According to multiple reports coming from France, travelers who are vaccinated outside of the EU, European Economic Area, Schengen Area, or the UK will now need to convert their EU Digital Covid Certificates into France’s updated health pass.
The health pass is also now required until at least 31 July 2022, which is likely to be extended.
According to sources, this conversion can now only be done in pharmacies where foreigners can get the proper French QR code needed to use the French health pass, whereas the old legislation would allow the conversion to take place online and via email.
The new rule, in practice, will require third country nationals who were vaccinated in their home country to obtain an EU Digital Covid Certificate, and then go to a French pharmacy to get another health certificate to be allowed into any public space.
Not all French pharmacies are participating in this program. This means that travelers will also need to find specific pharmacies throughout the country that can be used to get their health pass.
The cost of France’s health pass for third country nationals is €36.
France requires health passes to get into nearly any public space including cafes, bars, restaurants, tourist attractions, long-distance travel modes, and any event of any size.
There are other options for obtaining France’s health pass, however. For example, the health pass can also work with negative Covid tests less than 72 hours old. Antigen tests are typically €22 for tourists, and PCR tests are about €44. Testing is available in nearly all French pharmacies.
In order to get the French health pass, a person must be:
- Over the age of 12
- Fully vaccinated with either the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines
- Those vaccinated with the Sinovac or Sinopharm vaccines can get the health pass if they get a single dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines
- Those vaccinated with Sputnik, or any other vaccines not recognized by the WHO will need to get two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccines before they are recognized for the health pass
Nationals of the EU, EEA, Schengen Area, and UK are exempt from needing to get the new French health pass.
The French government passing yet another requirement for their country’s complicated health pass system will likely result in more restrictions on the freedom of movement and less incentive to travel to the country, Schengen-Visa.com reports.
