How France Is Handling International Students During the Pandemic

France has set up a three-layer system for researchers and students that would like to come into the country. They want students to return safely to campus by offering free vaccinations and access to PCR tests free of charge. Universities and higher education are a multi-billion-dollar industry that has suffered throughout the pandemic. If it is safe, countries will want to open their doors for the 2020-2021 academic school year. It only makes sense that Canada start opening their borders to students and follow France’s example. This is just an overview of France’s plan and system to accept international students.

Foreign students who come from “Green Countries” may enter France without any restrictions. They have to provide proof of complete vaccination and a sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show any signs of COVID-19 and has not met anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Non-vaccinated foreign students from “Green Countries” have to have a negative PCR test dated less than 72 days before departure and a sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of COVID-19 and has not met anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

Vaccinated Students and researchers coming from “orange” countries may enter France without any restriction. They have to provide proof of complete vaccination and a sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show any signs of Covid-19 and has not met anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Non-vaccinated foreigners from “orange” nations must demonstrate a sufficient reason for coming to France and provide the following at the time of boarding:

  • A negative PCR test from less than 72 hours or a negative antigenic test from less than 48 hours
  • A sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show signs of COVID-19 and has not met anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days and accepts to be subject to a test at their arrival. This declaration also certifies that the traveller must isolate for seven days after arrival and carry out a PCR test at the end of the isolation period.
  • An exempted international travel certificate mentioning the reason for travel.
  • One or more documents justifying the reason for travel.

Vaccinated Students coming from “red” countries are allowed to enter. They have to provide proof of complete vaccination and a sworn declaration certifying that the traveller does not show any signs of COVID-19 and has not met anyone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Non- vaccinated international students from “red” countries are not allowed to enter France.

Since the vaccination rollout and the idea of going back to normal are becoming more and more promising each day, we should start putting in place policies to accept foreign nationals who want to study in Canada. Because of the pandemic, Canada has lost billions of dollars in the education industry and will continue to do so if they don’t open the borders to international students. They will lose students to other countries like France that have systems in place.