While choosing a destination for an upcoming trip, the level of security of a country is one of the first criteria considered by travelers (with the weather for that period of the year). Indeed, travel safely is critical but performing a risk assessment related to any country is not necessarily always obvious because situations are changing very quickly and are often complex. Within the same country, some areas may be very secure while others are really to avoid.
France Diplomatie helps you prepare your trip
On the website of France Diplomatie, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, you will find a wealth of information about each country. Whether you go to Thailand, Morocco, Turkey or Brazil, on France Diplomatie, each country at international level, has its own file on which you can find :
- regularly updated information about security in the country
- details of the paperwork to be undertaken in order to travel to this country (visa, pass)
- valuable data about the health care system, compulsory vaccinations and the diseases specific to each country
So before leaving, it is essential to take the time to read the file of the country where you’ll be traveling to in order to perform the vaccinations, get a visa if necessary and also take precautions related to security.
Based on evolution of health, political or safety situation, France provides recommendations to travelers and nationals abroad for multiple countries. This is for example the case for war now in countries like Yemen or Syria where the embassies are closed. This is also the case for areas affected by pandemics such as those caused by the Ebola virus and Zika.
Keep the contact with Ariane
Ariane is a very useful free service, offered by France Diplomacy, which allows you to inform the French authorities of your trip. Thus, you will be notified when there is a crisis in the country, whether linked to a natural disaster or the geopolitical situation (coup d’état, war, terrorist attack). This also allows you to designate someone that can be contacted in case of problems.
The Ariane service has demonstrated its usefulness and efficiency many times in the recent past, especially in the context of international crisis. Ariane allows the ministry of Foreign Affairs to know the number of people present in any area of the world but also to contact them which is beneficial in a crisis situation.
Besides the Ariane service, you will also find on the website details about the processes to adopt children abroad and to obtain civil status records for births, weddings and deaths of french nationals abroad.