Check separate travel advice pages for overseas territories of France.

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.

Around 17 million British nationals visit France every year. Most visits are trouble-free.

Since mid-March there have been spontaneous protests in central Paris and elsewhere in France. Protests are likely to take place and could occur with little notice. Some protests have turned violent. The protests may lead to disruptions to road travel or targeting of parked cars in areas where protests take place.travel.

Trade unions have announced strikes on Thursday 20 April and large-scale demonstrations and coordinated industrial action on TuesdayMonday 61 June,May, affecting multiple sectors including transport networks. Industrial action may start the evening before the strike day and run for several days.days

You should monitor the media, avoid protests, check the latest advice with operators before travelling, avoid demonstrations and follow the advice of local authorities.

UK Border Force strikes may cause travel disruption for people entering the UK on 28 April. There may be delays when travelling from France, including Calais, Dunkirk and followon the Channel Tunnel. Check with your travel provider before you travel. The Home Office has more advice on travelling to the UK on 28 April.

You can find information and guidance regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19 in France on the authorities.French Government’s COVID-19 pages.

The Department for Transport and the FCDO have jointly published separate guidance for the freight transport industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are rules about taking food and drink into the EU. See Taking food and drink into the EU for further information.

TheThere mostis commona problemgeneral reportedthreat byfrom Britishterrorism. nationalsYou visitingshould remain vigilant and follow the advice of the local authorities.

On 19 June 2021 the threat level in France was lowered to ‘heightened’. This means that there is pickpocketing.still Seea Crime.high threat of terrorism. You should be vigilant at all times and follow the advice of local authorities.

ThereTerrorists are rulesvery aboutlikely takingto foodtry to carry out attacks in France. Due to ongoing threats to France by Islamist terrorist groups, and drinkFrench intomilitary intervention against Daesh (formerly referred to as ISIL), the EU.French See Takinggovernment foodhas warned the public to be especially vigilant and drinkhas intoreinforced its security measures. Check the EUFrench government’s advice about what to do if a terrorist attack occurs for. See furtherthe information.Terrorism page.

Demonstrations can take place in France, often in major cities. If demonstrations do turn violent, a heavy police/gendarmerie presence is to be expected. In all cases, you should avoid demonstrations wherever possible and follow the advice of the local authorities.

Around 17 million British nationals visit France every year. Most visits are trouble-free. The most common problem reported is pickpocketing. See Crime.

If you’re living in France, visit our Living in France guide in addition to this travel advice.

There remain some migrants around Calais, who may seek to enter the UK illegally. There have been instances of migrants seeking to slow down traffic on approach roads to ports, including by placing obstacles on the Calais Port approach road. If this happens you should keep moving where it’s safe to do so, or stop and call 112 if isn’t safe to proceed (keeping car doors locked).

All vehicles, including motorbikes, driving in central Paris, Lyon and Grenoble now need to display a special ‘pollution sticker’. See Road travel

The If you’re abroad and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the nearest British embassy, consulate or high commission.

The Overseas Business Risk service offers offers information and advice for British companies operating overseas on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.

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For emergency servicesservices, incall France, call:

• 112 (all services)
• 15 (medical(medical), services)
• 17 (police)
• 18 (fireor services)