Traveling to France from the US During COVID-19

After spending quite a while preparing for traveling to France from the US during COVID-19, I thought it may be helpful to compile the information I gathered from my experience on our trip and through my own research before traveling.  

However, let me preface this by saying do some of your own research!  While this information is current through today, October 3, 2021, the requirements/rules for traveling to France from the US are subject to change at any time—they even changed WHILE we were in France.  Plus, France is currently under a “Level 4- Do Not Travel” Advisory. I recommend checking the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in France’s website, as well as the French Diplomacy website, for up-to-date information.  

Requirements for Getting into France

As a US citizen, here is what you need to get into France: 

• Proof of Vaccination (must be fully vaccinated) 
• Sworn declaration stating that you don’t have symptoms of COVID nor contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID.  

Prior to September 12, a vaccine was not necessary to travel to France, and travel was allowed with a negative COVID test.  However, unvaccinated US residents CANNOT currently travel to France for leisure- travel to France will only be allowed if there are pressing grounds for travel, and self-isolation for 7 days will be required.  Click here for more information regarding unvaccinated individuals visiting France. 

When I traveled to France a few weeks ago, the only person who asked to look at my required documents was the airline worker who checked me into the flight.  Once I arrived in France, all Customs asked me for was my passport.  Of course, I am sure some of Border Control is more stringent, but when I asked if they needed to see my documents, they waived me on lol.  All of that to say—make sure you have your documents with you, but don’t be too stressed about it.  

Requirements Once You’re in France

Here is what you need once you arrive in France:  

• French Health Pass, i.e. Pass Sanitaire 
• Mask—masks are required indoors 

Pass Sanitaire

The Pass Sanitaire is required to do pretty much anything in France.  Want to go out to eat?  You need a pass.  Want to take a train?  You need a pass.  Want to go to a museum?  You need a pass.  You can apply for a pass ahead of time online, here.  Apply for the pass AT LEAST a month before you plan to arrive in France, if not earlier.  

Before I went to France, the process of applying for a pass was through email.  However, the process changed August 27, less than a week before I was set to arrive in France.  I applied through the link I posted above on August 31 (I didn’t realize the process had changed until then).  The website said the average processing time was 4 days.  It ended up taking 20 days to have my application processed, i.e. after I left France.  

Here is the good news:  if your health pass application hasn’t been approved by the time you arrive in France, you can get a temporary pass that is valid for 72 hours.  You get this temporary pass by taking a COVID test and getting a negative result, which is what we had to do during our trip.  We took a COVID test every 72 hours, which seems like a big pain (and it kind of was), but France makes it so easy to get a COVID test that it wasn’t as big of a deal as I expected it to be.  You can take a rapid, antigen test at almost any pharmacy and have the results in 10-15 minutes.  In Paris, there are also test tents on many street corners where you are able to get a rapid test.  The downside is that (at the pharmacies at least) a rapid COVID test costs about 25 euros each time you get one.  

Even though getting tested for COVID every 72 hours wasn’t ideal, it was definitely worth it!  Almost everyone asked for my pass—even the hotels asked us for passes (or a vaccine card) when we checked in.  We were able to see and do everything we wanted to thanks to the temporary pass. 

Requirements for Getting Back Into the US

Here is what you need to get back into the US: 

• A negative COVID test taken 3 days before the flight’s departure or proof of recovery from COVID (note: the requirement is 3 days, not 72 hours… so if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.) 
• Attestation stating that you complied with the negative COVID test requirement/recovery.

The negative COVID test result must state: 

1. Type of test (indicating it is a NAAT or antigen test)
2. Entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity, or telehealth service)
3. Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the 3 days before the flight. A positive test result for documentation of recovery from COVID-19 must show the specimen was collected within the 3 months before the flight.
4. Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number)
5. Test Result

Here is a link to more information regarding getting back into the US. 

Was it Worth it Traveling to France During a Pandemic?

All in all, was it worth it traveling to France from the US during COVID-19?  Am I glad I went to France?  Of course, there is still a global pandemic occurring—do your own research and see whether or not you feel safe and comfortable traveling abroad, but YES!!!  I am so grateful that I was able to go.  Even though all the restrictions and rules were at times a bit irritating, overall, it was extremely worth it.  There were a lot of tourists (even American ones!), but it was not nearly as crowded as I’m sure it is during “normal” times.  The lines weren’t too long and moved quickly.  We got to see and experience so much.  And, to me, France felt relatively safe.  Like I stated previously, masks were required indoors, and health passes were required to do pretty much anything.  So, I knew that everyone inside had either been vaccinated or recently tested negative. 

If you have any questions about traveling to France right now, please comment below or message me on Instagram!!  I hope you found this post helpful!

XX, Danielle