Covid in France as a foreigner

Covid vaccines are highly effective at keeping you from developing serious forms of the illness. Although they also significantly reduce the risk of getting and spreading Covid-19, they are — just as any other vaccine — not 100% effective. This is why, in France, vaccinated people must still wear face masks in certain areas (mainly indoors) in order to protect others.

The vaccines significantly reduce the risks of experiencing a severe case of Covid-19, and spreading it. However, as any other vaccine, it is not 100% effective.

If you experience Covid-19 symptoms, or if your Covid test result is positive, we encourage you to self-isolate for 10 days, in order to protect the vulnerable people around you.

You should also tell your close contacts that they may have been exposed to the virus and they should get tested immediately.

Non-European nationals visiting France can convert their extra-European vaccination certificate at a pharmacy. You will need to present your passport and your existing vaccination certificate in paper format. The pharmacy can charge you up to 36 euros for this procedure.

Please note that this is only possible if you received one of the following vaccines:

• Pfizer Comirnaty,
• Moderna Spikevax,
• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria (or Fiocruz, Covishield, R-Covi),
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

If you were vaccinated in one of the following countries, you do not need to convert your vaccination certificate: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Morocco, Monaco, Norway, Panama, United-Kingdom, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican.

Foreign students studying in France can request the conversion of their vaccination certificate.

Please note that this is only possible if you received one of the following vaccines:

• Pfizer Comirnaty,
• Moderna Spikevax,
• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria (or Fiocruz, Covishield, R-Covi),
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

While your request is being processed, a negative PCR or antigenic test result will be your temporary health pass (valid for 24h). To find out where to get tested, please click on this link (in French).

If you were vaccinated in one of the following countries, you do not need to convert your vaccination certificate: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia, Morocco, Monaco, Norway, Panama, United-Kingdom, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, Vatican.

You must provide a valid health pass (passe sanitaire) to access any train, plane or bus for a long distance journey.

The health pass is not required to use public transportation (bus, tramway, subway…) within cities or across the Paris region.

In France, 3 documents can be used as a health pass, as long as they include a valid European QR code:

• a negative test result (PCR or antigenic): valid for 24h after the test,
• a positive test result (PCR or antigenic): valid between 11 days and 6 months after the test,
• a certificate of full vaccination with Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Janssen.

You will be considered fully vaccinated:

• 7 days after the 2^nd jab of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca (or if you tested positive to Covid-19 before receiving the first jab, your vaccination will be considered complete 7 days after this single injection),

• or 7 days after your additional jab of Pfizer or Moderna, if you were first vaccinated with a single dose of Janssen.

The following vaccines are recognized by the French and European medical authorities:

• Pfizer Comirnaty,

• Moderna Spikevax,

• AstraZeneca Vaxzevria (or Fiocruz, Covishield, R-Covi),

• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

• You were vaccinated with Sinopharm, Sinovac or Covaxin (recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)):

  • you received 1 jab: you must complete your vaccination process with 2 extra jabs of Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax), at least 4 weeks after your last injection,
  • you received 2 jabs: you must complete your vaccination process with 1 extra jab of Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax), at least 4 weeks after your last injection.

• You were vaccinated with any other vaccine (not recognized by the EMA nor the French medical authorities):

  • you received 1 or 2 jabs: you must complete your vaccination process with 2 jabs of Pfizer (Comirnaty) or Moderna (Spikevax), at least 4 weeks after your last injection.