It is possible to travel to and from France from the UK [and many other countries] at the moment, but to read the newspapers and watch the TV news you would not think so.

We see many a frustrated email from our clients that want to go and view properties but they think they are not allowed to travel, this is simply not the case.

You are allowed to travel, to quote the UK Governments travel advisory page it says "to carry out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a residential property".

It is however, as you may have thought, not as easy as it used to be, let me explain:

- 1. Permitted reasons for international travel

Read here on the UK Government website the "Reasonable excuses for travel abroad"

It is noted as follows:

Other permitted reasons

There are further reasonable excuses, for example:

- to fulfil legal obligations
- to carry out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a residential property
- travel in order to exercise custody rights recognised by a court decision
- order to present oneself to a judicial or administrative authority

Recommended evidence: proof of contract, court decision and proof of place of residence, order to present oneself to a judicial or administrative authority, expiring residence permit, dismissal notice, letter or appointment details from estate agent [which we can provide], relevant contract or letters detailing sales, or other appropriate documentation or other appropriate documentation.

This will remain the case after the 29th March when the current stay at home guidance ends: you will still need a travel declaration form:

- 2. Legislation – the legal requirement to carry the travel declaration form

You will need to complete the travel declaration form to leave the UK

- 3. On 11 March, the French government announced it was easing restrictions on travel from the UK. From 12 March, arrivals no longer need to justify an essential reason to enter France. This applies to all air, car, ferry and train passengers.

- 4. Arrivals from the UK will need to complete a ‘sworn statement’ (déclaration sur l’honneur) form self-certifying they are not suffering from symptoms associated with coronavirus and have not been in contact with confirmed cases in the preceding fortnight. This can be found on the French government’s website.

- 5. All travellers from the UK, including children aged 11 and above, will need to present a negative COVID-19 test result, carried out less than 72 hours before departure. Only PCR tests are accepted for passengers
- 6. Passengers arriving in France from the UK will also be required to self-isolate for seven days on arrival, before taking another PCR test. Exit from this self-isolation period is subject to a negative test result. Please find more information on how to obtain a PCR test in France here.

- 7. UK nationals returning home from France must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result taken up to 3 days before departure.

- 8. You have to self quarantine for 10 days on arrival back in the UK

Blog submitted by: Sharon Evans - Founder of Cle France.

For everything you need to know about French property visit www.clefrance.co.uk

Are Travel Restrictions Halting your plans?

No Problem...

Our Property Inspection Service is Back!

So several countries are back in a 'Lockdown' situation again, I hope you and your family are in good health and good spirits despite the difficult times we are all living through.

During the first Lockdown we introduced a solution to buy your property without first visiting it, ie. to buy it ‘unseen’. We actually sold more houses in March, April and May this year than in 2019, which even surprised us.

Buying 'unseen' proved very popular but for a more cautious approach, we prefer and can again offer, the service of a ‘Property Inspection’ carried out by our property surveyor, Nick Warner.

Plus due to the high demand we received, Nick now has another surveyor helping him so we can accommodate more remote property inspections for our clients.

Nick can visit up to 4 properties a day on your shortlist and inspect the properties for you against your criteria and advise on a number of important aspects so you can make a more informed decision before making an offer on your chosen house.

The fees for an inspection visit and the short report with photos by email will depend on the size and complexity of the properties selected and will be individually negotiated for each client.

If you feel that this may be a good option for you, please feel free to contact Nick Warner for further details.

In the meantime Stay Well and stay in touch!

Visit the website to contact Nick Warner direct.

Kind regards,
Sharon Evans
Founder of Clé France.

Website for French Residency Application Now Open

British people who want live in France post Brexit can now apply online for their residency card.

You have until 31 December 2020 to become legally resident in France, then you have until 1 July 2021 to apply for the card.

The process is online only, with the applicant being required to subsequently attend their local Prefecture to confirm their identity.

If you have lived in France for less than 5 years and are ‘economically inactive’ (for example retired), you must prove that you have healthcare cover.

To go directly to the Application Website - English Version visit here.

Important - Healthcare Cover

This is a requirement for the application process.

Ceri Hollingworth at Exclusive Healthcare will be happy to assist you with your healthcare insurance policy, and to provide the necessary documentation for your application:

Please click here to contact for more information.

Alternatively if you would simply like to understand more about the French Healthcare system for the future (in plain English!) then download our latest guide today.

Get Your Free PDF Guide to Health Care in France here

Kind regards, 
Sharon Evans 
Founder of Clé France.

Why Brits are snapping up property in France.

The real Brexit Day is fast approaching.

The 12-month transition period has only a few months left to go.

For British buyers, it is an opportunity to buy a French property and apply for residency during the transition period.

There is no time like the present.

While local experts aren’t seeing a fire sale of French property, some sellers are undoubtedly very open to offers.

The market has been usually busy throughout the summer, and we expect that trend to continue until the end of the year.

One thing to remember…

When you buy a French property, you are exposed to the fluctuating Euro exchange rate.

I know for a fact that the exchange rate you get can make a big financial difference.

It’s why I would suggest getting a quote from Key Currency, our currency partner.

Key Currency can monitor exchange rates for you and help you make the most of your budget.

To get a free no-obligation quote, please click on the link below.

Get a Quote today here

Kind regards, 
David Evans 
Co-Founder of Cle France.

Travel Restrictions lifted between the UK and France

Great news…

Yesterday [10th July] the 14 Day quarantine restriction was lifted for those travelling between the UK and France.

Flights, Ferries and the Euro Tunnel to France are now operating daily.

As expected we have seen a rush of buyers booking viewing trips and properties are selling fast.

Earlier this month, Rightmove reported that UK searches for French property are 33% higher than last year.

We are seeing that sellers in France are very keen to take advantage of the extra interest and they are certainly open to offers.

Now is the time to get serious about restarting your plans, especially for retirees abroad, with the Brexit transition period ending soon.

Watch our celebratory video on our You Tube Channel here.

Here is the official statement on the UK.GOV website.

Entry rules in response to coronavirus (COVID-19)
For the purposes of setting travel rules, France has defined a European Area composed of EU countries, the UK, Andorra, Holy See, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

Entry to France
Travellers arriving in France from the UK, European Area, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay are no longer required to self-isolate, to demonstrate their travel is essential or to hold an international travel certificate.

Arrivals from countries other than those specified above will still need to complete an international travel certificate, which certifies that your journey is essential and confirms that you have not been suffering from a set of listed symptoms associated with Covid-19. This travel certificate is available on the French Ministry of the Interior’s website. You should also produce any supporting paperwork to substantiate the essential nature of your travel.

Border checks may also be in place at points on France’s land borders with Italy, Spain, Belgium and Germany.

Quarantine requirements
There is no quarantine requirement for arrivals from the UK, from the wider European Area (as defined above) and from Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Arrivals from other countries are asked to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in mainland France. Full details and a list of exemptions to self-quarantine in France are set out in a Ministry of Interior press statement (in French) and its translation (in English).

Travellers showing signs of a COVID-19 infection upon arrival in mainland France will have to carry out a mandatory 14 day quarantine at home or in a dedicated location indicated by the French authorities if home quarantine is not feasible.

Travel between the EU and non-European countries
The French Government has suspended travel between France and countries outside the European Area (as defined above) except for Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.

Some countries are imposing a compulsory period of quarantine for travellers from France. If you are travelling from or through France, check the situation at your destination before you travel.

You can read the full article here.

Blog submitted by: Alex at The French Property Network - Cle France.