France - what are the current covid rules on entry please?

A snowHead

Hi there.

First of all, I'm sorry for asking this as I am sure it has been asked a hundred times, but I am struggling to find some good and clear advice in amongst all the posts on covid. I am trying to see what I need to do if I book a trip to France for my 14 year old son and I. We are looking first week of April.

I have both jabs and the booster (last one in Dec). He has two jabs, last one about four weeks ago. We are in Scotland so can access our jab status via the NHS Scotland website.

I have a smart phone but it is an old iPhone and not all apps work. I have paper copies of our vaccination status and would prefer to not use an app if this is possible?

I understood you needed a Pass Sanitaire for France but I think that has changed?

Is anybody able to help in layman's terms please?

Once again, very sorry for spamming the forum but not sure where else to ask or get good advice. Perhaps I'm not the only one who is confused with it all.

A snowHead

The details are here

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/france/entry-requirements

Paper copies of you Scottish Vax certs are acceptable, no app required. The Pass Saintaire is no more, it is a pass vaccinale which is coveted by your certificates.

Good luck!

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

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I came back 2 weeks ago, I only used my paper copy, in bars, restos and ski lifts.

So no app at all, but don't forget your declaration d'honneur a word doc to print and sign, no one will check it, but better safe than sorry.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

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@Boofont, If you go to my first link there is a link there to sworn statement. It's a Mickey Mouse word doc that you sign to say you haven't been in touch with anyone with covid, you would underatke a test if required. Just sign and date it, the line that says made at (or fait à) is the place you sign it (same as a French cheque!).

It is that simple currently!

But don't forget UK PLF on the way home. It's easier on a laptop than a phone but you get a pdf by email. No app again.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

Are we not forgetting the vauge LFT requirement.
If your going direct UK to France then you may be asked to show a negitive LFT taken within 48 hours, if your going via switzerland (flying into Geneva) the chances are you wont be asked

After all it is free

No requirements for a LFT for fully vaxxed AFAIAA ?

Anyone been asked for a EU PLF at check in when flying to Geneva ,then transiting into France?

@Jonny996, That went on 12 Feb for fully vaxed folks as per my first link.

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@Boofont, I'm am almost an exact copy. Triple jabbed (Dec) for me and husband and 2 kids 12 and 14. One double jabbed and one single. Booked France for Feb half term but didn't want the hassle of daily testing for my 14 year old so have pushed back to first week of April when we'll all be double/triple jabbed.

I am pretty certain that as we approach mid to end of March there will be a reduction of restrictions in France - especially as Macron is facing a presidential election in April and needs to get the masses on side. Currently there is a passe vaccinale needed for adults and a passe sanitaire for under 18s to go on ski lifts/go in bars/restaurants. Being triple jabbed (adults) and double jabbed (kids) mean you pass the criteria for these - you can either use paper copies to prove status or work it out online (but remember you need to keep phone charged/have it handy etc). I've seen French media in the last few days speculating on whether these will be relaxed by mid March and potentially abolished by end of March/early April. But, like I say, you pass the criteria so doesn't matter is still there.

Regarding border crossing - fully jabbed means no problemo!

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Forgot to say, there's also a high chance UK rules for return (eg PLF) may disappear before end of March. Safe to say, what the rules are now for both countries are unlikely to still be the same in the next few weeks - but lets hope that's in a good way!!!!

snow reports

I thought that we had to complete a Swiss Passenger Locator Form if we were transitting through Geneva Airport. This no longer appears to be needed.

Does anyone know when this requirement was dropped?

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

We've just returned from a week in Morzine and weren't asked for the vaccine pass on any of the lifts we took and only one restaurant on the mountain asked for it. There seemed to be no interest in enforcing it at all.

A snowHead

Currently in Morzine and can echo RCM - so far we have been asked once - that was this morning to get the Pleney bubble - restaurants on mountain and in town don't seem that bothered

A snowHead

With the Covid rules seeming to be relaxed much more recently and most of the U.K. half term coming to an end I thought I ask a hopefully simple question ( and add todays date to help others establish when it’s asked and answered…)

What level of vaccines do France consider fully jabbed for 16 yr olds? Some would have been able to have a booster and some will still be waiting… is the booster needed to be considered fully jabbed for under 18 year olds?

I hope the answer is simply ie. Yes needs booster or No just 2 jabs ok

Thanks

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

2 jabs was ok for my 16 year old last week. The Tous Anti COVID app accepted the vaccine proof and worked on the rare occasion we were asked for it

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We were in France last week with two kids aged 15 and 12. Neither were asked to show their TAC pass the whole time we were there - on the tgv, restaurants, bars, hotel, buying ski passes etc. Not once. We were only asked occasionally, once getting on a lift and when one time it didn't work at a restaurant they let us in with a shrug anyway. We had imported our booster certs to the TAC app, but they also accepted the NHS Scotland one. In fact all they need is a QR code, so that can be paper based or via an app. Hardly anyone wore masks in queues or on the lifts, might explain why my wife is currently sick in bed with covid.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Sounds like a booster is not needed for 16 yrs old to be considered fully jabbed in France then. Well, mid Feb anyway.

I guess entry requirements may reduce further come Easter?

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Whats the current French rules on mask wearing on enclosed lifts.

After all it is free

Some great up-to-date advice here. Thanks a lot for all the input. Smile

@kitenski, Still required for enclosed lifts. I'll let you know late next week if it's being followed!

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@chocksaway, ta! and are they fussy about the face covering or will a buff pulled up be sufficient do you think??
PPS I seem to recall you are also Yorkshire based? Are you using Jet2 to get out from Leeds?

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@kitenski, Buffs were fine 2 weeks ago so in AdH so you should be ok.

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@kitenski, I bought one of the official buffs, but anything seemed to do in early Feb, only place I saw local plod enforcing it was in the bottom station of the Funi.

I'm ferry from Dover next week, but yes, York.

You know it makes sense.

France 24 (wifey tells me) suspending the need for pass vaccine on 14th March...

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220303-france-to-suspend-rules-requiring-covid-19-vaccine-passes-on-march-14

According to this, all the vaccine pass and mask rules being dropped on 14th March. Only exception being masks on public transport, but I presume that ski lifts don't count as they've always fallen under the "Sports facility" rules in the past, so public transport is just trains, planes, busses etc.

A snowHead

Travelled via Dover yesterday, French border control wanted passport, the top half of my Vax certificate was sticking out of my plastic folder on the passenger seat, that was enough proof (or he has the eyes of a raptor!). He then gave me a huge plain white mirror hanger (Oh how tempting!) which meant the only thing P and O check in wanted was my passport for API, as their website wouldn't let me upload it, along with most people). The white thing meant I had been checked as good to go to France. UK border checked passport and asked where I was going.

Nobody was interested in the sworn statement. No one asked for proof of accom or funds.

Mask wearing on board was half hearted at best.

In France hospitality checking Vax passes and ensuring mask wearing.

A snowHead

@chocksaway, similar to my trip on P&O this week.

However....

https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Covid-19/French-vaccine-pass-and-Covid-mask-rules-to-be-removed-almost-completely-from-March-14-2022

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@Weathercam, Yip, my experiences were in Troyes last night. In Tignes they are no longer obliged to insist you wear masks whilst moving around in bars, you still need your pass vaccinale until close of play on 14 Mar. They have also given up just about on scanning vaccine passes.

I guess 3 weeks to go to a certain election is about right for La Jour de Freedom wink

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Have recently imported my NHS pass into ToutAntiCovid- belt and braces I know- started off with the booster QR and then once I tried to scan in the other codes it said 'already imported'. Do they just basically need to scan the booster code on the lifts/cafes?

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Chuffed to see that 'electioneering' is rife in France as it is in the UK Laughing

I can now relax a bit as my OH was likely to fall foul of the pass requirements (albeit still allowed to enter France though wink

). Roll on some late March snow in the Alps.

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After all it is free

Does anyone have an answer to the discrepancy between the French entry requirements and the UK gov page for France:

French Embassy: Since 1 February 2022, in order for their vaccination schedule to continue to be recognised 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.

UK Gov: Travellers aged 18 and over 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

These are not equivalent, one member of my party had their second dose in Jan 2021 and their booster in October - more than 9 months later (9 months and 10 days...). They'd be OK under the UK interpretation, but not the French one. I guess the French one takes precedence though.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Thanks for the advice so far guys, happily got into France via Barcelona no problem. Ryanair did the most basic of checks at Bristol (e.g. asking "Have you been immunised?") Did the Spanish travel health form/passenger locator in advance with address Barcelona Airport as advised to get the QR code which was simply scanned with no further questions, may have helped that I had electronically uploaded the NHS vaccine pass onto the health form in advance. And didn't notice much in the way of active customs as we drove unhindered across the Spanish-French border, didn't even need the declaration d'honneur!

Help!!

France - what are the current covid rules on entry please?

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