Now that France has opened its doors to vaccinated South African residents for all travel purposes, including tourism, Atout France (the French Tourism Office) has sent out a communication with some useful information concerning the pass sanitaire (health pass). The pass is essential to gain admission to restaurants, cafés, museums, galleries, large shopping centres and other venues, and for air, train and bus travel.
The French government has now set up a system for non-European tourists who are already in France or are arriving on any date up to August 15. The communication stresses that there will be further notifications issued shortly for travellers arriving in France after August 15.
Travellers can apply for a COVID vaccine certificate of equivalence if they meet the following conditions. They may apply if they are already in France or the EU, or intend to go to France before August 15 if:
- they are from a country that is not a member of the European Union;
- they are aged 18 or over at September 30, 2021. The Covid certificate is not required for minors aged 12 to 17 years, and minors aged under 12 years old are not subject to COVID certificate requirements;
- they have been vaccinated with a vaccine that is accepted by the European Medicines Agency or an equivalent for over
- four weeks for a one-dose injection (Johnson & Johnson);
- seven days after the second injection for two-dose vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca);
- seven days after the injection if they have recovered from COVID-19 (in this case, only one dose is necessary).
Prospective visitors, or those already in France, should go to the online application form here.
They will then have to submit the form along with a copy of the vaccination certificate from the country of vaccination, copy of passport and copy of return air ticket (in pdf, jpg or png format) by email to area3.covid-pass@diplomatie.gouv.fr
NB: there are different email addresses for travellers from different countries.
The email subject line must follow the format:
COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE / SURNAME First name / Date of arrival in France in the format DD-MM-21.
According to the tourist office, as soon as applications are processed, the traveller will receive an email with a QR code that can be printed out.
