What do I need to travel to France?
As a British traveller going on holiday, visiting family or friends or embarking on a business trip, you will need proof of full vaccination. For the purposes of crossing the frontier, that comprises being double-jabbed with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Novavax or a single Janssen dose.
According to the train operator Eurostar, the final vaccine of an initial course of jabs must have been administered in the past nine months – or a booster must have been given (with no time limit at present).
You can upload the QR certificates generated by the NHS showing your vaccinations to the TousAntiCovid app.
This is most easily done using a smartphone with a download of the NHS certificates.
Must I take a test?
Yes. The rules say: “Travellers (12 years old or more) have to provide the result of a negative PCR or antigen test (in paper or digital format) carried out less than 24 hours prior to departure.”
Antigen means that cheap and swift lateral flow tests are allowed. This test must be privately obtained and paid for; you cannot use an NHS test.
The French authorities say: “Arrival screenings may be conducted at the places of arrival. If the result is positive, the traveller will be placed in isolation.”
Any forms to fill in?
You must sign a “sworn undertaking to comply with rules for entry” – asserting that you have not been suffering from coronavirus symptoms and “have no knowledge of having been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during the last 14 days”.
This simple one-page form can be downloaded from near the foot of this document. Ferry firms and airlines may have their own version for you to sign.
What about entry for children?
Under 12s need not be vaccinated nor take tests.
For the purposes of admission to France, young people aged 12-17 can travel according to the rules that apply to their accompanying adult: if the adult is fully vaccinated, the child is regarded the same. This will be particularly useful for families who are travelling through France by car to reach other destinations.However, for the purposes of accessing venues in France – from cafés to ski lifts – the position for children is more complicated. Full vaccination appears to be mandatory for those aged 12-17: see below.
What is the position for unvaccinated travellers?
Travel to France for unjabbed visitors is permitted only for “compelling reasons” – such as urgent family issues – and with mandatory quarantine on arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers must complete the passenger arrival form (known as eOS) and say where they will be isolating.
“They must, on their arrival in France, observe a strict quarantine period of 10 days at this place,” say the authorities.
“This quarantine will be controlled by the security forces.”
What do I need for travel within France?
Access to almost any venue in France requires you to prove – usually via a smartphone app – that you are a low-risk person.
The key is the TousAntiCovid smartphone app. It is well designed and intuitive to use, with instructions in clear English.
British travellers over 16 can upload the QR codes from NHS vaccinations to the app. Once you have done that, you can tap on “Health pass” to get a QR code that every venue will be keen to scan.
For access to venues such as restaurants and museums, use the “Activity” version – not the “Border” one.
Up to now the TousAntiCovid pass has been acceptable with evidence of a negative test or recovery. From later this week, though, the health pass (pass sanitaire) becomes a pass sanitaire vaccinal – with only vaccinations acceptable.
Proof that you have been fully vaccinated has a tighter definition than simply being double jabbed. Broadly, all adults who had their second jab over seven months ago must have proof of a booster vaccination.
The tougher rules are part of the French president’s plan to “cheese off” unvaccinated citizens.
And for children within France?
The exemption for entry to France (ie if the adult is fully jabbed, accompanying children are also deemed to be) does not apply for access to venues.
For proof of vaccination, 16-plus people should be able to access the NHS app.
Vaccinated children aged 12-15, or their parents, can apply online for an NHS Covid Pass letter, which is then posted out to them. From 3 February this should be available through the NHS app.
Under-16s can instead take a rapid antigen (lateral flow) test in the 24 hours before intending to access the venue. This option will not be open to 16 -and 17-year-olds.
What are the rules on mask wearing in France?
In any indoor venue (except when sitting in a café or restaurant), and on all public transport, masks are mandatory – penalty €135 (£114).
Individual departéments make their own rules on mask wearing outdoors. In general, they are mandatory for large gatherings and crowded places such as markets and queues for ski lifts.
Even when it is not compulsory, many citizens choose to wear masks outdoors at all times. You may wish to do the same out of courtesy.
Fabric masks are generally frowned upon, with FFP (filtering facepiece) medical-type masks advised.
For winter sports, there are increasingly many snood (neck warmer)/facemask combinations – described variously as cache-cou avec masque buccal or tours de cou. The outdoor supplier Decathlon sells one for €20 (£17).
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
The date of your booster should be no more than 7 months after your last injection.
Mine was 7 months and 10 days, when I go onto the French site it says my pass has expired and I would need to get a booster within the next week?
Totally confused!!
saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 02/2/2022
The date of your booster should be no more than 7 months after your last injection.
Mine was 7 months and 10 days, when I go onto the French site it says my pass has expired and I would need to get a booster within the next week?
Totally confused!!
saxo1
If you have had your booster you should be ok, the 7 month thing is if you have only had 2 jabs and the last one is over 7 months old then you need a booster
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks, I will wait till we decide whether I will be able to go this year, I had to cancel 2 trips last year due to medical procedures and it looks like this year may be the same.
saxo1
Last yr the travel covid pass on the nhs app scanned ok in France. I did not attempt to put my pass on any French app. The travel pass is updated to third jab so I would have thought that would be ok in France ?
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Thanks for this post, just what I needed to know though no doubt things will have changed by the time we come to travel, whether the rules will be more relaxed or not is anyone's guess.
Interesting, this could scupper our plans for the summer
Any forms to fill in?
You must sign a “sworn undertaking to comply with rules for entry” – asserting that you have not been suffering from coronavirus symptoms and “have no knowledge of having been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during the last 14 days”
I work in a hospital and have contact with patients with covid. Obviously wearing PPE but I couldn't truthfully answer that last statement as no.
It won’t scupper anything Suzie. The form you speak of can be downloaded off your ferry website & is just a few boxes to tick. As long as you do that the French immigration will be happy. My paperwork was not even checked last year.
This can be as hard or as easy as you want to make it. We took our caravan to France both last year & year before without problems.
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by JoannaLesley on 03/2/2022
We aren't going until June and I expect all the rules will have changed again by then.
This information is certainly useful for people travelling in the very near future.
It is hard to plan though, isn't it. looks like this will exclude double jabbed daughter and son in law, although they have actually had FOUR jabs each
Due to the escalating infection situation in Dubai where they live, they had the Chinese vaccine last summer, and then had to have the two Pfizer to travel to the UK...so apparently they now can't have the booster.
Not sure we can hang on to see what happens as they want to meet us in France in July when accommodation is likely to be scarce ! Oh well back to the drawing board again !
Quote: Originally posted by suzietomtom on 02/2/2022
Interesting, this could scupper our plans for the summer
Any forms to fill in?
You must sign a “sworn undertaking to comply with rules for entry” – asserting that you have not been suffering from coronavirus symptoms and “have no knowledge of having been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 during the last 14 days”
I work in a hospital and have contact with patients with covid. Obviously wearing PPE but I couldn't truthfully answer that last statement as no.
That's a situation the Declaration of Honour hasn't anticipated or catered for!
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 02/2/2022
The date of your booster should be no more than 7 months after your last injection.
Mine was 7 months and 10 days, when I go onto the French site it says my pass has expired and I would need to get a booster within the next week?
Totally confused!!
saxo1
You can just put your booster jab on the TousAntiCovid app and you will get the pretty confetti burst. No need to put the two earlier jabs, as you must have had them to get the booster.
------------- 74,going on 25
Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 02/2/2022
The date of your booster should be no more than 7 months after your last injection.
Mine was 7 months and 10 days, when I go onto the French site it says my pass has expired and I would need to get a booster within the next week?
Totally confused!!
saxo1
Things have changed again,This from the Govt website
Travellers aged over 18 and one month who had their full vaccine course over 9 months ago and have not since received a COVID-19 vaccine booster must follow the rules for unvaccinated passengers to enter France
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Some clarity for France travel
via mobile 02/2/2022 at 4:44pm
