Conditions of entry into France. [fr]
In order to deal with the virus and limit the introduction of its variants, border control measures remain temporarily necessary, both on entry into and exit from French territory.
Countries characterised by active circulation of the virus in controlled proportions are classified in the orange zone, such as Kenya. The list of countries in the orange zone may be adapted according to the evolution of the global epidemic situation.
The procedure for Kenyan nationals and foreigners residing in Kenya who wish to travel to France and need a visa is currently as follows :
1/If you are fully vaccinated with one of the vaccines recognised for access to French territory (Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca/Covishield and Janssen): you can apply for a visa. There are no restrictions on entry into metropolitan France.
Your vaccination is considered complete :
For Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca/Covishield vaccines: 7 days after the second dose;
For Janssen vaccine: 28 days after vaccination.
2/ If you are not vaccinated with one of the vaccines recognised for access to French territory (Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria, AstraZeneca/Covishield and Janssen): in order to apply for a visa, you must justify a compelling reason, i.e. you must belong to one of the categories that are subject to derogation:
European Union national or equivalent and spouse and children, having their main residence in France;
third-country nationals holding a valid French or European residence permit or long-stay visa, whose main residence is in France;
British nationals and their family members who are beneficiaries of the withdrawal agreement;
third-country nationals holding a long-stay visa issued for family reunification or family reunification of refugees, beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and stateless persons;
foreign health or research professional involved in the fight against covid-19 and his/her spouse and children;
foreign health or research professional recruited as an associate trainee;
third-country nationals holding a long-stay "talent passport" visa, as well as their spouse and children;
students enrolled in French as a foreign language (FLE) courses prior to enrolment in higher education or admitted to oral examinations in French higher education institutions or enrolled for the start of the 2021-2022 academic year;
researchers settling in France at the invitation of a research laboratory, for research activities requiring an imperative physical presence, as well as their spouse and children;
workers in the land, sea and air transport sector or transport service providers;
foreign nationals working for a diplomatic or consular mission or an international organisation with its headquarters or office in France, as well as their spouse and children, or foreign nationals from third countries staying in France for imperative professional reasons under cover of a mission order issued by the State to which they belong.
On arrival in France, you will be required to undergo the following health checks:
1/ If you are vaccinated, you only need to present proof of vaccination status and a declaration on your honour attesting to the absence of symptoms of covid-19 infection and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19.
2/ If you are not vaccinated, you must present to the transport company and to the border control authorities a negative PCR test dated less than 72 hours before departure (departure of the first flight in the case of travel with a connection) or a negative antigen test dated less than 48 hours before departure. If you are travelling or coming from the UK and are not vaccinated, you must present a PCR or antigen test less than 24 hours old.
The departure of the first flight is taken into account in the case of travel with a connection.
Children under 12 years of age are exempt from testing.
You must also present :
a declaration on honour attesting to the absence of symptoms of covid-19 infection and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19;
an undertaking on your honour to undergo the antigenic test or the biological examination which will be carried out on arrival in metropolitan France;
an undertaking on honour to isolate themselves for seven days and an undertaking on honour to undergo a biological virological screening test (PCR) at the end of the isolation period.
Detailed information and forms to be completed before travelling can be found on the Ministry of the Interior ( https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel ).
The French Embassy invites you to take into consideration all the conditions to be fulfilled in order to travel to France before submitting your visa application.
You are reminded that holding a valid visa does not automatically authorise entry into France and that it is your responsibility to be aware of the border control and health measures that apply to you at the time of your travel.
Due to the protection measures linked to the health situation, the visa service has been forced to slow down its activity, we strongly recommend that you apply in advance (deadlines). Applications will be processed according to the capacity of the service.
You can contact the visa section by sending a message to the following e-mail address: visas.nairobi-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr