partners (spouses, civil partners or cohabiters) and children, with their main residence in France or transiting through France to their main residence in a European Union country or equivalent country, or the country of which they are nationals.''

We are both dual citizens and will have both passports each.

We are able to quarantine in UK and quarantine when back here- if we have to, we have the means to quarantine in France. So yes, we will take the consequences, and will restrict to immediate family.

Would never ever do this for a mere 'holiday'.

16
My point is that there is nothing virtuous in visiting family but avoiding pubs and restaurants.

17
And I disagree because we are all vaccinated, and we have all had Covid too.

I have no idea about the status of people in pubs and restaurants. The reason too why we are travelling in own car, via Tunnel, to avoid all contact with others bar one very careful pee stop on the way.

MedeaF ''And your canton doesn't do residence permits? What! ''

they don't for Swiss citizens (we are both dual British/Swiss) and we don't have work permits as we are retired. But our Commune has done some official looking residence permits just in case, and we were asked for them by French Border Guards at the Tunnel in July.

18
Presumably you don't have Swiss passports (I know you have Swiss citizenship). I assume going over to the UK on British passports and returning on Swiss ones would work without the need for residency permits.

I know how you feel about getting over to see your family. I flew over recently with my husband to see my elderly mother and my brothers. I am British/Swiss and luckily decided to fly on my Swiss passport. We flew back just on that window when entrance to British Nationals was denied.

It's incomprehensible that we are in almost exactly the same situation as last Christmas.

19
Yes, as said above, we both have both passports.

20
So are you saying people should decide for themselves what risks to take?