• MMC

Traffic restrictions at the French external borders:

As of September 1, 2020, the list of countries outside the European zone whose residents are not affected by a restriction at France's external borders includes Australia, Canada, South Korea, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia, and Uruguay. 

This list will be regularly updated.

The categories of persons authorized to enter French territory from countries considered to be at risk are listed in the latest version of the certificate of travel to metropolitan France (this certificate is accompanied by a sworn declaration that the traveller does not present any symptoms of Covid-19 infection - children under 11 years of age are not concerned). 

Thus, the categories of persons admitted and falling under the so-called "qualified" immigration are as follows:

• Third-party country nationals, who are holders of a French or European residence permit or valid long-stay visa, having their primary residence in France or transiting through France to reach their residence in a country of the European Union or assimilated.
• Third-party country nationals with a « Passeport Talent» long-term visa.
• Students with long-term visas, short-term visas in order to study, an internship, or coming for less than 90 days from a country exempted from short-term visas, with proof of address in France.
• Teachers or researchers employed or invited by a French educational institution or research lab, travelling for teaching or research purposes.

It should be noted that some French Consulates’ websites are not all up to date, as far as applicants for "Passport Talent" visas are concerned. 

We are wondering about applicants for "ICT Seconded Employee", "ICT Trainee", "Salaried Employee" and "Temporary Worker" visas whose employment in France is of economic interest and who have not yet obtained a visa, or whose valid visas have not yet been used.

The French Consulate in Mexico City has just refused to process an application for an "ICT Seconded Employee" visa. The same decision can be expected in other cases, even if the French labour authority has previously validated a file relating to a salary introduction procedure ("Salaried Employee" and "Temporary Worker" permits). 

Due to the French-Algerian immigration agreement, Algerians are not able to ask for a “Passeport Talent” to enter France. For this reason the list of categories recently published seems to be discriminatory.

Finally, France has decided to resume, as a measure of solidarity, the processing and issuance of visas for the benefit of Lebanese nationals residing in Lebanon.

Implementation of sanitary measures:

Persons aged eleven or older from Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, or Panama must present a negative VIDOC test result less than 72 hours before the flight at the time of boarding.

Persons aged eleven or older from Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, India, Israel, South Africa, Palestinian Territories, Kyrgyzstan, of Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Madagascar, Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Montenegro, Oman, Peru, Qatar, Dominican Republic, Serbia or Turkey, will undergo this test upon arrival in the French metropolitan territory in the event that they do not present previously carried out test results. 

In general, the presentation of the test is strongly recommended given the changing context. Travellers may also be quarantined in the event of COVID symptoms or failure to present the test.