• General: Information on the situation in the country is available on the official website on COVID-19 information.

  Important: In France, the ‘EU Digital COVID Certificate’ (EUDCC) or “vaccination pass” is required to access the following public spaces:

  • Catering establishments;
  • Leisure and culture activities;
  • Trade fairs and exhibitions;
  • Long-distance travel (domestic flights, TGV, etc.)
  • Tourist accommodations (campsites, holiday clubs, etc.)
• Face masks: The use of facemasks is mandatory in all indoor and outdoor public spaces, including public transport.

  Since February 28, the mask is no longer compulsory in closed places subject to the “vaccination pass”. From March 14, wearing a mask will no longer be compulsory. All places are concerned, except public passenger transport and health establishments.

• Curfew: N/A

• Services: Non-medical close-contact professions, including hairdressers and beauticians, are open without time restrictions. Health protocols must always be respected.

• Non-essential shops: All non-essential shops are open without time restrictions. Please note that the EUDCC is mandatory for department stores and shopping centers of more than 20,000m2 by decision of the prefect of the department.

• Restaurants: All bars, cafes and restaurants are open without time restrictions. But a Covid-19 certificate is required to access all catering establishments including terraces. Health protocols must be always respected.

• Cultural institutions: Cinemas, museums, and indoor attractions are open. Please note that EUDCC is required to enter these places. Health protocols must always be respected.

  Nightclubs and dance halls are close: this ban applies also to dance activities in establishments open to the public, such as restaurants or bars.

Shop owners & tenants

Announced on the 31.01.2021:

• Closed businesses (in shopping centers) will benefit from the reinforced solidarity fund, with a right of option between compensation for loss of turnover up to €10,000 or compensation of 20% of turnover capped at €200,000 per month.
• For network stores, particularly large integrated retailers for which the €200,000 compensation would be insufficient, the scheme to cover 70% of fixed costs will be open to them. This aid will enable shopkeepers to meet their rent and charges.

• On 09.03.2021, the European Commission approved the €2 billion French scheme to further support all companies that will suffer a monthly turnover decline between January 2021 and November 2021 of at least 30% compared to the same period prior to the coronavirus outbreak. The aid will help the beneficiaries pay 70% (90% in case of micro and small companies) of their fixed costs that are not covered by revenues, up to a maximum of €10 million per undertaking. The purpose of the scheme is to mitigate the economic difficulties and the liquidity shortages that the beneficiaries are facing due to the restrictive measures that the French government had to impose by the French government to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Restaurants

• More than €10 billion have yet been dedicated to the F&B sector, through tax exoneration, 100% furlough scheme coverage, and up to 10k€/months can be deployed for each structure proving more than 50% loss of sales.

Culture

• €385 million have been destined to support to the cultural sector.

• Solidarity Fund: Businesses with fewer than 50 employees that are administratively closed will be able to receive monthly compensation for lost turnover of up to €10,000. For the month of December, administratively closed businesses will be able to access the Solidarity Fund regardless of their size: aid of up to €10,000 or compensation of 20% of their 2019 turnover. For all other businesses with fewer than 50 employees that can remain open but suffer a loss of more than 50% of their turnover, Solidarity Fund aid of up to €1,500 per month is restored in November and December.
• Partial activity: For totally or partially closed businesses, all employees, including the head of the business if he is an employee, benefit from the partial activity scheme, with zero remaining at the expense of the business. Employees receive an indemnity of 84% of their net remuneration, with the State and Unédic paying the equivalent amount to the companies. For companies that are open but with a reduction in your activity: All employees benefit from the partial activity scheme, with zero remaining at the expense of the company for companies in the tourism, events, culture, sport or related sectors, with 10% remaining at the expense of the company in other sectors. The employee still receives 84% of his net remuneration.
• Reinforcement and extension of exemptions from social security contributions: For companies with fewer than 50 employees that are administratively closed, if you are an employer, you will benefit over the period concerned from total exemption from your employer’s social security contributions, excluding supplementary pensions, as well as assistance with the payment of social security contributions of 20% of the wage bill.
• Referral of social contributions: Employers may defer all or part of the payment of employee and employer contributions for the deadlines of 5 and 15 December 2020, simply by making a prior online request on the URSSAF website. If there is no response within 48 hours, this request will be considered as accepted. Contributions that are not paid are automatically deferred. The collection bodies (URSSAF, MSA funds) will contact employers at a later date to propose a plan for settling their debts.
• A tax credit to reduce rents: The Government has proposed that a tax credit be introduced in the finance bill for 2021 to encourage landlords to cancel part of the rents due by their tenant businesses that are administratively closed or particularly affected by the health restrictions implemented. The Government has obtained a commitment from the main representatives of landlords to cancel rents from tenant companies for the month of November 2020.
• Reinforcement of state-guaranteed loans and direct state loans to businesses: All businesses will be able to take out a state-guaranteed loan until 30 June 2021 by contacting their usual bank advisor. Repayment of the state-guaranteed loan may be spread over a further one to five years, with rates for small and medium-sized businesses negotiated with French banks ranging from 1 to 2.5%, including the state guarantee. Companies that so wish may request a further one-year deferment of capital repayment, i.e. a total of two years of deferment.
• EU state aid: On 15 October 2021, the European Commission has approved, under the EU state aid rules, a €700 million French scheme to support certain retailers and services affected by the coronavirus pandemic and restrictive measures taken by the French government to limit the spread of the virus. More information here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_5261  
• 26 November 2021: The European Commission has approved, under the EU State aid rules, a EUR 700 million French scheme to support certain companies particularly affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictive measures put in place by the French government to limit the spread of the virus.
• On 26 January 2022, European Commission endorses positive preliminary assessment of France’s request for €7.4 billion disbursement under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Moore information here: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_576