UK updates France travel guidance, highlights new Entry-Exit System rules taking effect this autumn
Paris announces sweeping traffic and transit restrictions for Pope Léon XIV’s 25-26 September visit
Pope Léon XIV lands in Paris; France activates maximum security and temporary border checks
Latest News
UK FCDO maintains ‘still current at 25 September’ travel advice for France with EES reminder
The UK government has reconfirmed its France travel guidance as “still current” on 25 September, highlighting EES biometric requirements and advising travellers to expect heavy congestion during the Pope’s visit but no change in security threat level.
EasyJet pilot strike hits French airports, threatening one in six short-haul departures
EasyJet France’s pilot strike entered its second day today, grounding over 200 flights and squeezing seat capacity on competing carriers and high-speed trains. With arbitration deadlocked, businesses should prepare for further walk-outs and leverage EU 261 rights to recoup costs while rearranging critical travel.
Paris publishes final road closures and security perimeters for Pope Leo XIV’s 25-26 September visit
Paris city hall has issued its final list of traffic bans, parking prohibitions and pedestrian screening zones for the Pope’s two-day visit. Vehicle access will be blocked around Concorde and the Champs-Élysées, parking is banned on 27 surrounding streets until 1 October, and only screened pedestrians may enter. Businesses must reroute deliveries and expect delays.
One-day no-fly zone over Stade de France: DGAC issues ZIT for papal mass
France’s civil-aviation authority has activated a temporary prohibited area (ZIT) over the Stade de France from 14:00-22:00 on 25 September to protect the Pope’s mass. The NOTAM forces general-aviation flights to reroute and bans all drone activity, impacting business-jet scheduling and last-minute charter operations.
London French-visa centre suspends passport pick-up on 25 September
TLScontact’s Wandsworth visa centre will not hand back passports on 25 September, potentially stranding applicants whose French visas have been issued. Corporations should confirm that travelling staff retrieve their documents in advance or delay departures until 28 September.
RATP closes 20+ metro stations and diverts buses for Papal visit, advises remote work
RATP has shuttered key metro and RER stations and rerouted multiple bus lines on 25-26 September to accommodate Pope Leon XIV’s procession routes. The operator urges travellers to use its mobile app for live guidance or switch to remote work, as central Paris faces severe transit bottlenecks.
Lourdes locks down major highways ahead of Pope’s visit
Prefectural orders published late on 24 September outline sweeping road closures and permit-only corridors on all main axes into Lourdes from 26-28 September for the Pope’s visit. Business travellers and logistics operators must reroute or secure special passes, as parking bans and timed total closures affect the RN21 and six departmental roads.
Nationwide ‘Pope zones’ and bell-ringing to extend travel impact beyond Paris
RTL reports that traffic and security measures linked to the Pope’s 25-28 September tour will affect Lourdes, Metz and national road networks, not just Paris. Bell-ringing, pedestrian zones, regional traffic bans and temporary drone restrictions could disrupt corporate travel and logistics across France.
Papal visit triggers extensive transport and security restrictions across Paris
Police have announced sweeping road closures, metro and RER station shutdowns, parking bans and river-traffic suspensions for Pope Leo XIV’s 25-26 September visit to Paris. Up to a million visitors are expected, and business travellers face multi-hour delays getting to airports and offices. Firms are urged to activate remote-work plans and reschedule in-person meetings.
Record 781 migrants cross Channel in single day, intensifying Franco-British pressure
A new daily record of 781 Channel migrants departed French beaches on 23 September, straining Franco-British security cooperation and causing additional checks at Calais, Dunkirk and Dover that could delay freight and corporate shuttles.
French bill to automate long-term residency-permit renewals stalls in the Senate
A December 2025 National Assembly bill that would make renewals of France’s multi-year residency permits largely automatic has stalled; the Senate has no date set for debate. With right-wing senators sceptical and the legislative calendar crowded, campaigners fear the reform could die before the 2027 election, leaving foreigners stuck with today’s paperwork-heavy process and long prefecture queues.
Paris braces for major transport closures during Pope Leo XIV’s visit
The Préfecture de Police will close key metro and RER stations, ban parking and divert traffic across central Paris on 25-26 September for Pope Leo XIV’s visit, affecting hundreds of thousands of commuters and business travellers. Firms are advised to shift to remote work and reroute airport transfers as severe disruption is expected around Notre-Dame, the Champs-Élysées and the Stade de France.
Paris-area prefecture accused of creating ‘factory for undocumented migrants’ through permit backlogs
An open letter signed by local politicians and NGOs accuses the Nanterre prefecture of ‘systemic dysfunction’, saying slow processing of residence-permit renewals is turning legal foreign residents into undocumented migrants. The prefecture claims it has cut average delays to 92 days, but lawyers have filed suit, and businesses in the La Défense district warn that employee work rights are at risk.
French customs intensify controls after surge in methamphetamine seizures
A 24 September customs communiqué details record meth seizures and announces reinforced inspections at major French ports and airports. Heightened controls may delay business freight and prolong arrival formalities for assignees arriving from French overseas territories.
National strike set for 29 September could hit rail links to Paris airports
Multiple unions will strike nationwide on 29 September, slashing RER B services that feed CDG and Orly. Businesses should brace for longer transfer times, possible road blockades and cascading delays in the week following the papal visit.
Signal failure at Gare du Nord halts RER B and D, severing CDG-Paris link
A morning signal failure shut down RER B/D at Gare du Nord on 24 September, cutting the main rail route to CDG for over two hours and illustrating ongoing vulnerabilities in Paris airport access infrastructure.
Airline ticket prices may rise as ADP’s draft economic-regulation pact shifts Orly fees toward Roissy upgrades
Groupe ADP’s draft 2027-2034 economic-regulation contract would raise Orly airport charges to fund CDG upgrades, prompting airline backlash and signalling higher ticket prices for corporate travellers from 2027.