UK > Geneva > France - Entry Requirements

A snowHead

Hi All,

We're heading out to the 3V next friday through Geneva, and I'm working out what we need for the borders. Both of us are triple jabbed.

I've seen today's announcement that fully vaccinated no longer need a test to get into Switzerland - great news!

However I'm not so sure on what happens with getting from CH into FR. We've got a hire car on the swiss side so will be heading down the motorway towards Annecy from the airport.

Are we classed by France as arriving from a green country as we're (technically) arriving from Switzerland? i.e. We don't need to test before setting off, but need sworn statements that we will test if asked to?

A snowHead

@plasmastorm, it is where you began your journey, not the last place you drove through.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Nadenoodlee, yes but who is going to check your negative test. I'm all for sticking to the rules but not so much for adding to the profits of these testing pirates

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Seems like people off skiing/boarding last week of Jan/1st week of Feb are on the cusp of "do we do this or do we do that", which is frustrating.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Thanks - will get some tests ordered. Wishful thinking on my part then Smile

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I'm heading to Morzine via Geneva in March and now don't plan to get a pre-flight test. I've crossed the border a number of times in the past heading into France and never once had to stop and show documentation. This has been on private transfers, car hire, etc. But as mentioned above, that was all pre-covid times.

After all it is free

We travel next Saturday and are having a similar confusion. We know we don’t have physical border checks between Switzerland and France but can the hotel ask for travel info?

I’ve already booked the LFT tests so thinking of just getting them done and that being that!

@Jonny996, that is a wholly separate question. There is a legal requirement that relies on self policing. Getting caught is moot.

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anyone actually experienced it for real returning France - Geneva - UK this past weekend since the rules changed? What checks were there in reality between France and boarding the plan home for someone getting on transfer bus in French resort and getting out at Geneva airport? Im going Jet2, but presume airline doesnt make a difference

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Just been trying to do some investigation into this. No real conclusions! Seems that potentially two separate "Passenger Locator forms" will need to be completed, one to get into Switzerland from UK and then another from Switzerland into France. Also still a bit confusing about needing a certified LFT completed. Its now (from 22nd Jan) not needed to enter Switzerland but still could be needed to get into France (regardless of the open border) when transiting. Assume the Pass Sanitaire is then still needed with all the documentation uploaded, including the LFT certificate? But if I stay in Geneva for 24 hours, then I wont need a LFT to enter France??

I go in March so hopefully the France restrictions a lifted by then!!

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Austria just announced the same as Switzerland. Will France follow suit anyone's guess

You know it makes sense.

A friend of mine travelled to Chamonix today via GVA.

He followed the guidance and had no issues.

Pre departure test, Swiss plf, French declaration etc.

He had no issues. I think that’s all that matters.

I follow him next week, and plan to do same. Despite the change to Swiss rules , I plan to take predeparture LFT test to ensure no issues getting into France. It’s £20 - I can forego a couple of beers to cover the cost. Although I probably won’t…

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I came back to France via GVA last night.
Pre-flight, BA checked the stuff on the VeriFly APP ( Neg Covid LFT, Some QR code from a relevant vaccination jab recording app, and the CHPLF).
On the way to UK only 2/6 (A & F) of the seats were in use on each row, last night it was 6/6 so there were the full complement of 186 pax.
Most seemed to be Brits / non-EEA as the non EU queue for passport control in GVA was huge.
I was told that if you have a FR CdS you can scoot through the CH / EU queue by presenting your UK passport and CdS. This was great as there were 3 staffed booths and precisely zero people in front of me.
Other than the passport, the only thing they were interested in was the Cert for the NEG LFT ( Testing For All printed copy was fine ), and they didn't even look at the CHPLF.
I did not have a French Declaration, and was never asked for one by the airline, or the Swiss immigration service, even though they knew I was going to France - it's not their concern.
Driving from GVA to France, the border was unstaffed (this is the default).

A snowHead

If you have a flight to Switzerland it's not the airlines obligation to check your final destination only the flight destination.
I'm not sure how the French can control this you can exit immigration into Switzerland pick up a hire car and drive across the soft border with no check at all same for private transfer co.'s etc.
I can't see airlines checking negative tests for long particularly on scheduled flights to Geneva it's not their responsibility as landing your destination doesn't require it that's the job of the French at their border (which we know is impossible).
I think this is going to be a bit of a nightmare for France.
I'm not suggesting anyone test this out certainly just yet.

Desperately hoping the French change their rules in next few weeks but probably just fantasy.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

On the French sworn statement it states

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@ringingmaster, It means you agree to take a further test if requested as you go through the French border.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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@Roscoe, No, you still need to arrive with a test ; I think they are just doing random testing (or they don't like the look of proof provided by the Tourist).

Anyway, by March we will be in a different world....

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After all it is free

On the Swiss form, there is a box to click if you are in Transit.
I just clicked that.

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No, but there's a bunch of reasons (some of which may apply to you).

1: the Swiss don't care, so long as you satisfy the requirements for entry to CH.
2: the CH-FR border I use is never staffed
3: transiting to départements neighbouring GVA is frictionless (Schengen)
4: I have entered a neighbouring department (Haute Savoie) from CH which is permitted
5: my car has local French plates so won't get stopped unless it looks like I am smuggling a car load of Lucky Strike
6: I have a cross border work permit that allows me to come and go between CH-FR as I please

There'll be a point working down that list where it may not apply to you, but the top 3 will apply in most cases

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You know it makes sense.

@musehead, Thanks for confirmation. As you say, hopefully no tests will be needed by March.

Do you have a link to the declaration form? Also, will I need to download the PS app?? Or is the NHS one accepted in France?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

I would add that if you are going over a staffed border such as Bardonex or St Gingolphe for the sake of filling out the form, it's worth doing, as there is no cost for filling the form.
To my knowledge ( and I know a lot of people that come and go) absolutely zero people of the ones I know have had to do another Test in France on the basis of the Declaration, and the only people who have shown the Declaration are those who have offered it up without being asked.
You might be super-unlucky and get the customs officer having a bad day, so its worth doing a bit like taking out an insurance policy you won't use, but I'll bet you a pound to a pinch of poo-poo that you won't need it.

A snowHead

We've got tests ordered for our jaunt next friday, figured it better safe than sorry.

It's possible that regardless of Shengen they may start doing spot checks on the main GVA motorway border in the short term (under the guise of looking for CHFs and cigarettes and co-incidentally, Oh! Monsieur, you've just come from the UK?) once they work out that UK travellers are entering without having had to present tests at the airport.

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

When it says 'from 22nd January' does that mean from 00.01 on 22nd January? We are travelling to GVA on 22nd at 07.45.

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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Really useful, thanks. But whats a FR CdS? Thanks

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@bitoffluff, French carte de séjour

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@bitoffluff, Carte de Sejour (Residency, but not Citizenship Permit).
@Roscoe, Unless you're going to Chatel, then your transfer will very likely go via Bardonnex which IS staffed, so to be safe I would fill out and print the declaration even if you don't need it ( you won't ).
It's not a waste of paper as it can be re-purposed first for writing your shopping list, and then for making roaches / or other origami animals.

After all it is free

@WindOfChange, so we can use the EU lane? Brilliant!!

@Roscoe, No he did not. Sounds like nothing was particularly checked enroute into France, just on entry to switzerland. FWIW, he took the Easybus transfer service from GVA to Chamonix. French Gov website here https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel#from4a

Says : "The rules that apply from Friday January 14, 2022 for travel between the UK and France are as follows

All travelers, vaccinated or not, must initially present a negative test (PCR or antigen test) of less than 24 hours.
For vaccinated travelers, there is no longer any obligation to justify a compelling reason for coming to France, nor any obligation to respect a period of isolation upon arrival on national territory. As such, the need to register, prior to travel, on the "passenger eOS" digital platform has been lifted. Arrival screenings may be conducted at the places of arrival. If the result is positive, the traveler will be placed in isolation."

I am travelling a week Friday, just tried to order a 2 day return test set from C19 - and their website has a statement that they are not currently taking orders for return tests for arrival after the 30th Jan in anticipation of rule change.

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I'll be crossing tonight at the crossing on the way to Douvaine on the Rte de Thonon. Will report back but would guess it will be as quiet as usual.

Flying into GVA so have a test for that anyway and the form took 30 seconds - I figure it pays to be prepared!

Help!!

UK > Geneva > France - Entry Requirements

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