There have been news stories in recent days, mentioning restrictions on US citizens travelling to EU countries, including France.
Of course this has raised concerns. Although for vaccinated American travelers to France, nothing has changed.
As long as your vaccine is one of those approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) you should not face any problems.
The EMA recognizes Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer/BioNTech, and Moderna, all jabs which pretty much all vaccinated Americans will have received.
So only those who are unvaccinated are affected. As of September 1st, proof of vaccination is required to enter France quarantine-free. Some public activities like museum visits and indoor dining may also be off limits for those who are not vaccinated.
How to get a French Health Pass
If you’re planning to visit Paris soon, you might also be wondering how to get a French Health Pass.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 measures, this pass permits access to museums, restaurants, malls, and other public places.
For our clients with second homes in the capital, getting this pass is recommended, so you can fully enjoy your time here.
Here’s our easy guide to obtaining yours.
New regulations from August
Regarding the health pass for those in France, new regulations for visiting many public places came into effect on August 1.
To prevent further infections, you must now prove your Covid-19 status before entry to most venues.
US citizens can of course bring documents on paper, including their CDC vaccination card. Also accepted is proof of a recent negative PCR or lateral flow test. However, if you don’t want to bring original paper documents, you can plan before you arrive and have a scannable QR code on your phone.
Now widely accepted and recognized around the city, this pass will make things simpler during your visit.
Check before you apply
To successfully apply for your French Health Pass, there are a few stipulations.
It is only required for adults over the age of 18.
You must be ‘fully’ vaccinated with one of those EMA-approved vaccines. This is seven days after most immunizations, or four weeks for the single-dose version.
If you have previously recovered from Covid-19 the requirement is only one jab, followed by a wait of at least 14 days after your injection.
All of the above applies only to those who are not European residents. Vaccinated travelers residing in all EU member countries, plus Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, England, and Wales, already have access to a valid EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate.
Apply online before you travel
To apply, read the full guidelines on the France Diplomacy website.
You must fill in the form, along with proof of your vaccination. They will also need to see a copy of your passport and return travel tickets.
If you do not wish to follow this process, it is possible to bring your white CDC vaccination card, and have a health pass created for you at a local pharmacy in Paris.
But applying online before you travel is the easiest method.
Just allow some time, as they are dealing with many applications. As soon as your travel plans are in place, we recommend you apply without delay.
How to get a pass if you’re not vaccinated
If you arrived in Paris before Sept. 1st and are not vaccinated, you can still obtain a health pass.
You will, however, need to regularly test while in France and be able to prove your negative Covid-19 status. You can only apply for this temporary QR code while you are here.
To obtain this temporary pass, you will need to visit a local pharmacy. Look out for the green cross sign, they are easily identifiable throughout the city.
At the pharmacy, unvaccinated people can take a test. A negative PCR test is good for 72 hours. While a negative lateral flow (antigen) test is good for 48 hours.
The latest news, however, may have an impact on unvaccinated travelers. So we always recommend looking at the latest government updates.
The bottom line
We hope this guide is useful for American travelers to France wondering how to get a French Health Pass.
With it, travelers can rest assured that they can access public spaces while visiting Paris. It is worth it for your peace of mind.
As France gradually opens back up to the world, we are excited to start seeing our existing and new clients. In turn, we are expecting a positive impact on many markets in Paris, including tourism and real estate.
If you have any queries about the local property market, please do contact the team at 56Paris and we will be happy to help.
You can also follow us on social media via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for the latest updates when they happen.
Please note: This article follows the latest information and is correct at the time of writing.