COVID-19 Information

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The Department of State has issued COVID-19 Traveler Information and advises all U.S. citizens to read the country-specific Travel Advisories and U.S. Embassy COVID pages for updates on the impact of COVID-19 worldwide.

 

COVID-19 Information    

Last updated:  04/20/2022    

*** Effective December 6, 2021, all airline passengers to the United States aged two years and older, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within one calendar day of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.   

Country-Specific Information     

France is now under a Level 2 Travel Advisory – Exercise Increased Caution.     

  • France has confirmed cases of COVID-19 throughout the country. 
  • The CDC travel notice for France for COVID-19 is Level 3: High Level of COVID-19.  
  • If you have recently tested positive for COVID-19 in France or must travel to France imminently, please refer to this page for more information.     
  • Detailed information about the November 8 U.S. entry changes, including accepted vaccinations, testing requirements, and other critical information, is available at the following links:     
  • Find out if you can board a flight to the United States | CDC    
  • White House Statement in French and English    
  • COVID-19 Traveler Information (state.gov)   
  • Non-U.S. citizen, Non-U.S. immigrants: Air Travel to the United States | CDC     
  • Under the new rules, there is NO EXCEPTION for the non-citizen spouses or minor children of a U.S. citizen, nor for the non-citizen parents of a U.S. citizen minor child. These travelers must meet the same rules as any other non-U.S. citizen, including two doses of an approved vaccine, with the exception of the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which only requires one dose.     
  • The new U.S. travel rules require two doses of an approved vaccine (one dose if it was the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine), even if the traveler has recovered from COVID. Unlike France and some other European nations, the United States does NOT consider a traveler fully vaccinated with only one dose if they previously recovered from COVID; all travelers must have two doses, even if they have previously recovered from COVID.     
  • On February 12, France’s entry rules changed. Fully vaccinated travelers coming from any green or orange nation, including the United States (as well as minor children under 12) no longer require a COVID test to enter France, and may enter with proof of vaccination (the CDC card is sufficient for entry) and a sworn statement they do not have symptoms of COVID-19 nor contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19.  As of February 1, French authorities require a traveler age 18 and over to have received a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine no later than 9 months after the second dose (the single dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) to be considered “fully vaccinated” for entry into France.  Note: People who received their booster more than nine months after their second dose may still enter, so long as one week has passed after they received their booster shot.
  • On March 13, France reclassified the United States as a green nation, and so unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated travelers departing from the United States no longer need to show a compelling reason for travel, but must have a negative COVID test performed within 72 hours before departure (if a PCR test) or 48 hours before departure (if an antigen test). Travelers who recovered from COVID more than 11 days but less than six months before boarding may be able to enter without a negative test by showing the original positive test result.  However, it is not clear if this positive test result needs to include an EU-compatible QR code, as has been required in some circumstances in the past. Please see Entry and Exit Requirements below for more information. 
  • Different entry rules apply to French overseas territories.  Please see the French Ministry of Interior website for more details.   
  • HEALTH PASS / VACCINE PASS: As of March 14, proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter venues in France, with the exception of hospitals and nursing homes. This change does not affect vaccine requirements regarding travel to France.    

COVID-19 Testing     

  • Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in France? Yes.     
  • If so, are test results reliably available by the following calendar day? Yes.     
    • Antigen test results are available within 24 hours, often in less than one hour. PCR test results may take up to 48 hours.    
    • Numerous pharmacies offer rapid antigen tests on a walk-in basis. To locate pharmacies open after-hours, weekends, or holidays in Paris and outskirts visit https://monpharmacien-idf.fr/. To find late-night or emergency pharmacies anywhere in France, call 112 (European emergency number, available free of charge, 24/7).   
    • PCR testing is available at many laboratories and testing centers, usually by appointment — including the testing centers at Paris’ airports.    
    • Antigen tests cost 25 Euros, payable in advance. PCR tests cost 43.89 Euros. As of October 15, free COVID tests at public testing centers for French residents are no longer available, with an exception for fully vaccinated residents or residents with a prescription. Private testing centers, including pharmacies, may charge. COVID test results can be obtained on paper, or via email or SMS message.     
    • All air travelers to the United States age 2 and older, regardless of their vaccination status, need a negative COVID test taken within the day before travel. This includes U.S. citizens. This can be either the PCR or antigen test. While antigen test results are reliably available within 24 hours, PCR tests may take more than 24 hours. Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.     
    • Be aware that many testing centers and pharmacies performing COVID tests are closed on Sundays. Testing centers or pharmacies at airports and major train stations may be open on Sunday, depending on your location in France. In Paris, tests are available at most airport pharmacies at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as at major train stations.     
    • Waivers to the testing and vaccination requirements may be granted by the CDC on an extremely limited basis. Please go here for more information.    

COVID-19 Vaccine Information     

  • Has the government of France approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes.      
  • Are vaccines available in France for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes. Non-French citizens who are living in France, including those who are not registered in the French health care system but who are currently eligible to receive the vaccine (see below), can be vaccinated at a vaccination center but may be charged for the vaccine. You can download a letter stating your eligibility as a U.S. citizen (if you are otherwise qualified) here. .     
  • Which vaccines are available in France? Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.     
    • Under France’s COVID-19 vaccination program, vaccines are being offered to everyone age 5 and over. Additional information is available on the sante.fr website. Booster (third) doses of vaccine are being offered to all people aged 18 and over.    
    • Booster (third) doses are available for everyone age 18 and above beginning three (3) months after their second dose.     
    • People eligible for a COVID vaccine, either initial doses or a booster, may register for a vaccine appointment several ways: online at sante.fr; via the Doctolib, Maiia, and KelDoc apps; by phone at 0800 009 110; or with their doctor.     
    • Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.     
    • The U.S. government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.   

 Entry and Exit Requirements     

  • Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes.     
    • France has restricted travel to and from countries outside the “European Area” (EU members along with Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Vatican).     
    • Certain travelers may now be admitted to France, depending on conditions in the country of origin of their trip and the traveler’s vaccination status. All countries are color-coded, either green, red, orange, or scarlet. A country’s status and particular requirements to enter France are subject to change with little notice. Please see the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for the most recent information.     
    • France often announces or changes specific restrictions on travel between the United Kingdom and France. Please carefully consult the Embassy of France in the UK website before planning any travel between France and the UK. Airline transit through the UK on a France-bound flight from the U.S. is still be permitted.    
    • Green countries (currently European Area countries along with the United States,  Angola, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eswantini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, South Sudan, Taiwan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). Fully vaccinated travelers coming from these countries can enter with proof of full vaccination.  Travelers who are not fully vaccinated require a negative PCR or antigen test performed within the 72 hours (PCR test) or 48 hours (antigen test) before entering France. A certificate of recovery/positive COVID test dated more than 11 days after COVID was contracted but less than six months ago might be accepted for entry purposes, but it is not clear if this includes certificates without an EU-compatible QR code, such as those issued in the United States.  This includes land and sea travelers as well as air travelers. There is no quarantine requirement.   Different rules apply to French overseas territories, and travelers will need to check the internet sites of the prefecture or High Commissioner (Haute commissariat) of the destination.   
    • Red countries (currently no countries are listed as red): Fully vaccinated travelers need proof of vaccination and a negative COVID test performed with the 48 hours prior to departure for France; no quarantine is necessary. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers are restricted to certain categories of travelers who must show a compelling reason for travel. These travelers must present a negative COVID test (PCR or antigen) performed within the 48 hours before departure, be tested again upon arrival, and must quarantine for ten days after arrival (this quarantine will be enforced by police checks at the quarantine location) at a location the traveler must identify to French authorities. Depending on your country of origin, you may be subject to additional screening upon arrival. To facilitate administrative procedures, you are asked to fill out the form available at the following address: https://passager.serveureos.org. Additional restrictions may be imposed.     
    • Orange countries (all other countries). Fully vaccinated travelers must present proof of vaccination. France accepts the CDC card as sufficient proof of vaccination for entry. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers must provide a compelling reason for travel (see Compelling Reasons, below), a negative COVID test (PCR performed within 72 hours or antigen performed within 48 hours prior to departure). Travelers may be tested again upon arrival, and will be required to self-isolate for 7 or 10 days if positive.     
    • Scarlet countries: There are currently no countries on the scarlet list. All travelers, whether vaccinated or not must have a compelling reason from the list of compelling reasons on the appropriate attestation form, a negative PCR test performed within the 48 hours before departure or a negative antigen test performed within the 24 hours before departure, complete the form at https://passager.serveureos.org and be screened upon arrival, quarantine or isolate for 10 days upon arrival in France with set limits on the time you can leave the isolation area (the quarantine requirement does not apply to passengers who remain in the transit zone of the airport), be tested upon arrival in France, provide proof of address of the suitable space where you will quarantine and allow French authorities to verify your compliance with the quarantine order. Travel to scarlet countries is also subject to tight restrictions.    
    • Children: The testing requirements do not apply to travelers under age 12 and these travelers do not need to have a COVID test.     
    • “Fully vaccinated”: Currently only the Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are accepted for entry into France. Travelers who have received all required doses of a WHO-licensed vaccine not approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) require an additional single dose of an EMA-approved mRNA vaccine (currently Pfizer or Moderna). Travelers must also be fully vaccinated, which occurs 28 days after receiving one dose of Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine; 7 days after receiving a second dose of other vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria/Covishield); or, for persons who have received all the required doses of a WHO-licensed vaccine not approved by the European Medicines Agency, 7 days after receiving the additional dose of an EMA-approved mRNA vaccine.  As of February 1, French authorities require a traveler age 18 and over to receive a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine if it has been 9 months or more since the second dose (the single dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) to be considered fully vaccinated for entry into France.  Travelers who received the booster more than 9 months after their second dose may still enter France, so long as one week has passed since they received the booster dose.      
    • Compelling Reasons and Essential Travelers: The list of compelling reasons and essential travelers can be found at the website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is located on the attestation page for travelers entering France. Note that different rules may apply depending on the country of origin of travel; please ensure you select the correct travel attestation. Travelers subject to this requirement attempting to enter without a compelling reason may be denied entry and detained in an immigration detention center until they can be returned to their point of departure.     
    • In rare cases, the French government will consider allowing travel for otherwise unqualified travelers in humanitarian situations and in cases of business activity important to the French economy, and have announced a program to allow unmarried couples to reunite. Persons may inquire about such allowances with the French Embassy in Washington, DC (visas@consulfrance-washington.org).    
    • The United States Embassy has no standing to intervene or advocate for the private travel of United States citizens to France. Please contact your nearest French Embassy or French Consulate or refer to France Visas. If you are already in France, please contact your nearest Prefecture or refer to Prefecture de Police.     
    • Anyone entering France or transiting through France must have an attestation, available here. You do not need an endorsement from the Embassy for this attestation.     
    • Transit passengers through Charles De Gaulle Airport are being allowed under certain conditions. Transiting passengers may not leave the international zone and will not be admitted to France unless otherwise qualified to enter France. Luggage must be checked through to your final destination. You will not be permitted to leave the international zone to collect and recheck baggage. The duration of transit must be less than 24 hours. For more information regarding entry into France, we refer you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.     
    • French Residents Traveling Outside France: On June 9, France dropped the compelling reason requirement for fully vaccinated travelers from France traveling to orange countries. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated travelers will still need to show a compelling reason for travel to orange or red countries, as do all travelers to scarlet countries. No compelling reason is needed for travelers traveling to a green country regardless of vaccination status.     
  • Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes.     
    • Passengers who are not fully vaccinated must present results of a negative COVID test. The type of test and the time frame for the test vary depending on the color classification of the country and the vaccination status of the traveler. Please see the information above under Entry and Exit requirements.     
    • Please note this testing requirement applies only to travelers who are otherwise allowed to travel to France. For more information regarding entry into France, we refer you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website (English version).     
  • Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.     
    • France is performing temperature checks and COVID testing for certain passengers.     
    • There are Covid-19 testing centers at Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport and Paris-Orly airport. Departing passengers wishing to get a test at the airport must make an appointment online (doctolib.fr). According to Paris Aéroport, results for the PCR test are available within 48 hours and generally within 1 to 2 hours for an antigen test. There are also pharmacies located in the departures area near the check-in counters in Terminal 2E and terminal 2F at Paris-Charles de Gaulle that can perform the antigen test.    
    • Travelers who entered France on the 90-day Schengen visa waiver cannot obtain an extension on their stay due to COVID.     
    • People in France with a valid residence permit may face long delays in renewing their permit. Such travelers should carry a copy of their receipt showing they submitted the extension or renewal request in a timely manner, or if no receipt is available, other evidence that they submitted their request. Travel difficulties due to COVID are not a sufficient reason to obtain an extension, as travel has been and remains available to the United States from France.    

Movement Restrictions     

  • Is a curfew in place? No.  
  • Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.    
    • France has imposed movement or travel controls on several of its overseas territories and departments. For more information, see the Ministry of Interior website.     
    • Vaccine Pass/Health Pass (Pass Vaccinal/Sanitaire): France suspended the vaccine pass requirement on March 14. Hospitals and nursing homes still require a vaccine pass to enter, except in emergencies.  The health pass rule applies to people age twelve and over, and they must be fully vaccinated (two shots except for the Johnson & Johnson/Jansen vaccine), and, if more than four (4) months have passed from the second vaccine dose, a booster dose of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) is required for those age 18 and older.  A negative COVID PCR or antigen test performed in France provides a temporary 24-hour health pass. Rapid antigen tests are available on a walk-in basis at many local pharmacies, with results in under 30 minutes. These results include a QR code that serves as the temporary pass. Once the pass expires, a new test can be taken to obtain a new temporary pass.    
    • Travelers fully vaccinated within the European Union, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Switzerland, England, or Wales must use the pass issued by their country of vaccination.    
    • This is strictly a French government procedure. Despite what some pharmacies have told travelers, the U.S. Embassy has no access to the French system, nor can we assist in this process.    

 Quarantine Information     

  • Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes.     
    • Quarantine requirements vary depending on the country where travel originated and the vaccination status of the traveler. Please see Entry and Exit requirements above for more information.     
    • There is no current quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travelers (and accompanying minors under age 12).  Quarantine or self-isolation may be required for unvaccinated travelers under certain circumstances.  Please see Entry and Exit requirements for more information.       
    • Unvaccinated travelers arriving from red countries and all travelers arriving from scarlet countries face a heightened, 10-day quarantine that may be enforced by police or other government authorities. See information at the French Ministry of Interior website.     

Transportation Options     

  • Are commercial flights operating? Yes.     
  • Is public transportation operating? Yes.     
    • Face coverings are required for everyone age 6 and older on all public transportation and in medical facilities. Businesses and commercial establishments may require masks be worn. The U.S. Embassy requires masks be worn at all times while in the Consular waiting room for everyone age 6 and older.  

 Fines for Non-Compliance     

  • Non-compliance with the mask requirements can lead to a fine of 135 Euros (approximately $160) for a first offense. Repeat offenders can be fined up to 1,500 Euros (about $1,735).    

 Consular Operations     

  • American Citizen Services: The U.S. Embassy in Paris and the Consulates General in Marseille and Strasbourg have resumed regular services other than Federal Benefits, which are limited and available only by email.  Services may be limited due to COVID-mitigation measures; significant backlogs exist for some services. United States citizens should see the corresponding pages on this website to make appointments for these services. 
  • Visa Services: All immigrant visa categories are being processed. Non-immigrant visa services have resumed, but with extremely high demand and limited capacity, resulting in significant backlogs. New appointment slots are added regularly; please monitor the appointment system website. For more information, or to schedule a visa appointment, please see: https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas.    
  • Due to COVID-19, visa applicants must comply with any applicable French government travel-related quarantine requirement prior to their interview or will not be admitted to the Embassy and will be required to reschedule their appointment.    
  • Masks are still required, even after March 14, in the Consular waiting room for everyone age 6 and older. 

Local Resources     

By | 20 April, 2020 | Topics: Alert, Messages for U.S. Citizens, News, U.S. Citizen Services | Tags: , , , , ,

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