France Entry Requirements from US (other than Vaccine Pass)

You have to get a test within the 48 hours prior to your departure for France. That has been the case for a while.

They probably won't test you upon arrival -- they just make you sign that.

The form to give your address in country has always been given to me by the Flight attendants during the flight (and collected by them too)

Ok. Good to know. Thank youI have one more question actually relating to the Vaccine Pass. I know you have to go to an "approved" pharmacy to get the vaccine pass. This is the site I have been using: https://www.sante.fr/recherche/trouver/health%20pass/Paris. When I go to the website to look for a pharmacy nearest to my hotel in Saint-Germain-des-Prey, the pharmacies shown change on a daily basis. Why is that? I found 2 the other day w/in 10-15min walk and now those are showing. Anyone know why that is?

I printed out the declaration form in English before I traveled in October. It should also be available on your airline website. As long as you are printing things out, also do the declaration you need to have for returning home. Neither of them are big deals…you just sign a statement.

Editing to add: Perhaps it goes by their daily opening hours? Don’t worry about this. There will probably be one very close to your hotel. You can ask the person on the registration desk OR just go out the front door and look for a green neon cross. The pharmacy will probably have signs in the window as well.

Blogs can be good for general information, but wouldn't it be better to consult directly the official French government websites?

One. Travelers must provide contact details, including the address they will be staying at, to the French authorities via an online form.

There is already a French government requirement for all visitors to submit, upon entering France:

1. Their full itinerary to include a complete hotel list.
2. Written proof of medical insurance coverage

I doubt anyone has been asked for these things, but they could be. Starting late this year, or maybe next year as implementation has been announced many times, Schengen zone visitors, Americans for example, will need to pay a modest fee and make an ETIAS application. The ETIAS will track your Schengen zone entry/exit to assure you never overstay the 90/180 visiting limit.

This online form does not originate from a gouv.fr website, so I am not sure what it is, but it looks similar to the locator form required of each family when they enter France. These forms are typically given out by the air carrier once on board.

Two. They must present proof of vaccination status and a sworn statement attesting to the absence of symptoms of covid-19 infection and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19. Random PCR test or antigen test on arrival.

The latest information that I have is the following, referencing entry requirements and vaccinations (in addition to the sworn statement and the 48-hour negative PCR/Antigen test):

Since January 30, 2022, in order to continue to be considered as fully vaccinated, persons aged eighteen and one month or over wishing to enter the national territory must have received a dose of complementary messenger RNA vaccine no later than 9 months following the injection of the last required dose.
https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/L-actu-du-Ministere/Certificate-of-international-travel

This new requirement means that you must now have the booster to enter France, and that the booster must have been received within 9 months of your 2nd shot. If you do not have the booster or if your booster was received beyond the 9-month window, you are considered unvaccinated, which closes the door for those wanting to enter France as tourists.

That you agree to a PCR/Antigen test upon arrival has always been a requirement, but one that is seldom enforced.

Three. Vaccine Pass - which I already know of via the French government site.

I might suggest that you refer to French government sites for all of this information.

Thanks for the clarification Tocard.
As for the pharmacy upon arrival, it has to be an "approved" pharmacy is my understanding so you can't just go to any local pharmacy. So why does their list of approved pharmacies keep changing by the day? Are the ones I saw approved before no longer on the list not considered approved any longer?

I think you will struggle to find an “unapproved” one. Just go to your nearest one, ask for Pass Vaccinal holding up your CDC card. If they say no, walk to the next one. Honestly this is going to be easier than you think. The pharmacist will be used to doing these and will not be willing or able to do anything illegal.

The reason the list changes may be a mystery known only to France, lol.

I typically write an approved or a participating pharmacy, but the truth is, a pharmacy is very unlikely to turn away QR code business from foreigners wanting their Covid inoculations recognized by the French system. It is the easiest 36€ any pharmacist could possibly earn, and I really do not know of any pharmacy which would refuse you. There might be one somewhere.

Thanks Tocard and Pam. Very true. LOL! A very easy way to earn 36 euro. That's a relief to know I don't have to hunt down a specific one. I found a few w/in 5-10min walk from hotel. Thanks much!

Patti, I stewed over this before my trip in October, checked that dang website repeatedly for locations for departure testing but at that time had the Pass Sanitaire via the website. Then when I got to Paris and saw signs in the windows of every pharmacy in my hotel’s neighborhood for testing I realized this is much more routine for them. It will be harder to get your departure testing done in your home area than getting your Pass Vaccinal.

I am glad the pharmacies are able to charge for the conversion. It’s not the job they signed on for when they went to pharmacy school! Most speak a little English and are very helpful. I wound up buying a bunch of stuff for Christmas presents I was so relieved to get a negative test, lol. I just wanted to give them a little profit margin!

Good points Pam. I agree it is hard to find a spot to get tested locally to home. I plan to schedule something well ahead for our testing before we go. Good to know they can speak a little English. Merci beaucoup!

You may also want to google street view the area around your hotel and “walk” the streets looking for a pharmacy, lol! It’ll help you get familiar with the neighborhood!!

"This new requirement means that you must now have the booster to enter France, and that the booster must have been received within 9 months of your 2nd shot. If you do not have the booster or if your booster was received beyond the 9-month window, you are considered unvaccinated, which closes the door for those wanting to enter France as tourists.
That you agree to a PCR/Antigen test upon arrival has always been a requirement, but one that is seldom enforced." ........
Above posted by Tocard. My question. I had my booster 9 months and three days from my last shot.Thus the door is closed for me. Am I banned for life or what would I have to do to reopen the door? Any thoughts? Anyone?...twopffenig ...ps I was in Paris for two months , last September. I have the covid pass , but it appears it has expired due to the fact there is no way to add the booster shot...

Here is a reply from another poster who contacted the French embassy:

------ Forwarded message ---------
From: [email protected] [email protected]
Date: Wed, Feb 2, 2022 at 11:22 AM
Subject: Re: 2 Feb COVID info
To: Me
Even if your booster had been received 11 months after your Pfizer vaccine, this would not have mattered. What actually matters is that you received it before entering France. This 9-month rule implies that a booster is not even required at all if the dual vaccination has been completed less than 9 months ago.
This in response to my question regarding entry to France with a booster 9 months 3 weeks after my final vaccination.

From this thread:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/france/february-1-2022-covid-requirement