France’s interior ministry confirmed on 14 January that it has served ten British nationals with territorial-ban orders, preventing them from entering French territory for up to three years. All are said to be members of the Raise the Colours movement, which livestreams confrontations with asylum seekers along the Channel coast. (theguardian.com)
The ministry said the decision was driven by a “clear risk to public order” and by evidence that the individuals had harassed migrants and aid-workers in Calais, Dunkirk and other embarkation hotspots. Under Articles L214-1 and L214-2 of France’s Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (CESEDA), the interior minister may bar foreign nationals whose presence constitutes a ‘serious threat’. Such bans can be imposed without judicial oversight but are subject to appeal before the administrative courts.
For corporate mobility and travel-risk teams the case is a reminder that France is willing to deploy administrative law, not just criminal prosecution, to manage perceived security threats at the border. Companies planning media, NGO or contractor deployments in northern France should vet personnel for past activism that might trigger similar measures.
![France issues territorial bans on 10 British anti-migrant activists]()
Whether you are an employer moving staff or a journalist heading to Calais, VisaHQ can streamline the process of checking French entry requirements. Its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) consolidates the latest visa rules, documentation lists and government notices, allowing travellers to identify potential red flags—such as prior activism—that could result in refusals or territorial bans, and to plan accordingly.
Legal practitioners note that territorial bans differ from Schengen-wide alerts and therefore may not automatically appear when affected individuals transit other EU states. However, carriers remain liable for fines if they transport a banned passenger into France, so Advance Passenger Information (API) vetting is expected to tighten further.
The bans come amid heightened political tension over Channel crossings, which topped 41,000 in 2025. UK-based rights group Hope Not Hate welcomed the move, while Raise the Colours denounced it as ‘disgraceful’ and said no formal notification had yet been received.
The ministry said the decision was driven by a “clear risk to public order” and by evidence that the individuals had harassed migrants and aid-workers in Calais, Dunkirk and other embarkation hotspots. Under Articles L214-1 and L214-2 of France’s Code on the Entry and Residence of Foreigners (CESEDA), the interior minister may bar foreign nationals whose presence constitutes a ‘serious threat’. Such bans can be imposed without judicial oversight but are subject to appeal before the administrative courts.
For corporate mobility and travel-risk teams the case is a reminder that France is willing to deploy administrative law, not just criminal prosecution, to manage perceived security threats at the border. Companies planning media, NGO or contractor deployments in northern France should vet personnel for past activism that might trigger similar measures.
Whether you are an employer moving staff or a journalist heading to Calais, VisaHQ can streamline the process of checking French entry requirements. Its dedicated France portal (https://www.visahq.com/france/) consolidates the latest visa rules, documentation lists and government notices, allowing travellers to identify potential red flags—such as prior activism—that could result in refusals or territorial bans, and to plan accordingly.
Legal practitioners note that territorial bans differ from Schengen-wide alerts and therefore may not automatically appear when affected individuals transit other EU states. However, carriers remain liable for fines if they transport a banned passenger into France, so Advance Passenger Information (API) vetting is expected to tighten further.
The bans come amid heightened political tension over Channel crossings, which topped 41,000 in 2025. UK-based rights group Hope Not Hate welcomed the move, while Raise the Colours denounced it as ‘disgraceful’ and said no formal notification had yet been received.
