Since February 12, 2022, the following rules apply at the French borders:
- For travelers vaccinated within the meaning of European regulations, no more tests is required on departure. Proof of a complete vaccination schedule becomes sufficient to arrive in France, regardless of the country of origin, as was the case before the distribution of the Omicron variant.
- For unvaccinated travelers, the obligation to present a negative test to travel to France remains, but the measures on arrival (test, isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the “green” list, characterized by a moderate circulation of the virus.
- When unvaccinated travelers come from a country on the “orange” list, they must continue to present a compelling reason justifying the need for them to come to mainland France and may still be subject to a random test on arrival. Travelers who test positive will have to isolate themselves, in accordance with the recommendations of the Health Insurance.
In the event of an emergency characterized by the appearance of a variant likely to present a risk of increased transmissibility or immune escape, the “emergency brake” mechanism will be activated and the country will then be placed on the “red” list, implying, as is the case today, the obligation to present a compelling reason for travelling, the obligation to present a negative test on departure – including for vaccinated travelers in the event of a variant presenting the characteristic of an escape immune-, and the obligation to undergo a test on arrival conditioning the placement in quarantine decided by the prefects and controlled by the police.
Such classification will be temporary and reviewed regularly to ensure the proportionality of the travel restriction measures. Currently, no country is classified in the “red” list.
These border rules may be adapted in view of the evolution of the health situation, and in line with the work currently being carried out with our European partners.
On the other hand, given the health situation of the Overseas Territories, the health control procedures for accessing them remain unchanged at this stage.
The vaccination schedule is considered complete 28 days after receiving one dose of Janssen vaccine, seven days after a second dose of other vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (namely Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield) and, for persons who have received all the required doses of a WHO-licensed vaccine not approved by the European Medicines Agency, seven days after receiving an additional dose of a duly approved mRNA vaccine.
Since 1 February 2022, in order for their vaccination schedule to continue to be recognized as complete, persons aged 18 years or older wishing to enter French territory must have received a booster dose of messenger RNA vaccine no later than nine months after receiving the last mandatory dose.
The current classification of countries, defined on the basis of health indicators, is as follows:
- “Green” countries : countries or territories with negligible or moderate circulation of the virus, in the absence of an emerging variant of concern. These are the countries of the European area: Member States of the European Union as well as Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican. In addition, the following countries and territories are added: Bahrain, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Laos, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela and Vietnam.
- “Orange” countries : countries or territories experiencing active circulation of the virus, in the absence of an emerging variant of concern and showing no vaccine or immune escape. These are all countries not included in the list of “green” countries.
The Government draws the attention of travelers to the rules relating to the vaccination pass, necessary to access certain leisure activities, and which may differ from this definition: https://www.gouvernement.fr/le-pass-vaccinal-mode-d-emploi
Where is it required?
The “vaccination pass” replaces the “sanitary pass” in places open to the public (with the exception of health and social establishments), i.e.:
- bars and restaurants (with the exception of collective catering, the take-out sale of prepared meals and professional road and rail catering);
- leisure activities (cinemas, museums, theatres, sports venues, sports halls and performance halls, etc.);
- fairs, seminars and trade shows ;
- department stores and shopping centers (by decision of the prefect);
- interregional transport (planes, trains, buses).
Just like the “sanitary pass”, the “vaccination pass” applies to the public as well as to people who work in places where it is compulsory.
You can download the app << tousanticovid >> to download your QR code.