Transit through Paris
 

I am going to travel from Finland to the Dominican Republic on 11th of July and my trip includes a change of plane (transit flight) in Paris airport in France. In the French government website it is said that if you leave France for non-Eu area, you need to have either two doses of vaccine or ’’certificate to leave Metropolitan France’’ where there are listed only compelling reasons to travel such as residence in the destination country and tourism travel is not included on the list.

It is very confusing since I don’t know if this policy applies to me too as I am only transiting through France from Schengen country to non-Eu country. Does anyone know if I could travel without the vaccines and this certificate as a transit passenger?

As long as you are on one ticket you can transfer through CDG. You would stay airside (inside security) and are not 'entering France'. If you are on two different it gets a lot more complicated.

From the Paris Aéroport website:

Paris Aéroport guides the passengers through their connection

Paris Aéroport are open and welcome connecting passengers between flights.

You must get tested before traveling as they will not be able to get tested during their transfer if a PCR test or antigenic is required by your final destination.

Integrated transfer (one single booking reference)
Your luggage will be transferred automatically by your airline from check-in until final destination.
Your are entitled to remain airside to transfer. Follow the yellow transfer signs indicating your next departure terminal. You must possess and be able to show all necessary travel documents for your entry for your final destination (including a possible PCR or antigenic test, if required by your final destination, as you will not be able to carry your test out during the transfer at Paris Aéroport).

Self-connecting (two booking reference numbers, booked with two separate tickets)
You must fulfill all entry conditions on the French territory and be able to present all relevant documents, in order to collect your luggage and check it in with your next airline. If you do not meet all requirements to enter the French territory, you will have to remain airside, and contact as soon as possible both airlines to make sure your luggage are rushed onto your next flight (including a possible PCR or antigenic test, if required by your final destination, as you will not be able to carry your test out during your transfer at Paris Aéroport).


* This all assumes you are eligible to enter the Dominican Republic. If not you won't be allowed to board your first flight from Finland.

Thank you for your reply! Yes I am on a one ticket. But are you sure I don't need that certificate to leave France?

You are not actually 'leaving France', since you are not 'entering' France. You are just transiting through CDG so the rules for French residents/citizens would not apply to you.

Finland to CDG is considered a domestic flight, Schengen zone internal. It does not make any difference if you are on one ticket or two.

You will indeed be leaving France, (departing the Schengen zone) and will need to fulfil the requirements which are listed here and dated as of 24 June 2021 under travel to a Red listed country:
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actual...l-travel#from1

If you have any questions, you should consult your air carrier.

Yeah that’s right. I wonder if it is the same rule then when I am coming back? I mean if I just transit through the country I don’t need to stay in quarantine even though normally I should without vaccines?

Sarastro: The info I posted up thread explains the requirements. It is from the official CDG website. I didn't post the actual link because every time I tried the post was sent to moderation.

So this means I need the certificate to leave France? I called the French embassy today and they told me that leaving France certificate applies only for the residents of France not transit passenger. I am confused now...

That's what I've been trying to explain - the rules for French residents flying out of the country is different than for those simply transiting through CDG. Thousands of people transfer through that airport every day without 'entering France'. Maybe you should consider registering on FlyerTalk. They have a similar forum set up as Fodors (the sites are run by the same company) - but their ENTIRE membership are pretty much frequent flyers and there are many who have transited through CDG recently. You can ask your question(s) there and they will explain everything to you . . .

janisj - What you have posted is for international flights arriving CDG. Flights from Finland, or from any other Schengen zone country, are NOT international flights, they are domestic flights and anniinamariam, just as any other Shengen zone passenger is departing the Schengen from CDG and subject to the same rules as would a French passenger.

You can check this website for the requirements:-

https://www.traveldoc.aero/

It says for the journey HEL-CDG-Santo Domingo there are no requirements for transit passengers for a certificate or COVID tests. Furthermore, I have travelled via CDG a couple of times this year, originating in a Schengen area with final destination non Schengen and v.v. and did not have to produce any certificates or any kind of requirement. If you are not entering Metropolitan France you cannot be leaving it.

Same on the return, Traveldocs says that passengers who continue their journey to a Schengen member state from transiting in CDG and originating in a non Schengen area, provided that they pass through the Unique Filter Inspection (IFU) (the transit area in the passenger zone between T2E and T2F) and the duration of the transit is less than 24 hours, there are no requirements. ONLY if the If the transit to a Schengen country requires entry to France, then the French entry restrictions would apply.

Asking the airline is the last thing you should do. They are not responsible for telling anyone the entry/exit requirements and it is difficult for them to give anything but generic advice, they might point you in the direction of government websites or sites such as Traveldocs.

The airline is the authority which will allow you to board or not to board. It is the airline's decision whether anyone travels or not which is why they are exactly whom you should ask. Airlines are completely responsible for making absolutely sure that all of their passengers comply with all entry requirements.

Governments fine airlines heavily if they accept and transport a passenger who is not fully qualified to enter.

There is no passport control traveling among Schengen zone countries.

Yes the airlines are the authority who will allow you to board or not but they are not the place to ask about your specific entry requirements. Yes they are responsible to ensure all passengers have complied but they are not responsible for telling you what you need to do to comply. It is their responsibility to tell you to check what is required. What is required is your/my responsibility to get in order before arriving at the airport. Always has been, they never tell you that you need a visa for country xyz do they? How would they even know? But they will send a generic email telling you to check your entry requirements for your destination which might involve appying for a visa.

Airlines pay a lot of money to TIMATIC for the very purpose of assuring passengers arrive at their destinations with the appropriate credentials to include valid passport, the correct visa and the necessary health documents.

Please let us all know what happens as you make this trip. Firsthand info from one who does it right now, during COVID, will be informative and interesting. Thank you.

I called the airline and they said that in their opinion I am not entering or leaving France so I don’t need the certificate of leaving. I only need the PCR test and the statement that I don’t have covid symptoms. However if they happen to ask me additional documents in the airport and I don’t have them, the airline will give me chance to change the flights to another date. So it should not be a problem

Absolutely none of my business, so you may choose to ignore this, but wondering if there was some reason you could not be vaccinated since COVID rate is very high in the Dominican Republic and you might be at great risk of illness. Do stay safe as possible. Good luck.

Schengen flights are not the same as domestic flights. Since March 2020 there have been all sorts of different rules for traveling within Schengen, and rules for residents of a country are not always the same as those entering from other Schengen countries.

Actually I already have gotten my first vaccine a few weeks ago but unfortunately in my country there is a policy that the second vaccine is give after 3 months of the first dose. So I won’t be able to get it until September and it is not possible for me to postpone this trip so much.

That was true for entering certain Schengen countries from outside the Schengen such as Germany, which recently opened, and Belgium which may still be closed to non-EU passport entries. Presently, I am unaware of any intra-Schengen restrictions for those with EU passports or for those who are EU residents.