Can I travel to France without being fully vaccinated and no ‘compelling reason’?

Q I need to travel to France this month. But seeing as I have only had one vaccine and do not have one of the “compelling reasons” from their short list, how can I get into the country? I am prepared to take tests and quarantine, I just need to get there.

Name supplied

A The list of compelling reasons allowed by the French government for foreign visitors travelling from the UK is depressingly slim. It includes being a returning resident; a spouse or child of a French citizen; a student enrolled in France; or being in transit for less than 24 hours. But motives such as repairing property or compassionate journeys are not included.

Depending on your need to travel, it may be that the French consulate in London is able to offer special permission for a journey.

If that doesn’t work, the answer could be to travel via Spain. While this is hardly a stress-free option – you will need to take a test within 48 hours of arrival – it appears then to leave you in a good position to travel on to France with, again, a test taken less than 72 hours in advance.

While I do not know your exact circumstances, the later you can delay your trip the higher the chance that you will be able go straight to France without undue problems – particularly if you can get a second jab very soon, which will “mature” and be useful for travel two weeks after the vaccination.

In any event I expect France will ease rules on British visitors by the end of this month. As things stand, it is a plausible “green list” candidate on 15 July, when the next “traffic light” review takes place in the UK. That would remove the need to quarantine on your return.

open image in gallery

Q I am due to go to Cancun, Mexico on 22 July. The holiday company has cancelled all flights up until 21 July. What is the likelihood of us making the trip? Should I wait it out or bite the bullet and change my holiday to a destination I know they are travelling too?

Lauren C

A In your position I would wait a few more days in the near-certainly that the holiday is, sadly, about to be cancelled. At present the Foreign Office “advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Mexico based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks”.

For the tour operator to run your trip, this warning would need to be withdrawn. Such a change is likely to come about only when Mexico has seen a substantial and sustained decline in the number of Covid cases and made a lot of progress in its vaccination programme.

That may happen by October or November (my favourite month for being in that wonderful part of the world), but I see no prospect of the Foreign Office lifting its advice nor Mexico being moved to the quarantine-free green list by then.

Indeed, the data analyst Tim White believes that the country could actually go onto the red list, requiring hotel quarantine on return to the UK – which would put it out of reach for the whole summer. “Probably another four weeks or so before Mexico gets to the danger point,” he tells me.

I don’t fault the holiday company for holding on as long as it can to try to operate the trip – but do not act precipitously and move your trip before you are informed it has been called off. At that point you can expect to be offered a full cash refund or possibly an incentive to book a different trip for the future. If you move too early, you could lose both these options.

open image in gallery

Q You write that only fully vaccinated arrivals from the UK will be allowed to enter Portugal. In fact, the online Portugal Resident has said a single jab will suffice if you can prove that you’ve had Covid. Can you correct your story?

Andy B

A Your point illustrates the enormous complexity of European responses to the extremely high levels of coronavirus in the UK.

Portugal is among the EU nations that have brought in robust travel restrictions to try to reduce the risk to their population of British visitors and, in particular, the Delta variant – which is already spreading on the Algarve coast.

The basic principle is that anyone from the UK hoping to visit mainland Portugal without quarantine must either be fully vaccinated, or under 18 and accompanied by an immunised adult. The latter option allows children to join parents on holiday and was introduced only late on Tuesday.

The question the Portuguese rule triggers is: what counts as fully vaccinated? According to decree number 6326-A/2021, someone who has recovered from Covid will be regarded as vaccinated after getting one dose of a two-dose course of jabs on this condition: “It is indicated in the vaccination certificate that the vaccination schedule was completed after the administration of one dose.”

I can see no evidence at all that the NHS regards “recovery plus one jab” as being equivalent to completing a two-vaccination course, and therefore I see zero chance of getting a certificate to that effect.

A bold traveller might try to chance it by showing proof of one jab and a letter certifying recovery from a bout of Covid. But I predict they would be unable to board a plane from the UK to Portugal.

So, thank you for the chance to clear this up. With complexity comes confusion. In the new era of coronavirus, it is easy to get hold of the wrong end of one of the many sticks that stand between you and a much-deserved holiday.

open image in gallery

Q I’m unable to find information anywhere about any restrictions regarding flying into Scottish airports. Are you kindly able to help at all?

Name supplied

A As I am currently somewhere in the heart of Scotland, I am in a good position to let you know. And the answer is: it all depends from where you start!

From the relatively small number of international locations that currently serve Scottish airports, you must follow the standard UK rules: a pre-departure test before being allowed on the plane and one or two pre-booked PCR tests for after arrival, depending on whether your point of origin is on the green or amber list (red list arrivals must pre-book hotel quarantine, which includes tests along with all meals).

From England and Wales and other parts of Scotland there is no restriction at all, except that people who live in some locations in northwest England may not enter. The Scottish government yesterday lifted restrictions (from midnight) on those living in Manchester and Bolton.

Which leaves flights from other parts of Scotland – in particular the islands. The Scottish government recommends anyone heading for the islands tests three days before departure and again on the day of the flight or ferry. This is a rare example where you can use a free NHS lateral flow device for the purposes of travel.

The advice is that you follow the same procedure when flying back.

Email your questions to s@hols.tv or tweet @simoncalder