UK to France: entry and travel checks before you leave

By AtheneNet Travel Desk

If you are travelling from the UK to France, check the current entry requirements and safety advice before you leave, then confirm that your train, ferry or flight is running as planned. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) France travel advice is the starting point for country-specific guidance. Entry rules and transport conditions can change, so use the pages and notices available for your actual travel dates.

Check France’s entry requirements against your documents

Open the FCDO page’s entry requirements section and read the guidance that applies to your nationality, reason for travel and length of stay. Check your passport’s issue and expiry dates against the rule shown there before relying on an older checklist or a rule quoted on social media. Review the EES border rules for broader context on border checks when entering France. If you need a visa or another document, allow time to obtain it before departure.

Check the requirements for every person travelling with you. A child, a non-UK passport holder or someone planning a longer stay may need a different check. Keep booking details and any documents requested for your journey accessible when you travel.

Read the safety advice for your route and destination

The FCDO France advice also provides safety information. Review it when planning your trip and again shortly before departure, particularly if your journey includes a connection or travel beyond your arrival point. Follow any relevant local instructions once in France.

Travel insurance deserves its own check. Read the policy wording for medical costs, cancellation and disruption cover, and make sure the dates and activities match your trip. Carry the insurer’s contact details somewhere you can reach them without relying on your booking email.

Make a final departure check

• Several days before travel: review the FCDO entry requirements, check each traveller’s documents and confirm your insurance cover.
• The evening before: look for a dated service notice from your booked operator. For Eurostar journeys, use its service information page; for other journeys, use the operator’s official website or app.
• On departure day: check your operator’s latest notice again, including its time and the service or route it covers. Allow for any revised check-in or boarding instructions.

Source: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office