Confusion over English text on éOS-Covid form to enter France from UK

Confusion has arisen over English-language wording on the website on which people leaving the UK (and some other restricted countries) are being asked to register to come to France.

The éOS-Covid websiteincludes in its first field a section which in French is worded pays de provenance, meaning country you are coming from.

However if you click the English-language option this is worded as ‘country of origin’, a phrase more usually associated with a person’s birth country or country of nationality.

The Connexion recently identified the issue and flagged it up to the communication section of the Interior Ministry. We have not had a response to date.

One reader emailed today to say: “I don’t know what to put under ‘country of origin’ – is that my birthplace or nationality, or just the country I’m coming from on the day?

“My husband was born in Australia but is coming back into France from the UK on an Italian passport, and he can’t be the only one.”

As mentioned, the clear implication of the French wording is ‘country you are coming from’, an important factor as the éOS site is used to identify those who may be subject to obligatory testing on arrival in France and/or obligatory quarantine because they are coming from certain restricted countries and/or are unvaccinated.

An obligatory quarantine period is now required for all arrivals from the UK. This is now stated on French sites to be 10 days, though a minister originally announced it as one week. It can be lifted if you take a Covid test from 48 hours after arrival, and it is negative.

The next section of the website includes a question about nationality.

Previous articles

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Four Covid tests now for Christmas visit to UK from France

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