Covid-19: Rules for travel to and from France

We look at the rules for travellers between France and the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, EU countries and more

20 October 2022 08:34

[This article is updated regularly to reflect new rules as they emerge; we advise also checking government sources prior to travel.]

Rules for France-UK and UK-France travel

France-UK

The UK removed all travel restrictions, regardless of vaccination status, on March 18. Fully vaccinated travellers no longer need to complete a passenger locator form and as well as this, unvaccinated travellers are not required to carry out pre- or post-departure tests.

UK-France

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

The French interior ministry states: "Travellers no longer have any formalities to carry out on arrival in France - in metropolitan areas and in overseas departments - and the presentation of a health pass can no longer be required, whatever the country of origin."

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

France's domestic vaccine and health pass systems have also come to an end.

Rules for France-Canada and Canada-France travel

France-Canada

People considered fully vaccinated under Canada’s definition are able to enter Canada.

Find out more about what you need through the Canadian government’s website here.

Non-fully vaccinated travellers may be allowed to enter Canada depending on their reason for travel. However, they will be subject to testing requirements.

Canada-France

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

Rules for France-US and US-France travel

France-US

Air passengers are no longer required to take a pre-departure Covid test before travelling to the US, although proof of vaccination is still required for most people.

Please see here for more information on entering the US.

US-France

The US advises against travel to France.

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

Rules for travel from Australia or New Zealand to France

Australia-France

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

New Zealand-France

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

Rules for travel between France and other EU countries

EU country-France

On August 1, France's Covid state of emergency rules came to an end, meaning that there are no restrictions on travellers arriving in the country.

Border control authorities can "no longer require an essential reason for travel ('motif impérieux').

"Travellers no longer have to present a statement of honour confirming that they do not have Covid [symptoms] or a promise to have an antigen test on arrival in France [if randomly chosen]."

France-EU

Travel within the EU is possible from France on proof of either a negative PCR test, a document saying that you have had Covid and recovered, or that you are fully vaccinated.

A pan-EU digital Covid pass system is in place for mutual recognition of certificates, though individual countries may still have certain specific rules.

It is advisable to check the French foreign affairs ministry's website for the latest information on entry to different EU countries from France.

Since February 1, a booster vaccine shot - received at most nine months after your second or only (in the case of Johnson & Johnson) vaccination - is required to maintain the validity of vaccination certificates in the digital EU Covid pass.

What does it mean to be fully vaccinated?

The definition of “fully vaccinated” differs in France depending on whether referring to international travel rules or domestic vaccine pass rules.

In the case of international travel, a person is considered fully vaccinated:

28 after receiving a first dose of the Janssen vaccine
Seven days after receiving a second dose of the other vaccines recognised by the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Novavax)
Seven days after a booster dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, if they have already received two doses of a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Additionally, a person aged 18 and over considered fully vaccinated as laid out in the criteria above, must also get a booster dose within nine months of their last required dose to remain “fully vaccinated”. People who have already received a booster dose are considered fully vaccinated.

It should be noted that a person considered fully vaccinated under France’s international travel rules may only be considered partially vaccinated under the domestic rules.

People who have had a booster Covid dose are in almost every situation considered fully vaccinated under both definitions.

Read more about the difference between France’s domestic and international definitions of fully vaccinated in our article here: ‘Fully vaccinated’: does meaning vary in France depending on context?

How do I prove my vaccination status?

An EU-wide system launched last year, enabling vaccination certificates to be verified throughout the bloc.

People travelling from the US can use their CDC card to prove their vaccination status, and people coming from the UK can use their NHS vaccination certificates.

The Canadian government states that "Travellers fully vaccinated have to show a document to prove that they have received a vaccine recognized by the European Medicines Agency."

However, foreign vaccination certificates cannot generally be used as a vaccine pass once you have entered France.