Getting ready to travel to France first time since pandemic

have you applied on line with your CDC card for your passe sanitaire?

https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr/commencer/passe-sanitaire-etrangers

What is a Walgreens vaccination form? Is this the CDC card? If it is - that is all you need. If it is something else - it is unlikely anyone in France will know what Walgreens is. Your vaccination record needs to be obvious to a French person and in an expected format.

To board a train, you need your CDC card.

To return to the USA, you will need a successful Antigen test done within 3 days preceding your departure from France/entry into the US. You can obtain the required Antigen test almost anywhere in France for 29€. You can $75 for a test you purchase in the US but it seems you are spending more than required.

thank you to both of for your input. I did apply for the French health pass and got a message that it is taking 22 days to process the application. Hopefully they process it sooner. I try to rely on public transportation to save on costs and was very comfortable with it prior to pandemic. But have not been back since dec 2019.
I had heard if you don't get the pass, you can go into a local pharmacy in Paris to also get it there? Not sure if anyone had any experience with that. Thanks

While some travelers still report success in some pharmacies, in theory pharmacies can no longer convert CDC cards into French QR codes. You have to go through the official application process you went through.
If you see that your CDC card gets rejected in Lyon (but most people report that it's OK there as well), then you can also get a QR code valid for 72 hours by taking an antigen test, which is quick, cheap and easy at many pharmacies, and even pop-up tents in Paris (and probably elsewhere).

I have been in france for 2 weeks now. And I can confidently tell you that if you do not get your pass sanitaire processed before you arrive you do not need to worry! Have your certificate in your bag, and if the restaurant or museum etc asks to see it help them read it by prompting them ex “2 doses Pfizer” and I have found most people barely read it And only want to confirm you have it with you.
Also I have been on many trains and so far have never been asked at all. About 60% of restaurants ask and all museums etc have asked. 1 hotel has asked to see my certificate The other 7 did not.
Let me know if you have any questions.

Let's get back to this Walgreens card. Is it a white card that says "Covid-19 Vaccination Record Card" with the CDC logo in the upper right hand corner?

If not, you may have a problem as that is the only official proof you can show of having been vaccinated.

Take it from people here, don’t go to any extra work to get any extra Covid tests or documentation. Do your very best to get the QR code pass and if that doesn’t work out make sure that you have your CDC card. And by no means did you pay for a $75 test that takes up valuable souvenir room when you can just as easily pop into Most pharmacies for €29. Chances are the people looking at these documents are going to either check to make sure the QR code works or that they recognize that you are indeed vaccinated. People aren’t going to want to read some sort of Walgreens Document because chances are you’re going to run into people that arent english speakers .

The restaurants and sites here are all familiar with the CDC card. They know how to read them. And it’s easy as well to prompt them. “2 doses Pfizer” when you show it. Honestly they barely glance at it. If you don’t get your pass QR code, don’t worry at all. I’ve been here for 2 weeks, zero issue.

OK - We arrived in Paris on 10/1. All "passe-sanitaire" must be issued by the French Government. Good Luck. We applied for ours on 9/9 and were told it would take 9 days to process. We still don't have it. After much waste of our first day in Paris, we finally found a pharmacy that could do an antigen test and issue a 72 hour temporary pass. Yes, you do have to show it and using the CDC cards is iffy at best. We were turned away at one bistro. We're here for a week and have made an appointment for Monday and Thursday to renew our tests. 25 Euros a pop. Not sure how to deal with Germany and Prague, the next stops on our trip.

We have been here for 3 weeks and all restaurants and museums have scanned our QR codes. We haven’t used public transport because we have a car. In the larger cities, the CDC card should be fine; however, I’m not sure about small towns. Did you upload your Walgreens card to the French site?

travellinggirl, Thanks so much for your helpful, on the ground info. Good to know all we need is our CDC card. Many others have reported that as well on this forum. Applied for QR but not worried if we don’t get it. Thank you!

Although I have the Pass Sanitaire I’d agree with an upthread post saying only about 60% of the time has my Pass been scanned in restaurants. 100% of the time for museums, though, and also today to get into the secure pedestrian area around the Arc de Triomphe.

I walked down the Champs-Elysees and noted Covid test tents about every block!