EXPLAINED: How does France's Covid traffic light system for travel work?
France uses traffic light classification for Covid-19 travel restrictions. Here's how it works depending on whether countries are classed green, orange, red.
France uses traffic light travel classifications, which determines the rules for entry into the country for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers.
Country categories change rapidly, but there are currently no countries on the red list, only green and orange list countries.
MAP: Which countries are on France's green list?
Each colour tier then has different rules for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers. Children under 12 are exempt from testing or vaccine requirements.
Green countries
Travellers coming from green countries can travel for any reason including tourism or to visit second homes and don't need to quarantine
Green and fully vaccinated - no requirement for a test or a declaration, just proof of vaccination. A vaccine certificate from your home country will be accepted
Green and unvaccinated - a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours if a PCR test or 48 hours if an antigen test, or a certificate of recent Covid recovery (a positive test result with a QR code, taken more than 11 days ago but less than 6 months ago)
Orange countries
Orange and fully vaccinated - proof of vaccination, plus a declaration of being free of Covid symptoms. You can find the declaration HERE.
Orange and not vaccinated - travel allowed for essential reasons only or for certain categories of travellers.
People who qualify must present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours if a PCR or 48 hours if an antigen test. Once in France, there is no requirement to quarantine, but you may be required to take a test on arrival at the port/airport, if an official directs you to
What does fully vaccinated mean?
To qualify as fully vaccinated, travellers must:
- Have received a vaccine that is approved by the European Medicines Agency - Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson (also known as Janssen). The Indian-produced Covishield vaccine is now accepted by France
- Be at least seven days after the second injection for double-dose vaccines or after a single dose for those people who had previously had Covid-19
- Be at least 28 days after the injection for people who had the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- People who have received a vaccine that is recognised by the World Health Organisation but not yet approved for use by the EMA can travel to France if they have had a 'top up' single dose of either Pfizer or Moderna
- A booster shot is not required to be classed as 'fully vaccinated'
Paper or digital vaccine certificates are accepted, but they must comply with WHO standards - including the person's full name, the type of vaccine used and a batch number. The NHS app is now compatible with France's heath passport.
The EU's digital health pass is also valid for travel purposes.
For families travelling with children who are not vaccinated, the children can enter under the same conditions as their parents.
For the full list of reasons accepted as essential travel - click HERE.
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France uses traffic light travel classifications, which determines the rules for entry into the country for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers.
Country categories change rapidly, but there are currently no countries on the red list, only green and orange list countries.
MAP: Which countries are on France's green list?
Each colour tier then has different rules for vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers. Children under 12 are exempt from testing or vaccine requirements.
Green countries
Travellers coming from green countries can travel for any reason including tourism or to visit second homes and don't need to quarantine
Green and fully vaccinated - no requirement for a test or a declaration, just proof of vaccination. A vaccine certificate from your home country will be accepted
Green and unvaccinated - a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours if a PCR test or 48 hours if an antigen test, or a certificate of recent Covid recovery (a positive test result with a QR code, taken more than 11 days ago but less than 6 months ago)
Orange countries
Orange and fully vaccinated - proof of vaccination, plus a declaration of being free of Covid symptoms. You can find the declaration HERE.
Orange and not vaccinated - travel allowed for essential reasons only or for certain categories of travellers.
People who qualify must present a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours if a PCR or 48 hours if an antigen test. Once in France, there is no requirement to quarantine, but you may be required to take a test on arrival at the port/airport, if an official directs you to
What does fully vaccinated mean?
To qualify as fully vaccinated, travellers must:
- Have received a vaccine that is approved by the European Medicines Agency - Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson (also known as Janssen). The Indian-produced Covishield vaccine is now accepted by France
- Be at least seven days after the second injection for double-dose vaccines or after a single dose for those people who had previously had Covid-19
- Be at least 28 days after the injection for people who had the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine
- People who have received a vaccine that is recognised by the World Health Organisation but not yet approved for use by the EMA can travel to France if they have had a 'top up' single dose of either Pfizer or Moderna
- A booster shot is not required to be classed as 'fully vaccinated'
Paper or digital vaccine certificates are accepted, but they must comply with WHO standards - including the person's full name, the type of vaccine used and a batch number. The NHS app is now compatible with France's heath passport.
The EU's digital health pass is also valid for travel purposes.
For families travelling with children who are not vaccinated, the children can enter under the same conditions as their parents.
For the full list of reasons accepted as essential travel - click HERE.
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