France re-introduced Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement for
citizens of certain nationalities that holds a British long-stay
visa.
![image](/2020/10/lawreport.jpg")
France has re-introduced Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement
for citizens of certain nationalities that holds a British
long-stay visa or a British residence permit and who are travelling
to Great Britain from January 1, 2020.
![image](/2020/10/NWLRland.jpg")
The nations affected are Afghanistan, Angola, Nigeria, Niger,
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Cuba, Congo, Chad,
Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Iran, Mali and Iraq amongst
others.
This was disclosed by Air France via mail sent to its passengers
that had booked flights slated for January 1, 2020.
The airline explained that from the said date the passengers
will have to be in possession of the ATV if they want to transit
through France to Great Britain.
The development was also confirmed by France, via its official
website, when it stated that European right will no longer apply
within the UK from 1 January 2021, which marks the end of the
transition period.
It stated,
• “The regulations governing the movements of UK citizens
and their family members will change from that date onwards. The
regulations governing the movements of some third countries
nationals residing in the United Kingdom will also change from that
date onwards.”
Withdrawal agreement
• You are a British citizen/family member of a UK citizen and
you moved to France before the end of the transition period, i.e.
before the 1st of January 2021: You benefit from the withdrawal
agreement and can continue to reside in France.
• You are entitled to a residency permit ‘withdrawal agreement’
of either 5 years (if you have lived in France for less than 5
years) or 10 years (if you have lived in France for more than 5
years): You will need to request this residency permit online
before the 1st of July 2021. You will have until the 1st of October
2021 to complete the procedure and have the actual residency
permit.
• You are a British citizen, have been married or in an
established relationship with a French National prior to the 1st of
January 2021 and moved to France prior to that date: You benefit
from the withdrawal agreement and can continue to reside in
France.
• Established relationship – either a PACS or durable, duly
attested relationship: If you move to France after the 1st of
January 2021, you will need to apply for a Long Stay visa.
• You are the family member of a British citizen and have not
moved to France by the 31st of December 2020: If you are moving to
France to be with your British family member, who already resides
in France or if the ties that link you with your British family
member were established by the 31st of December 2020, you will need
to apply for a short-term Schengen entry visa. This will be granted
free of charge, on the basis of an accelerated procedure upon
evidence of your relationship and of documents showing that your
British family member benefited from the withdrawal
agreement.
• You are a British citizen and you are moving to France after
the 1st of January 2021: You cannot benefit from the withdrawal
agreement and the common laws on the entry and residence of
third-country nationals apply. You will therefore need to submit an
application for a Long Stay visa (staying more than 90 days in
France) to the French Consulate General London if you are a UK
resident or to the French Consulate in the country you live
in.
What it means
Passengers may still travel/apply for a visa with their British
passport issued prior to the 1st of January 2021 until it expires
(even if bearing the mention – European Union).
Also, according to information extracted from France’s website,
British citizens do not require a visa if spending up to 90 days
over a 180 days period in the Schengen area.
France re-introduced Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement for
citizens of certain nationalities that holds a British long-stay
visa.
France has re-introduced Airport Transit Visa (ATV) requirement
for citizens of certain nationalities that holds a British
long-stay visa or a British residence permit and who are travelling
to Great Britain from January 1, 2020.
The nations affected are Afghanistan, Angola, Nigeria, Niger,
Ghana, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Cuba, Congo, Chad,
Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Iran, Mali and Iraq amongst
others.
This was disclosed by Air France via mail sent to its passengers
that had booked flights slated for January 1, 2020.
The airline explained that from the said date the passengers
will have to be in possession of the ATV if they want to transit
through France to Great Britain.
The development was also confirmed by France, via its official
website, when it stated that European right will no longer apply
within the UK from 1 January 2021, which marks the end of the
transition period.
It stated,
• “The regulations governing the movements of UK citizens
and their family members will change from that date onwards. The
regulations governing the movements of some third countries
nationals residing in the United Kingdom will also change from that
date onwards.”
Withdrawal agreement
• You are a British citizen/family member of a UK citizen and
you moved to France before the end of the transition period, i.e.
before the 1st of January 2021: You benefit from the withdrawal
agreement and can continue to reside in France.
• You are entitled to a residency permit ‘withdrawal agreement’
of either 5 years (if you have lived in France for less than 5
years) or 10 years (if you have lived in France for more than 5
years): You will need to request this residency permit online
before the 1st of July 2021. You will have until the 1st of October
2021 to complete the procedure and have the actual residency
permit.
• You are a British citizen, have been married or in an
established relationship with a French National prior to the 1st of
January 2021 and moved to France prior to that date: You benefit
from the withdrawal agreement and can continue to reside in
France.
• Established relationship – either a PACS or durable, duly
attested relationship: If you move to France after the 1st of
January 2021, you will need to apply for a Long Stay visa.
• You are the family member of a British citizen and have not
moved to France by the 31st of December 2020: If you are moving to
France to be with your British family member, who already resides
in France or if the ties that link you with your British family
member were established by the 31st of December 2020, you will need
to apply for a short-term Schengen entry visa. This will be granted
free of charge, on the basis of an accelerated procedure upon
evidence of your relationship and of documents showing that your
British family member benefited from the withdrawal
agreement.
• You are a British citizen and you are moving to France after
the 1st of January 2021: You cannot benefit from the withdrawal
agreement and the common laws on the entry and residence of
third-country nationals apply. You will therefore need to submit an
application for a Long Stay visa (staying more than 90 days in
France) to the French Consulate General London if you are a UK
resident or to the French Consulate in the country you live
in.
What it means
Passengers may still travel/apply for a visa with their British
passport issued prior to the 1st of January 2021 until it expires
(even if bearing the mention – European Union).
Also, according to information extracted from France’s website,
British citizens do not require a visa if spending up to 90 days
over a 180 days period in the Schengen area.