Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, in charge of Tourism, French Nationals Living Abroad and Francophonie, has announced the implementation of a recognition system for vaccines given abroad for tourists wishing to travel to France.  International tourists outside the EU who are already in France, as well as those who arrive before August 15, will be prioritized in order to provide them with rapid access to the health pass.

Health pass: when, where, for whom?

Already mandatory for tourists coming from or going to France and since

July 21, 2021 in all places intended for cultural, sports and leisure activities, as well as fairs and exhibitions receiving more than 50 people, the health pass is required from

August 9, 2021 in, among others:

• Bars and restaurants (except for company restaurants and take-away sales), both indoors and outdoors
• Public transport (trains, buses, airplanes) for long distance travel

The 50-person limit is repealed, which means that the health pass is required from the first customer, i.e. people over 18, in all these places and establishments. It will only be mandatory for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 as of September 30, 2021.

Applying for a health pass and obtaining equivalence

In order to facilitate the stay in France of tourists from outside the EU, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs has set up a specific system to obtain a QR code for vaccination equivalence valid on French territory.

Request for a health pass in case of vaccination abroad (procedure for tourists visiting France, outside the EU)

Tourists are invited to complete the relevant documents as soon as possible, available on the France Diplomatie website. All the forms as well as instructions and addresses for sending the request can be found there.

Initially, this system is open to foreign tourists from outside Europe, already travelling in France or arriving by August 15, 2021. Applications for arrivals after this date will be considered at a later date.

Where to find the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in France

You can find the latest information on the COVID-19 situation in France on the French government website.

Where to get tourist information about France

For information on travel destinations and experiences in France and its overseas destinations, visit France.fr.

Preparing your trip to France

To prepare for your trip to France, Atout France recommends that you check the latest information on the France.fr website - Covid section, but also refer to the following sources

• Embassy of France in Canada  https://ca.ambafrance.org/-English-
• Canadian government website https://voyage.gc.ca/