French Guiana: Authorities tighten COVID-19 restrictions for certain unvaccinated travelers from Aug. 16 /update 34

Event

Authorities in French Guiana have extended the territory's COVID-19-related restrictions through Aug. 21. From Aug. 16, authorities will also require additional testing for unvaccinated travelers arriving in French Guiana from the Antilles.

A 20:00-05:00 Monday-Friday curfew and a long weekend curfew running from 20:00 Saturday to 05:00 Monday, requiring all persons to remain in their accommodations on Sundays, is in place in the municipalities of Cayenne, Kourou, Macouria, Matoury, and Remire-Montjoly. In all other municipalities, curfew hours remain 21:00-05:00. Movement into and out of the municipalities of Iracoubo and Regina remains restricted, though persons who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 may travel to and from those locations.

International Travel
French Guiana's borders remain closed to most nonresident foreign nationals who do not have a compelling reason for travel. French citizens, residents and their immediate family members, diplomats, healthcare workers, airline crews, and nonresident foreign nationals in transit to their home countries are exempt from the general border closure. Individuals traveling from Brazil via land or sea remain prohibited from entering the territory. Restrictions do not affect cargo shipments and humanitarian travel.

International arrivals must present a negative result from a COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure or an antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before departure. From Aug. 16, all unvaccinated travelers arriving in French Guiana from the Antilles will be required to undergo an additional COVID-19 antigen test upon arrival at the airport. Unvaccinated arrivals must prove that their travel is essential, such as for family or professional reasons.

Those traveling from a country on the red list, which includes Brazil and Suriname as of Aug. 16, must present a negative result from an RT-PCR test taken within 48 hours before travel. Arrivals must be fully vaccinated or provide a family, medical or professional reason to be allowed to enter. Travelers must also present a completed sworn statement confirming that they agree to follow all measures required for arriving passengers. These include undergoing an additional COVID-19 test at the airport, a subsequent seven-day self-isolation period, and a second COVID-19 test before ending quarantine. Authorities are empowered to extend a traveler's quarantine period on a case-by-case basis; however, the total self-isolation period shall not exceed one month.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further tighten, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice, depending on local disease activity.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements.

Resources

World Health Organization (WHO)
Government of French Guiana
Certificate for international travel
Certificate for essential travel outside curfew hours