Europe
France
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Still current at: 02 December 2008
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Updated: 01 December 2008
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This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary (removal of reference to AS Bordeaux v Chelsea FC) and an amendment to the Road Travel section. The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for this country
- Travel Summary
- Safety and security
- Local laws and customs
- Entry requirements
- Health
- Natural disasters
- General
See entire profile
Travel Summary
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There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. Since 2006 a number of explosions and failed explosions occurred in Corsica. A letter bomb exploded in a building in central Paris on 6 December 2007. One person was killed and another seriously injured. You are advised to take care, particularly in town centres and near public buildings, and be wary of unattended packages. See the Terrorism section of this advice for more details.
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Following the fire in the Channel Tunnel on 11 September, train services between the UK and France are operating on a restricted timetable. You are advised to contact Eurostar www.eurostar.com, Eurotunnel www.eurotunnel.com or your other travel company for further advice and detail.
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Speedferries' services between the ports of Dover and Boulogne sur Mer have been suspended until further notice. Further information can be found at www.speedferries.com.
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Police have issued warnings that counterfeit Euro notes are in circulation on the continent. You should be aware and take all precautions to ensure that notes you receive, from sources other than banks and legitimate Bureaux de Change, are genuine.
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it is compulsory to carry a warning triangle and reflective jacket in all vehicles. See the Road Travel section of this advice for details.
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More than 14 million British nationals visit mainland France every year (Source: Ministère Français de l'économie et des finances). Most visits are trouble-free. 2,900 British nationals required consular assistance in France in the period 01 April 2006 - 31 March -2007. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in France in 2006-07 were for replacing lost or stolen passports (1,647 cases); dealing with deaths (385 cases); and hospitalisations (246 cases); and dealing with arrests for a variety of offences (153 cases). You should be alert to the dangers of street and car crime. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. During 2006 and in the earlier part of this year a number of explosions and failed explosions occurred in Corsica. You are advised to take care, particularly in town centres and near public buildings, and be wary of unattended packages.
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. During 2006 and in the earlier part of this year a number of explosions and failed explosions occurred in Corsica. You are advised to take care, particularly in town centres and near public buildings, and be wary of unattended packages.
The French Government has to date exercised a strong counter terrorism policy. In July 2005 the French authorities raised their level of security, particularly at airports and on the railway and metro systems.
On 6 December 2007 a letter bomb exploded in a building in central Paris. One person was killed and another seriously injured.
There have been a number of explosions, failed explosions, and other attacks in Corsica. Government buildings, restaurants, police vehicles, bars, a discotheque and a number of holiday homes have been targeted and, in some cases, substantially damaged. In the main these buildings were closed at the time of the attacks. One person has been reported as being killed with another slightly injured. The authorities, who have previously warned that attacks might escalate, believe that the Corsican nationalist group, the FLNC, are responsible.
Crime
Sensible precautions should be taken to protect against street and car crime. Try to avoid carrying passports, credit cards, travel documents and money together in handbags or pockets. Valuables, including tobacco and alcohol, should not be left unattended in parked cars and they should be kept out of sight at all times.
In 2007 our Consular staff were aware of a number of British nationals who were the victim of a serious sexual offence in France.
Be aware that alcohol and drugs can lead to you being less alert, less in control and less aware of your environment. If you are going to drink, know your limit. Remember that drinks served in bars overseas are often stronger than those in the UK. For more general information see Rape and Sexual Assault Abroad.
In Paris, at Charles de Gaulle airport or at the Gare du Nord railway station, you should protect your baggage against theft and beware of pickpockets. Thieves and pickpockets also operate on the Paris Metro and RER (suburban) lines especially RER line B, which serves Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports and the Gare du Nord. Thefts have also occurred at Nice Airport, particularly at the car rental car parks where bags have been snatched as drivers have been loading luggage into hire cars. Pedestrians should beware of bag snatchers operating both on foot and from motorcycles.
You should be particularly careful in and around shopping centres and car parks. You are advised to be cautious of and, if possible, avoid, illegal street vendors, many of whom employ persistent and often intimidating techniques to sell their wares, and who are now to be found at many tourist sites and attractions in Paris. At the Basilica du Sacre Coeur, for example, vendors sometimes block the passage of visitors using the steps leading to the church in attempts to force them to buy the items they have for sale. Similar methods are employed at tourist sites elsewhere in the city.
Mugging incidents have occurred at isolated rest areas on some French motorways, usually those without petrol stations and cafeterias. There is also a continuing problem of burglaries which have been reported as taking place whilst travellers have been asleep in their caravans, mobile homes or other vehicles. Such thefts have been reported throughout France. In some cases, victims may first have been incapacitated by the thieves using gas. Try to avoid parking in isolated or dark areas of camping grounds or car parks, and consider installing an alarm in your caravan or mobile home.
In and around Calais and Dunkirk. British owned cars have been targeted by thieves, both while parked and on the move (eg by thieves flagging down drivers for a lift or indicating that the vehicle has a flat tyre). In some cases, tyres have been punctured at service stations forcing drivers to stop soon afterwards on the road/motorway. If you decide or need to stop in such circumstances, be extremely wary of anyone offering help, ensure that car keys are not left in the ignition and that the vehicle doors are locked while you investigate the alleged problem.
If you intend to visit the Commonwealth War Grave cemeteries in northern France, many of which are in isolated areas, you are advised not leave handbags or other valuables in parked cars as they can be the target for thieves.
In the South of France, you are advised to keep car doors locked and windows closed when driving as it is common for bags to be snatched from the front passenger seat, often when the vehicle is stationary at traffic lights and usually by individuals on motorbikes. You should also be aware that there have been some incicents where cars have been stolen at gunpoint.
In Corsica you are advised to avoid leaving your vehicles unattended by the roadside especially on coastal/beach roads, as thefts are frequent. Armed robbery can occur but such incidents are rare.
The London based Heathrow Couriers (UK) Limited have a disclaimer on their website which states they have no connection with the UK National Lottery or any other lottery organisation. A company using the same name has recently contacted British residents in France claiming they have been successful in an on-line lottery draw. You are advised to treat any such approach with caution.
Scams
Scams
Foreign visitors and residents can be targeted by scam artists. These scams can pose great financial loss to victims. If you receive an e-mail purporting to be from HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) offering a tax refund on provision of your bank details you should make absolutely sure that it is not part of a scam.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Local Travel
Following the fire in the Channel Tunnel on 11 September, train services are operating on a restricted timetable, although delays are still to be expected. You are advised to contact Eurostar www.eurostar.com, Eurotunnel www.eurotunnel.com or your other travel company for further advice and detail.
Speedferries' services between the ports of Dover and Boulogne sur Mer have been suspended until further notice. Further information can be found at www.speedferries.com.
Road Travel
If you wish to drive in France you must have a valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents. If you are driving a vehicle that does not belong to you then written permission from the registered owner may also be requested.
It is obligatory to carry in all vehicles a warning triangle and reflective jacket for use in case of a breakdown. Anyone found to not be complying with this requirement could be subject to a fine of 90 euros.
If you wish to drive in France you must have a valid UK driving licence, insurance and vehicle documents. If you are driving a vehicle that does not belong to you then written permission from the registered owner may also be requested.
It is obligatory to carry in all vehicles a warning triangle and reflective jacket for use in case of a breakdown. Anyone found to not be complying with this requirement could be subject to a fine of 90 euros.
The minimum age for driving a car in France is 18 years old. If you are 17 and hold a valid UK licence you are not permitted to drive a car. If you do you may be fined and your vehicle will be impounded.
You should take particular care when driving in France as driving regulations and customs are different from those in the UK. Roads in France, particularly motorways, are of an excellent standard but speed limits are higher than in the UK and the accident rate is higher. In 2005 there were 5,318 road deaths in France (source: DfT). This equates to 8.8 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.5 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2005. Many drivers undertake long journeys in, or through, France. Care should be taken to plan journeys and take sufficient breaks; a minimum break of 15 minutes after every two hours of driving is recommended.
Further advice on driving outside the UK can be obtained from motoring organisations such as the AA and RAC. Information on safety and potential traffic black spots during the holiday season is also available on the French Government website: http://www.bison-fute.equipement.gouv.fr. This website is only available in French. Tips in English on road safety and driving in France are available on a second French Government website at http://www2.securiteroutiere.gouv.fr/infos-ref/observatoire/observatory.html
Severe penalties exist for all road traffic infringements and they are enforced. These include imprisonment and a heavy fine for causing death whilst driving over the alcohol limit or under the influence of drugs. There are also similar penalties for causing death by dangerous or negligent driving. The French police strictly apply speeding restrictions and if you exceed speed limits you will face heavy on-the-spot fines. If you break French driving laws you can also have your UK driving licence confiscated by French Police. This could lead to your vehicle being temporarily impounded if no alternative driver with a valid licence is available.
Radar detectors are illegal in France whether in use or not. If you are caught with such equipment in your vehicle, you are liable to a fine, confiscation of the device and the vehicle. You should therefore ensure radar detectors are removed from your vehicle before commencing any journey to France.
Almost all roads in Corsica are mountainous and narrow, with numerous bends. You should be extra vigilant and beware of wandering animals. The majority of road accidents occur during the tourist season.
Road Hauliers
British road hauliers should be aware that the French authorities are imposing fines on hauliers who have differing sets of documents aboard the vehicle. Road hauliers should contact the Road Hauliers Association at: http://www.rha.net/ for further information. It is now compulsory for drivers of vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes to fasten their seat belts when driving in France (except in vehicles, which did not have seat belts fitted when they were manufactured). Offenders may face a substantial on the spot fine.
There are a number of periods during the year, including all Sundays and public holidays when heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 tonnes are banned from driving on roads in France. Road hauliers should contact the Road Hauliers Association, the Freight Transport Association or the Department of Transport for further information.
In two incidents at the IDS service station near the Dunes in Calais, two British lorry drivers were assaulted by a group of men who may have been illegal immigrants intent on either robbery or possibly using the lorry to illegally enter the UK. The Road Hauliers Association is aware of these incidents and can provide advice to drivers on matters of personal security.
Both the Mont Blanc and Frejus road tunnels, linking France and Italy, are open but the restrictions introduced following the fires in 1999 and 2005 continue to be applied to HGVs. These can be summarised as follows:
Mont Blanc: height restricted to 4.7m; minimum speed 50 km/h; maximum speed 70 km/h. Consult: www.tunnelmb.com or by telephone on number 00 33 (0)45 05 55 500.
Fréjus: Vehicles of more than 3.5 tones are subject to 1-hour alternate traffic flows starting at 08:00 leaving France. Special regulations apply to vehicles carrying dangerous loads. Details can be obtained from:
http://www.tunneldufrejus.com.
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Air Travel
Industrial action being taken by pilots that is causing severe disruption and cancellation to Air France flights will last until Monday 17 November. You are advised to contact Air France (http://www.airfrance.co.uk) for further information.
The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in France. For more details about this see Airline Security.
Local laws and customs
Respect all French laws and customs. Do not become involved with drugs of any kind.
For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.
Entry requirements
Visas
If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter France. Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest French Diplomatic mission.
Passport validity
All British passport holders require a valid passport. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the French Embassy in London.
Employment in France
In order to work legally in France as a self-employed artisan, you must obtain the necessary authorisations from the French authorities and register with the appropriate official organisation which represents the trade in question. Comprehensive guidance on setting up a business is available on the Internet site: www.apce.com/
If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter France. Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest French Diplomatic mission.
Passport validity
All British passport holders require a valid passport. There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the French Embassy in London.
Employment in France
In order to work legally in France as a self-employed artisan, you must obtain the necessary authorisations from the French authorities and register with the appropriate official organisation which represents the trade in question. Comprehensive guidance on setting up a business is available on the Internet site: www.apce.com/
Health
The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as French nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. For more general information see EHIC.
British nationals planning a permanent move to France, especially those who have not yet reached retirement age, should consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the earliest opportunity to obtain advice on their longer-term entitlement as residents to health care provision under the French national system. Enquiries should be made to the DWP Overseas Medical Benefits help-line on 00 44 191 218 1999 which is open on Mondays to Fridays from 08.00 to 20.00 daily. Alternatively, information can be obtained direct from the English language service of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (French social security service) on 00 33 8 20 90 42 12 or CLEISS (the Helpdesk in France for international mobility and social security) on 00 33 1 45 26 33 4. Information is also available on the website of the British Embassy in France.
British nationals planning a permanent move to France, especially those who have not yet reached retirement age, should consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the earliest opportunity to obtain advice on their longer-term entitlement as residents to health care provision under the French national system. Enquiries should be made to the DWP Overseas Medical Benefits help-line on 00 44 191 218 1999 which is open on Mondays to Fridays from 08.00 to 20.00 daily. Alternatively, information can be obtained direct from the English language service of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (French social security service) on 00 33 8 20 90 42 12 or CLEISS (the Helpdesk in France for international mobility and social security) on 00 33 1 45 26 33 4. Information is also available on the website of the British Embassy in France.
Rabies cases occasionally occur in France.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 140,000 adults aged 15 or over in France were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.4% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to France and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
Avian Influenza (Bird flu)
The French authorities have confirmed that four ducks found dead on a lake in Diane-Capelle in the Moselle, in eastern France on 8 August 2007, were victims of the H5N1 strain of Avian influenza (bird flu). These cases follow the death of three swans in early July 2007, near the town of Assenoncourt, also in eastern France. Restrictions to help prevent the further spread of the virus are in place. No human infections or deaths have been reported.
The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.
You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.
You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.
Natural disasters
Forest Fires
Fires can be a regular occurrence in forested areas anywhere during the summer months but especially along the Mediterranean coast and on Corsica. It is not uncommon for fires to be started by unextinguished cigarettes thrown from cars or by the illegal lighting of campfires or barbecues. The fires are generally extinguished quickly and efficiently by experienced fire fighters, though short-term evacuations are sometimes necessary. Most visits to forested areas should remain trouble-free, but if you plan to stay in such an area you should familiarise yourself on arrival with local regulations as lighting fires in most forested areas is illegal and severe penalties exist for any infringement. You should also familiarise yourself with local emergency procedures in the event of fire.
Sports Activities and Winter Sports
Travellers to Andorra who transit France en route should be aware that conditions on the road from Toulouse to Andorra can quickly become difficult in severe winter weather and vehicles might be delayed. Those making this journey should ensure their hand luggage inside the vehicle contains water, food, warm clothing and any medical requirements they may need.
Alpine travellers should take out comprehensive insurance to cover extra medical costs, repatriation or, in the départements of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, possible transfer to Switzerland for hospital treatment. For sports activities such as skiing, potholing and mountaineering, and for sports classed as dangerous (off-piste skiing or snow boarding, mountain biking, etc) travel insurance must include mountain rescue services and helicopter costs. You should be aware of the risks involved in the more hazardous sports activities. Be aware of weather forecasts and conditions and make sure you are well equipped. Never undertake the activity alone and hire a guide for more difficult itineraries. Always leave copies of your itinereray and plans with someone.
There is, at present, an acute danger of avalanches in the French Alpine regions. You are therefore advised to exercise due care and attention and observe all written notices and warning instructions and, where and when appropriate, consider carrying avalanche search equipment.
Hill Walking
If you intend to go hill walking in any part of France including Corsica, you should ensure that you are well prepared and equipped to cope both with the terrain, high temperatures and a lack of shade in summer and low temperatures during the winter months.
General
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Consular Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Customs Regulations
Following the withdrawal of duty free facilities within the European Union, customs authorities in all member countries have introduced guidance levels for the import of tobacco, alcohol and other products bought by visitors for their own use. The levels you can bring into the UK should be checked with Her Majesty's Customs. French regulations currently allow a maximum of one thousand cigarettes or one kilogram of tobacco to be imported from another EU member country to France. Heavy Goods Vehicle operators should be aware of the revised seizure policy being operated by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise against any vehicles detected with illicit alcohol or tobacco.
Transporting valuables
If you intend to carry or transport valuables (including works of art and antiques) or amounts of cash in excess of 7,600 Euros, you should consult French customs regulations beforehand.
Luggage
Do not leave your luggage unattended at airports, railway stations and other public places as it may be removed and destroyed by security staff. Notices to this effect are prominently displayed. No compensation can be claimed for destroyed property.
Accommodation
Remember where you are staying. Keep a note of your hotel address. Enter next of kin details into the back of your passport.
Money
Since 15 June 2007 new legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU apply in all Member States. Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc. This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.
Travel advice for this country
- Travel Summary
- Safety and security
- Local laws and customs
- Entry requirements
- Health
- Natural disasters
- General
See entire profile
Change country
contacts
France, Paris, British Embassy
Address:
British Embassy
BP111-08, 75383 PARIS CEDEX 08 Paris
Telephone:
(33) 1 44 51 31 00
(33) 1 49 55 73 00 British Council
Fax:
(33) 1 44 51 32 88 Management
(33) 1 44 51 34 00 Commercial
(33) 1 44 51 32 34 Press and Public Affairs
(33) 1 44 51 34 85 Political/Economic
(33) 1 44 51 34 40 Defence/Technology
(33) 1 44 51 31 27 Consular
(33) 1 47 05 77 02 British Council
Office hours:
GMT:
Mon -Fri: 0830-1200 / 1330-1700
Local Time:
Mon-Fri: 0930-1300 / 1430-1800
Website: www.ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk
