Wondering how to get a digital health pass to visit France? If you’re hoping to visit the land of croissants and red wine, and plan to enter a hotel, eat at a restaurant, or visit one of its many cultural attractions, you will need a digital health pass, which comes in the form of a digital QR code.
This QR code, in theory, makes it easy for both locals and tourists to move about France with relative peace of mind regarding COVID-19 safety measures. For the code to stay valid, you must either get tested every three days, or have valid proof of full vaccination. Now that most people have gotten their vaccines, the latter offers a more simple and streamlined approach. In theory.
However, foreign visitors are unable to input their vaccine records directly into the French healthcare system. As a result, travelers are stuck wondering how they can get a digital health pass when they fulfill the necessary requirements.
France has made it easier for visitors to access the “Pass Sanitaire” – digital health pass – meaning less time stressing and more time enjoying your trip.
Who Can Apply for the French COVID-19 Certificate?
- Anyone aged 18 years or over (until September 30, 2021, the COVID certificate is not required for minors aged 12 to 17 years, and minors aged under 12 years old are not subject to COVID certificate requirements);
- Fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the EMA or equivalent;
- Vaccinated in a country/territory other than Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, England, or Wales.
How to Get the Digital Health Pass for France
Initially, tourists were being told to visit a pharmacy upon arrival to France. There, a local pharmacist would have the ability to enter vaccine record information from abroad into the French national system. While this is not a bad alternative, it’s still not an ideal process. If a visitor doesn’t speak French, or plans to stay in a more remote area, getting to a pharmacy to then obtain the Pass Sanitaire would certainly be a hassle.
Now, French authorities are able to instruct visitors – either already in France or with plans to be in the near future – to contact their corresponding embassy via email. Their message must include a complete photo of their vaccination card, a scanned copy of their passport, proof of round-trip airline tickets, and a completed form.
Upon receiving these three items, French authorities will send the person a QR code, acting as the digital health passport. This will allow the person to move about France with ease and confidence, as their immunization details will be reflected in the national healthcare system.
You can find more information on getting a digital health pass for France on the French Embassy in New York’s website.