France has Re-Opened for International Travel

France 'reopened' for international travel on Wednesday this week (June 9th) using a green-amber-red travel system to categorise countries and set the travel rules related to them.

The UK and the US have been classified as amber, meaning that fully vaccinated people there can travel to France for any reason including leisure if they can show on boarding their transport the results of a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours if it is PCR and 48 hours if it is a rapid antigen test. They are also not required to self-isolate after coming to France.

Non-fully vaccinated people can only come if they have a compelling reason and are still asked to undertake a week of voluntary self-isolation. They have the same test requirements on boarding and may be asked to take an antigen test on arrival.

Countries such as Australia, New Zealand and all the EU member states are green, meaning fully vaccinated people can come without the need of a Covid-19 test. Non fully vaccinated people can come without an essential reason being required but will need a negative Covid-19 test to board, though they will not be asked to self-isolate.

Proof of vaccination is acceptable for any of the four vaccines accepted by the European Medicines Agency: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson.

Proving your Vaccination Status:

The Consulate General of France in London states that you can prove your vaccination status to travel to France by using the mobile application NHS App.

This application is different from the track and trace NHS Covid-19 application.

It should be noted that in order to use NHS App you must be over 13 and registered at a GP surgery in England.

If you were vaccinated against Covid-19 in England and you do not wish to use the application, you can get your vaccination certificate directly from the NHS website at this link. You need to register so as to access your status online. You can then download and print a PDF document.

If you do not wish to or cannot use the website or the app, you can phone 119 and ask for a letter confirming your vaccination status, which will be sent to you by post.

It is possible, via this page, to access a document in different languages, that can help officials in destination countries (including France) understand a British vaccination certificate if they ask for proof at the border (as they are entitled to do). For the French version, click on Français at the top right, click on the French title of the document provided and then click 'Print this page'.

The rules that apply to adults also apply to children: therefore you can travel with your children if you have been fully vaccinated, as they swill be treated as if they also have been vaccinated.

Blog submitted by: Sharon Evans - Co-Founder of Cle France.