The French parliament approved the implementation of a vaccine passport scheme across France on 16 January 2022. Coming into force on 24 January 2022, the new law will require individuals to present a certificate of vaccination when entering public spaces such as restaurants and bars, cinemas, museums and galleries, and long-distance trains. Previously, individuals were able to present either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test result. The latter will no longer be accepted for anyone over aged 15. Individuals will also have to present a form of photo ID when their vaccine passport is being scanned.

The vaccine passport, known as a pass vaccinal in French, will not be required to take public transport or to go shopping, nor to see a medical professional (though individuals are still required to present a negative Covid test in order to be seen by medical professionals).

All vaccines recognised by the European Medicines Agency will be compatible with the new vaccine passport.

France will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record. If you are travelling with a printed PDF proof of vaccination status, it must date from 1 November or after to ensure that the certificate can be scanned successfully, if domestic certification is required. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

Those vaccinated in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can also choose to scan and save the NHS QR code into France’s “TousAntiCovid” app.

Please refer to instructions from both the French government and also your home country’s local French embassy for details on converting a non-EU vaccine certificate into a French/EU vaccine certificate.

Photo: la-croix.com