Heads up regarding UK visitors
Discussion
I have shamelessly copied this from a Twitter thread. Despite some disagreeing, the author could back up all his statements.Of course, whether the rules will be followed we don't know, as it says, you may be asked for this. It'll be a good idea for gite owners to send a printable receipt for accommodation (with siret) to their guests and bring to their notice the possible requirement to present it, and for those hosting friends to dig further to see if the attestation d'accueil is required in practice. Of course, a gite owner can easily issue an accommodation receipt to family or friend visits......
If anyone can provide evidence that refutes this I shall be delighted. My advice is to search official French websites, rather than journals, comment etc
.
At the border, you may be asked for three pieces of information:
1. Motive for your stay in France, ie:
- for tourism: a hotel or other accommodation reservation
- in the absence of a hotel reservation, the traveller has to prove that he possesses means of living of at least 120€ per day – see point 2, documents from a travel agency;
- for a professional visit: letter from the employer, invitation from a French firm or org;
- for a private visit for example to visit and stay with a friend: “attestation d'accueil” delivered by the “mairie” (more on this below)
2. Means of living (cash, traveller's cheques, valid international credit card) along with an insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and funeral expenses, which may be incurred during the entire period of your stay in France, inc medical repatriation costs;
3. Guarantees of return: return ticket.
Just to remind you, these are standard rules for third-country nationals and nothing particularly to do with Brits.
So, about the “attestation d'accueil”. Here are the rules: https://service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F...
Basically, if you are staying with friends, you need to be registered with the town hall of the commune that you will be staying at PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COUNTRY.
The person housing you will need to provide a chunk of information (including proof of ownership of the property, proof of residence at the address, ID documents, proof of revenue, commit to supporting you financially if required and so on). There is a 30€ fee.
The relevant town hall can take up to one month to respond.
The applicant will be issued with a certificate which they will then need to send to you for you to be able to enter the country.
I repeat what I say in the title, this is a heads up in case you have missed it.
If anyone can provide evidence that refutes this I shall be delighted. My advice is to search official French websites, rather than journals, comment etc
.
At the border, you may be asked for three pieces of information:
1. Motive for your stay in France, ie:
- for tourism: a hotel or other accommodation reservation
- in the absence of a hotel reservation, the traveller has to prove that he possesses means of living of at least 120€ per day – see point 2, documents from a travel agency;
- for a professional visit: letter from the employer, invitation from a French firm or org;
- for a private visit for example to visit and stay with a friend: “attestation d'accueil” delivered by the “mairie” (more on this below)
2. Means of living (cash, traveller's cheques, valid international credit card) along with an insurance certificate covering all medical, hospital and funeral expenses, which may be incurred during the entire period of your stay in France, inc medical repatriation costs;
3. Guarantees of return: return ticket.
Just to remind you, these are standard rules for third-country nationals and nothing particularly to do with Brits.
So, about the “attestation d'accueil”. Here are the rules: https://service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F...
Basically, if you are staying with friends, you need to be registered with the town hall of the commune that you will be staying at PRIOR TO ENTERING THE COUNTRY.
The person housing you will need to provide a chunk of information (including proof of ownership of the property, proof of residence at the address, ID documents, proof of revenue, commit to supporting you financially if required and so on). There is a 30€ fee.
The relevant town hall can take up to one month to respond.
The applicant will be issued with a certificate which they will then need to send to you for you to be able to enter the country.
I repeat what I say in the title, this is a heads up in case you have missed it.
Edited by Fatt McMissile on Sunday 16th May 10:19
Thatman said:
It pays to understand healthcare systems in the country that you're visiting. In France (for example) healthcare is not free in the same sense as it is in the UK. Every single consultation, intervention, bandage, plaster, lab test has to be paid for, usually before leaving the hospital/clinic/surgery. For a french citizen or legal immigrant like me, the item and the fee is recorded on our health accounts following presentation, often before the consultation takes place, of a state issued smart card with photo and chip. Despite having the smart card, the patient often has to pay there and then, by bank card, cheque, or cash, as in the case of my GP. In most cases 70% of a patient's healthcare account is settled by the state, refunded if you've paid up front, and the balance must be settled by the patient. Cases where this doesn't apply are for acts associated with a life threatening condition or long-term illness, or where the patient has a complimentary insurance that covers the shortfall, or for patients of meagre means.
This is a very simplistic summary and example of how the french system works, it is complicated and bureaucratic but nowadays of course, computers do all that.....
I'll draw your attention to the webpage that you link to regarding the GHIC:
"Some countries ask patients to pay a contribution towards the cost of their care, such as for prescription costs. This is known as a co-payment or patient share.
You can claim back the difference between the total bill and the patient share, but the patient share is not refundable.
Keep all receipts and any paperwork. You or your insurance company may need them if you're applying for a refund."
Over the years we've taken several of our gite guests to see a doctor, usually followed by the pharmacy and sometimes path lab. They have all had to settle each account there and then and issued with an official receipt that they can use to reclaim the state share at the nearest "health account" office (long queue), or from the DHSS when they return to the UK. For most of these simple treatments, the charge is very reasonable and I don't think any of them would have benefitted from a holiday insurance, but of course insurance is to cover the unexpected.
Glade said:
My girlfriend is a French national... we're planning to go to see her parents for the first time since covid kicked off in July, (after cancelling our Christmas trip, and the rescheduled trip in April).
So i guess we need the certificate from the mayor?
He French friends circulated some information on this... and I took it as a British newspaper taking a technicality and making a story of it.... but inguess if no alternative arrangement is made we better get the process started on the certificate?
It is the law, and no-one knows yet how firmly it will be applied. The experience of EU, including Italian and German nationals, illegally having their passports held and being taken to detention by the UK border force won't help. So i guess we need the certificate from the mayor?
He French friends circulated some information on this... and I took it as a British newspaper taking a technicality and making a story of it.... but inguess if no alternative arrangement is made we better get the process started on the certificate?
Like health insurance etc. discussed here, in the end it all boils down to the Dirty Harry question.
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