Health Pass (Pass Sanitaire) required In France To Enter Public Spaces From August 9, 2021

France has introduced new measurements to battle Covid-19 and get more of its citizens and residents vaccinated.

You are requried to have a Covid-19 Health Pass (Pass Sanitaire) from August 9, 2021, to enter hotels, bars, restaurants, and even trains. You should download TousAntiCovid-app to your smartphone, where you can store the proof of vaccination, and these establishments read the code from the app to grant you access.

You can access France’s information for Covid-19 and travel here.

Here’s the email that I received from the hotel:

We are contacting you today regarding the Health Pass that will be required in all the public places, including our hotel, as of August 9TH 2021.

1st Case = You are fully vaccinated:

Please kindly note that for the French government, you will be recognized as fully vaccinated 7 days after the 2nd shot of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca and 4 weeks after the first shot for Johnson & Johnson.

Furthermore, some vaccines are not recognized here in France (Chinese or Russian ones for Eg)

If you match this requirement, you will be asked to show upon arrival your proof of vaccination. This is required for every induvial over 18 y.o.

To ease the process, you can also follow the instructions below to get your vaccination certificate transferred into the French Health Pass and have full access to all Parisians activities (restaurants, museums, theatres…).

This should be done once you have arrived in France:

Download the French App “TousAntiCovid” (created by the French government)

Go to a pharmacy with your vaccination certificate and your passport

Your personal information, such as name, date of birth and nationality, will be upload by the pharmacist into the French system and a QR code will be given to you.

You will be able to add it to the App “TousAntiCovid” and this will be your Health Pass for all pubic places you will need to go (restaurant / museum / hotel).

This process is required for every person over 18y.o. (1 App on 1 phone per person)

2nd Case = You are not fully vaccinated:

You will have to provide a negative PCR test or negative Rapid test (=antigenic test) done in the last 48hours to be allowed to check-in in the hotel and every time you are entering a public place.

You can show the paper result or download the French APP “TousAntiCovid” (created by our government) to ease the process when entering places (you can upload you results in the App thanks to the QR code).

A negative test will be required at time of Check-in in the hotel for every individual over 18 y.o.. Should you stay more than 2 nights, a new negative test will be required every 48hours at the hotel for every individual over 18 y.o..

For any additional information, we kindly advise you to check the official information on our government website dedicated to foreign travelers at : France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (diplomatie.gouv.fr)

Here’s the information from the French Government:

From August 9, the health pass is mandatory and applies:

• Commercial catering activities (bars and restaurants), with the exception of collective catering or take-away sale of prepared meals and professional road and rail catering, or drinks shops;
• At fairs, seminars and trade shows;
• Except in an emergency, to health, social and medico-social services and establishments, only for persons accompanying or visiting persons accommodated in these services and establishments as well as for those accommodated there for scheduled care;
• Long-distance travel by interregional public transport (domestic flights, TGV journeys, Intercity and night trains, interregional coaches);
• To department stores and shopping centers, by decision of the prefect of the department , when their characteristics and the seriousness of the contamination risks justify it, under conditions guaranteeing access to essential shops.

To take into account the specific situation of certain categories of people, the obligation of the “health pass” is postponed to:

• August 30 for employees of places and establishments open to the public;
• September 30 for young people aged 12 to 17. 

What is the “sanitary pass”?

The “health pass” consists of the presentation, digital (via the TousAntiCovid application) or paper, of health proof, among the following three:

1. Vaccination, provided that people have a complete vaccination schedule and the time needed after the final injection , namely:

• 7 days after the 2nd injection for double injection vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca).
• 4 weeks after injection for vaccines with a single injection (Johnson & Johnson)
• 7 days after the injection for vaccines in people with a history of Covid (1 single injection).

Get my certified vaccination certificate

Since May 27, all people vaccinated can get their vaccination certificate from the Health Insurance teleservice https://attestation-vaccin.ameli.fr. In addition, any health professional can find a vaccination certificate and print it if a person requests it.

2. Proof of a negative test of less than 48 hours for the “activity health pass” for access to the major events concerned and a maximum of 72 hours for the “travel” health control.
All RT-PCR and antigenic tests generate proof as soon as the result is entered by the healthcare professional in SI-DEP, which can be printed live and which is also made available to the patient via an email and an SMS to go to the retrieve from the SI-DEP portal ( https://sidep.gouv.fr ). On TousAntiCovid, the importation of the evidence into the application is by the patient’s hand.

The deadlines in force for the validity of the tests (48h or 72h depending on the case) are strict when entering the site of the event or when boarding (no flexibility at 2 or 3 days).

3. The result of a positive RT-PCR or antigen test attesting to recovery from Covid-19, dating at least 11 days and less than 6 months.
Positive RT-PCR or antigen tests of more than 11 days and less than 6 months (taken into account to date) make it possible to indicate a limited risk of reinfection with Covid-19.

How do I get my health pass?

To collect your health pass, everything depends on the health proof chosen:

• Once your vaccination certificate is in hand , just scan the QR Code to import and store it locally, in your phone, thanks to TousAntiCovid;
• All RT-PCR and antigenic tests generate proof as soon as the result is entered by the healthcare professional in SI-DEP, which can be printed live and which is also made available to the patient via an email and an SMS to go to the retrieve from the SI-DEP portal . On TousAntiCovid, the import of the proof into the application is by the patient’s hand: from the document in paper or PDF format from SI-DEP and which accompanies the test result, by scanning the QR Code on the left on the document ; by clicking on the link in the SI-DEP portal, which allows the test result to be imported directly into TousAntiCovid;
• The process for retrieving your positive test evidence, also known as ‘recovery’ proof , is the same as for negative testing via SI-DEP .

Download TousAntiCovid Check on Google Play or the App Store .

The health pass integrates two devices

• the “ activities ” health pass is implemented as part of the national reopening plan. It makes it possible to limit the risks of epidemic spread, to minimize the probability of contamination in risky situations, and therefore the pressure on the healthcare system, while allowing certain activities or places to be kept open in addition to the health protocols specific to each individual. sector;
• the “ travel ” health pass is implemented as part of the EU’s digital COVID certificate and border health checks. It makes it possible to secure entry into the metropolitan territory, to facilitate the implementation of health control measures at the borders as well as to fight against the falsification of documentary evidence.

The health pass “activities” on the national territory
It applies in the national territory since June 9, 2021 and makes it possible to verify the vaccination status, the result of a negative test or the certificate of recovery of a person, allowing him access to a place or event subject to the sanitary pass. The health pass can be used either in digital format via the TousAntiCovid application (this tool allows you to store the various certificates of a person, but also those of their children or of people for whom they are responsible), in paper format by presenting the various documents directly (proof of negative RT-PCR, antigen tests, proof of recovery or certificate of vaccination). The operators of the events / establishments concerned check the pass at the entrance by scanning the QR Code present on the digital or paper documents.

Since July 21, the health pass is mandatory to access places of leisure and culture bringing together 50 people or more. Anyone 18 years of age and over must therefore present proof of a complete vaccination, a negative RT-PCR test of less than 48 hours or proof of recovery from Covid-19 contamination to access these places of leisure. and culture.

From August 9, the health pass will apply in cafes, restaurants, shopping centers, as well as in hospitals, retirement homes, medico-social establishments (except in emergencies). Long-distance travel by interregional public transport (domestic flights, TGV journeys, Intercity and night trains, interregional coaches) are also concerned. Access to tourist accommodation will not be subject to a health pass, except for their dining and conviviality places.

Where is the “activity health pass” compulsory?

From August 9, the health pass applies:

• Commercial catering activities (bars and restaurants), with the exception of collective catering or take-away sale of prepared meals and professional road and rail catering, or drinks shops;
• At fairs, seminars and trade shows;
• Except in an emergency, to health, social and medico-social services and establishments, only for persons accompanying or visiting persons accommodated in these services and establishments as well as for those accommodated there for scheduled care;
• Long-distance travel by interregional public transport (domestic flights, TGV journeys, Intercity and night trains, interregional coaches);
• To department stores and shopping centers, by decision of the prefect of the department, when their characteristics and the seriousness of the contamination risks justify it, under conditions guaranteeing access to essential shops.

In these places, the wearing of a mask is no longer compulsory for people benefiting from the health pass . However, the organizer, the operator as well as the prefect have the possibility of making it compulsory.

Staff working in these establishments are not affected by this exemption from wearing a mask.

How to set up the “sanitary pass “ when you are an event professional?
The proof documents making up the “activities” health pass have a QR Code which is flashed using the TousAntiCovid Verif application by the persons authorized to carry out the control. Since July 1, 2021, the health pass is in European format (digital COVID certificate from the EU). Any evidence not certified with a QR Code readable by TousAntiCovid Verif must be systematically refused.

FAQ – The “health pass “ for professionals

This application has the “minimum” reading level. That is to say with just the information “valid / invalid pass” and “name, first name”, “date of birth” , without disclosing further health information.

This processing is fully compliant with national and European rules on the protection of personal data and subject to the control of the CNIL.

In the event of a breach of the rules relating to the health pass, the following may be incurred:

• the civil liability of the organizer (for the implementation of health rules);
• the organizer’s criminal liability (in the event of proven and serious negligence).

If, as a manager or manager, you have problems with the use of TousAntiCovid Verif, a phone line is in place to guide you: 0800 August 2, 27, 7/7 from 9h to 20h . If you are a manager or manager of nightclubs, this number can also be reached from Thursday to Sunday from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m.

The “travel health pass” in Europe and internationally

Because they present a reduced risk of transmission of the virus, people who have been vaccinated, not infected or have immunity must be able to travel. To travel freely and safely this summer within the European Union, the health pass becomes European. Since July 1, the QR Code on the French health pass can be read anywhere in Europe, directly in the TousAntiCovid application or in paper format, in French and English.

This aims to facilitate the verification and acceptance of vaccination, test and recovery certificates between countries of the European Union, in Corsica and overseas.

How does the “travel health pass” work?

This is a document certifying that a person has been vaccinated against Covid-19 or is Covid-19 negative or has recovered from Covid-19 . It can be presented in paper and digital formats, directly in the TousAntiCovid application. Both versions have a QR Code containing essential information, as well as a digital signature to ensure the authenticity of the certificate and to protect it against forgery.

It is free and in effect in all Member States since July 1.

In which countries does the European certificate work?

It is valid in all countries of the European Union without exception as well as in Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Monaco and Andorra . It is available in national languages ​​and in English.

The rules of the ” European health pass ” are applicable for overseas territories.

While the EU’s digital Covid certificate provides standardized recognition of health status, each country remains responsible for its own entry rules, which are not standardized at European Union level. This means that you have to find out beforehand about the rules of entry into force in your country of destination.

European countries that can issue and verify certified evidence in the format of the EU digital COVID certificate are listed here:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-travel-eu/coronavirus-response/safe -covid-19-vaccines-europeans / eu-digital-covid-certificate_fr

All information by country of destination: diplomatie.gouv.fr

How do I get my QR Code in European format?

1 – I have a vaccination or test certificate issued before June 25 , I get my proof converted to European format:

• by going to the teleservice https://attestation-vaccin.ameli.fr/ or from my health professional (vaccination certificate);
• by going to the SI-DEP portal https://sidep.gouv.fr/ (test certificate);
• if I had already imported my certificate into the TousAntiCovid application, by converting it directly in the application;
• if I got my proof from the authorities of another country, in EU digital COVID certificate format, I can also import and store it in TousAntiCovid.

2 – I was tested or vaccinated (complete vaccination cycle) after June 25, I get my proof in European format:

• directly from the healthcare professional, after my vaccination, in hard copy;
• when I receive the SMS and the email after a test. I can also request the paper certificate from the health professional who will have tested me.

How to go to other countries?

After collecting their certificate in European format, here is the journey taken by the traveler from July 1, 2021:

• check the regulations in force from France concerning the country of destination as well as the regulations in this country on diplomatie.gouv.fr;
• print your certificate or import it into the TousAntiCovid application;
• with children, make sure that you have taken all the necessary measures for their trip by checking the file for the country of destination on diplomatie.gouv.fr;
• when boarding, my QR Code will be scanned by the competent authorities.

Depending on the mode of transport, the control of the EU digital COVID certificates is carried out differently:

• by means of air, sea or rail transport, the control will be carried out by the transport companies on departure or randomly by the police;
• by road, the checks will be carried out by the police on a random basis.

All about travel to and from abroad

What about French people living abroad?

For French people living abroad, a conversion system was put in place at the beginning of August so that vaccinations carried out outside the European Union with a vaccination schedule authorized in France can give rise to an equivalence of the vaccination certificate.

Conclusion

I downloaded the app, and it read my EU Digital Covid Certificate without any issues.

If you don’t have this EU certificate, you can go to a pharmacy with the vaccination proof and your passport, and the pharmacist can upload the information to the system France uses. Having tested for Covid-19 for every 48 hours to access restaurants, cafes, hotels, and trains is not really an option.

France is not doing this to make travel more difficult for visitors but rather to nudge citizens and residents to get vaccinated.