Can I return to the UK from France for a family funeral?

Reader question: I’m British but I live in France, where I am a permanent resident. My mother has just died in a care home in the UK of Covid-19. Can I go back for the funeral?

Short answer: Yes, but you will need to quarantine on your return to the UK for up 10 days.

If you are British but are a resident in France you will be able to travel to the UK and then also return back to France.

The travel certificate (attestation de déplacement) for leaving France states that you can leave the country if you are travelling for an important family reason - such as the death of a close family member - or if you are travelling to your home country.

In this case, both reasons are apply.

However, entering the UK is complicated at the moment as the country has introduced new, tighter restrictions.

The rules depend on which part of the UK you are travelling to. In order to travel from France to England or Wales, you will need to self-isolate for up to 10 days and take two Covid-19 tests during this time.

To travel to Northern Ireland you must self-isolate for the full 10 days with no option of leaving earlier based on a negative Covid test result.

Scotland is demanding all travellers from outside of the Common Travel Area isolate in a specially designated quarantine hotel for a full 10 days, regardless of nationality.

To find out more about these rules, you can read our article on travelling to the UK from France here: I am British living in France. Can I go to UK to see family?

If you are not a resident in France, you will still be able to travel to the UK but you may not be able to re-enter France. There are very limited reasons people in the UK can currently enter France. Read more about that here.