France moves to Amber List, NHS QR accepted
Good news for the hesitant. Not only is France now on the Amber list, and not Amber Plus, but by complete coincidence the TousAntiCovid App now recognises the NHS App Proof of vaccination QR codes.
Make sure BEFORE you wish to use it, your NHS App is open, on the correct page - Share my Covid status, etc., then 'Travel', and the verification App associated with TousAntiCovid will now scan and recognise your QR codes. I did it last night to check and it does work and you get the Green 'Valide' on the verification App (TousAntiCovid-Verif). So no need to download the TousAntiCovid App, and import your codes as previously suggested.
NB Amber list rules still require the Day 2 and Day 8 tests in the UK after return, and a test (required by your carrier) before you leave France.
Comments
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ValDa, van you tell us exactly what test is required before leaving France for the UK. Does it have to be a PCR or will a LFT be enough? Thanks.
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In case Val has gone for lunch - standard French pharmacy antigen test price €29
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So to be clear on the rules, apart from the digital certificates etc. there is no requirement for a test before departure or upon entering France; just a test in France before return then a test back in the UK?
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If you are fully vaccinated you are correct.
The test before leaving France can be a simple lateral flow antigen test but the UK test (day 2 after you are back ) has to be a PCR test . That has to be booked and paid for before you leave France to come home, and the details of it entered on a locator form completed on line to show at the port. It can be a test sent to you by post at home or one taken at a UK clinic.
Please check my explanation with that on the official UK government website.
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Looking at the Gov UK site for information on the UK requirements for travel to and from France reveals a 'dog's breakfast' of links to patches of information, some relevant and some irrelevant! (imho.).
PCR tests are required on arriving back in UK booked before you return. The site gives links to commercial companies offering in-person or at-home-by-post and other variations. Explore the price structure and the costs rocket. Leaving aside costs, buying tests on the internet while still touring in France might prove to be a problem. The process means you must go directly home from your channel crossing to receive your test kits via post and then return them in time.
We have just cancelled our Late August/September bookings at Saint Clair and Cavalaire sur Mer. On the phone this morning to the latter, they said that their site is full but with only 3 GB vans.
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"Leaving aside costs, buying tests on the internet while still touring in France might prove to be a problem. The process means you must go directly home from your channel crossing to receive your test kits via post and then return them in time"
Yes this is a problem, my Spanish daughter who came into the UK via the tunnel ordered her tests via Boots and they were delivered to our address, so she did come directly to us because at that time she also had to self isolate for 10 days which she was going to do at ours.
now you do not have to SI, however, if she wanted to visit East G. daughter on her way to ours and have a sleep over that would not be possible as you have to do test within 2 days.
I seem to recall there was a serial number on the test package that she had to put on the locator form that they used to track you, once you have done the test you drop it into one of those priority post boxes which are scattered around, and you get the result via email/txt msg, dont know what you would do if you had to travel from channel ports to the very north of Scotland, doable but a lot of driving in 2 days, like you we cxld all ours to much hassle.
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Good link, brue. It's booking a uk pcr test for two days after docking that's the 'problem'.
On the up side, camping de la baie have just updated our 'bon valoir ( credit voucher) for another 18 months. It's for our 50 euro booking fee carried over from 2 cancellations in 2020, and now 2 in 2021.
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I can't see what you are finding hard, you go to a chemist in France for anti gen test prior to travelling (up to 3 days) then go online book a 2 day pcr test to be delivered to your house, input the serial number given on the locator form then come home. On day 2 so long as its arrived do the test and post off then forget about it and get on with life. Cheapest seems to be around £30 plus postage.
On another forum someone saying book with boots then cancel as the gov website says you have to book a test but does not specify you have to use it but maybe that's not in the spirit of things and who wants to be a Guinea pig if contacted.
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I agree about the return tests. When I looked them up for our area the nearest drop in ones were a 120 mile return trip, the most reliable postal ones were £130 plus. Cheaper ones available of course but there was a weird choice between costs and reliability! And you've got to get home in a certain time scale, not always the way things happen.
But good luck to all those attempting the trip with a van.
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Brittany Ferries has a deal with Randox for Day 2 PCR testing when passengers arrive back in UK - postal service tests were £43 when I last looked , but a company called Expert Medicals is undercutting that with a £28 offer. They are both on line.
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Expert Medicals David
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Most can do by post now and not sure why you are worried about reliability, you are duty bound to book a test from an approved list, if they do not send it or test your sample why are you bothered you have done your bit and abided by the rules?
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Having looked at first site following AD'S link, the cheapest offers seem linked to using drop off points not post. Tests sent out the day you land for use the next day. So no dawdling, getting diverted or breaking down on the way home! French pharmacy bit seems simple enough, but then make sure you're tech savvy with a smart phone with plenty of roaming data allowance, a good 4g signal, and a full battery.
Google reviews don't look good for first site either.
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"Tests sent out the day you land for use the next day. So no dawdling, getting diverted or breaking down on the way home"
dont think this is true, my daughters tests which she ordered online via Boots arrived almost 1 week before she arrived at ours, but nevertheless, for me still too risky, if only going for a couple of weeks not so bad, but was planning 6 weeks and a lot can go wrong in that time, e.g. Mexico, and if you are in an LV it could be very tricky, however, the Government has said, they do not have sufficient accomodation to put countries such as Spain & France on the red list, but dont bank on that if things cut up rough
The EU medical agency have already coloured most of Spain, Portugal and France dark red and advised you should not travel to these countries what do we know ? 0 -
The test company I looked at said test kits would be sent out on day of entry. Another site said that day of arrival was day zero. There's lots of conflicting info out there. Like you, Rufs, we were going for 6 weeks and ,as you say, a lot could change in that time.
I'm trying to think positively- everything could get a whole lot better as well- but we have medical issues to consider so we've cancelled our trip.
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The combination of a lack of diary space due to OH's hospital appointments and the hassle of all these tests, both in and out has prompted me to skip another year 'over there'. Hopefully next year I won't have to jump through all these hoops.
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Hi
I’m currently in France, amongst the British here there seems to be no clear concuss.
I know we need to pay E30 and buy a COVID test from a chemist before I arrive at the tunnel to return.
my question is: can I buy a test now two weeks before I return keep it in the van and carry the test 72 hours before I leave? Or do I need to go to the chemist within 72 hours and have the test witnessed?I would prefer to buy now and not have the plan my return trip around local chemists.
anyone returned yet?
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From what has been said on here and other threads, you can go to a Pharmacy 72 hours before your crossing and get a test and a result to prove you're covid-free. There are links above to participating pharmacies. On the other hand, you need to order/buy PCR tests from a UK company for delivery to your UK residence to take on your second day after crossing. You need a serial number of the test to complete your embarkation form. Tests required for everyone over age 10 in your party.
Without the result of the French test, and a PCR test serial number, you won't be allowed to embark.
p.s What happens if your pharmacy test indicates that you've got Covid is another matter!
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According to another Covid group that I follow a fair amount of folk have ordered, paid for and completed their day 2 and some day 8 tests. Following instructions about postage etc. Some have had follow ups while others have not even had any results back at all. It does seem to just be a money making exercise.
We have the problem that we come back through the tunnel but we are not going straight home to Scotland (unless quarantine) hoping to call in at both our sons on the way north. Will probably look for a testing site near the tunnel or get a test sent to one of our sons house. You never know by the end of October they won't even be required.
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MichaelT, has hit the nail on the head. That’s how it is. Not a problem.
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"According to another Covid group that I follow a fair amount of folk have ordered, paid for and completed their day 2 and some day 8 tests. Following instructions about postage etc. Some have had follow ups while others have not even had any results back at all"
My daughter arrived from Spain via the tunnel some weeks back, she pre-ordered tests via Boots to be delivered to our address, all arrived ok including the 5 day quick release test, she had to self isolate for 10 days, of course you do not have to do this now. I sent her the serial number for the 2 day test which, as we understood, had to be added to your locator form, no serial number locator form not valid.
She was called every single day by track and trace, Boots were terrible at returning results, 5 day quick release test took nearly 48 hours to return, and you could not go free until you had the result.
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As long as it arrives in time then not a problem, think we will look at trying to find something near the tunnel we can go to, to do the test once we arrive. There must be somewhere there considering the volume of folk who pass through.
Will have to look into once we get back home from this trip, my phone data is taking a hit.
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