TRAVELING TO PARIS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Updated: Jul 12, 2022
This blog will be updated regularly to share the most important news regarding travel to France.
Here are the latest updates:
(Archived) SUMMER 2022: GREEN LIGHT! LET'S GO!
UPDATE: TRAVELING TO PARIS NOW!
Covid-19 health restrictions will no longer be required at French businesses starting on March 14, the same day the vaccine pass requirement is lifted and masks will no longer be necessary for indoor public places. Masks will remain compulsory on public transport.
Fully vaccinated travelers must still follow the latest entry requirements:
• No longer need to show a negative Covid test.
• Proof of a complete vaccination will be sufficient, no matter which country you are coming from.
• The obligation to present a negative test remains for unvaccinated travelers. Still, the measures on arrival (test and isolation) are lifted when they come from countries on the ‘green list’.
(Archived 2021) DO I NEED THE FRENCH HEALTH PASS?
Since July 21, 2021, France has been requiring the Pass Sanitaire or Health Pass for entry into museums, cinemas, sporting events and other cultural venues. Beginning August 9, the Pass Sanitaire, which includes a QR code, will be required to enter restaurants and cafés – even outdoor terraces – and to travel between cities on trains (for the moment, the Paris subway is excluded from this requirement).
This “pass” is not actually a single item, and can be one of the following:
Proof that a person has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19
Proof that a person has already recovered from the virus having tested positive more than eleven days & less than six months ago
Proof that a person has received a negative test result in the past 48 hours
The primary confusion concerning tourists traveling in France from the USA, has been how to prove vaccination, because the CDC paper cards are not scannable using a QR code as French and other European vaccination cards are. There has been some question about whether museum employees or waiters would accept the paper cards or turn tourists away.
So far, museums are granting access to tourists with the paper vaccination cards. Be prepared however as this could change at any time. Additionally, waiters at restaurants have said that the paper cards are currently acceptable.
If you want to explore converting your cards to the Pass Sanitaire, try the Hôpital-Hôtel Dieu. This public hospital is on the north side of the parvis (square) in front of Nôtre-Dame and, according to one source, it has set up a small office for converting foreign vaccination cards into French health passes. I am confirming this in person this week, and will post an update with my findings.
At the moment, we feel confident your paper vaccination cards will be accepted by museums and restaurants. NOTE: You must bring your original vaccination card (not a copy or photo) and your photo ID (passport strongly recommended). PLEASE CHECK this post for updates before you travel.
CAN I TRAVEL TO FRANCE FROM ABROAD?
Update As of December 15th, 2021: Requirements to Enter France from the U.S.
If you’re vaccinated: You’ll have to show a negative PCR or rapid antigen Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours of your departure. Previously, the government allowed proof of vaccination to suffice, but now a negative test will also be needed, according to a new rule that went into effect Dec. 4. It is also necessary to attest in a sworn declaration that you have no symptoms of Covid-19 and to your knowledge have not been in contact with a confirmed case in the 14 days prior to your journey to France is also required.
Update As of June 18th, 2021: Huge News! The EU just removed the United States from their Banned Country List. This ends the official travel ban for Americans who wish to travel to Europe this summer! Time to buy that ticket!
Update as of June 9th, 2021: YES! France has re-opened its borders to foreign travelers.
Previously: The answer is YES! According to the Travel Market Report, news agencies and travel publications, France plans to reopen its borders to Americans and other non-European Union travelers starting June 9th. It’s part of a new four-step plan announced by French President Emmanuel Macron to reopen the country and revive its economy.
DO I HAVE TO BE VACCINATED?
YES. Foreign visitors will be required to present a health passport or “sanitary pass” that includes either proof that they've been FULLY vaccinated against COVID-19 or proof of a negative PCR test taken recently, or both.
WHAT IS OPENING WHEN?
Update as of June 20th, 2021: The nightly curfew of 11pm in France has been lifted!
Update as of June 17th, 2021: More Big News from France!
Both indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants is permitted.
Face masks are no longer compulsory outdoors.
Previously: Outdoor terraces of France’s cafes and restaurants will be allowed to reopen on May 19th along with museums, cinemas, theaters and concert halls under certain conditions. Restaurants and cafes will be able to serve customers outdoors at tables seating a maximum of six people starting May 19th, when the nightly curfew will be pushed back to 9 p.m. Non-essential shops also reopen, as well as cultural sites and sport facilities, which will have occupancy limits of 800 people indoors and 1,000 outdoors. “The measures will be national, but we will be able to activate ’emergency brakes’ in areas where the virus is circulating at too high a rate,” Macron told local newspapers. Also, on June 9th, cafes and restaurants will be allowed to resume regular service until an 11 p.m. curfew. Events of up to 5,000 people will be allowed. The final stage of the plan will see the end of the nighttime curfew and the lifting of most restrictions on June 30th, although nightclubs will remain closed.
WHERE CAN I STAY?
You can stay at select hotels that are slowly re-opening and adopting strict hygiene regimens and heightened housekeeping protocols. There is talk of some properties only booking every other room on a floor, and not re-booking an occupied room for 48 hours after guests check out.
Private apartments are also a popular option. Most private apartment rental companies like AirBNB, have implemented new COVID-19 safety protocols to protect their guests.
Either way, we are here to assist with your accommodations if you want to enlist our help. You may feel free to book accommodations on your own, and we will design a Land Only Package just for you.
NEW: Need a luxury private apartment rental? Just ask us. We have over 50 beautiful apartments in our portfolio and all are located in the most coveted locations in Paris. Let us help you secure that perfect 'home away from home' for your dream Paris holiday. But you need to act fast as demand is surging and the best places are getting snatched up quickly.
CAN YOU HELP ME PLAN MY TRIP?
Mais Oui!! Let's start building your dream escape to Paris. Contact us by email, or request a free consultation under our CONTACT tab. We can't wait to welcome you to France!
SAFEGUARDING YOUR HEALTH - ATP'S COVID-19 PROTOCOLS
We want to keep you safe. We follow guidelines established by the leading health experts (including the World Health Organization) to minimize any opportunity for coronavirus exposure during your journey. Our small-group tours are already well-suited to exploring with safe physical distancing in place. Masks must be worn in accordance with local regulations. To protect our guests, and each-other, wearing a mask is required in vehicles, indoor spaces, and any outdoor spaces where physical distancing is not possible. We encourage you to bring your own masks, but a supply will always be on-hand. We have hand sanitizer readily available, we ensure enhanced cleaning in hotels and dining venues, and we sanitize vehicles at every arrival and departure point. You will experience no-contact check-in/check-outs in many hotels and dining will be arranged to allow for plenty of space from other guests. Additionally, our guides and all vendors will forego shaking hands when saying hello. Everyone involved in operating your journey — from our expert, local guides to the drivers, baggage handlers and other behind the scenes personnel— observes a strict, round-the-clock health and safety regimen. In short, we're adhering to these best practices to ensure your continued health, safety and peace of mind.
HELPFUL LINKS
For additional information in English, including entry requirements, re-opening updates, and general guidance from the French Government, please visit:
https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19
For additional information, updates and travel advice from the World Health Organization, WHO, please visit:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/travel-advice