France is joining the growing list of Member States that will be banning travelers from entering the from the United States, Israel, and Oman unless they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to a report published in the French Official Journal.
The ban on unvaccinated travelers will be from Sunday, 12 September 2021 forward and is likely to be extended after the expiration date, Schengen-Visa.com reports.
Travelers from these countries will only be allowed to enter for essential purposes. In addition, they will need to present negative Covid-19 tests no older than 72 hours. Unvaccinated travelers entering France for essential purposes will also need to self-isolate for 7 days after arrival, and likely need to take another Covid-19 test at the end of the isolation period.
France’s decision follows the European Council’s recommendations on 30 August 2021 to remove the US, Israel, Montenegro, Lebanon, Kosovo, and North Macedonia from the EU’s list of epidemiologically ‘safe’ third countries from which travelers can enter the EU.
There has not yet been word published about the entry status to France of citizens of Montenegro, Lebanon, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
There are already extremely harsh restrictions in-place in France, to include curfews and proof of either vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test to enter public spaces such as restaurants, trains, the Eiffel Tower, museums, and other popular destinations.
As stated earlier, France is just one country on a growing list of Member States that are enacting entry bans on US and other third country travelers. Among these other Member States are Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Italy. These Member States’ entry restrictions are similar, but not uniform, to France’s.
The non-uniform way in which entry restrictions are carried out in the Schengen Area and European Union are likely to add more confusion and lower confidence from tourists and travelers wishing to visit Europe, despite frequent calls from the European Council, Commission, and Parliament to enact these entry restrictions in a uniform way.
As a result, the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries will likely continue to suffer under the confusing web of rules.
