Does the UK accept French Covid vaccination certificates?
Vaccinated travellers returning from France will not be required to quarantine from August 8, raising the question of how to prove it.
Reader question: The UK is going to drop quarantine rules for vaccinated travellers coming (or returning home) from France but are Covid vaccination certificates issued in France accepted there?
The UK government announced yesterday (August 4) that fully vaccinated travellers from France will not need to quarantine on arrival from Sunday (August 8).
Read more: UK quarantine is ending for vaccinated visitors from France
This rule was already in place for all other EU countries. France was excluded and placed on an amber-plus list due to the UK’s concerns over the presence of the Beta variant.
Read more: UK minister’s statement on France Covid quarantine and Réunion flawed
Read more: Three more reasons why UK quarantine rule for France is flawed
The list of fully vaccinated travellers able to travel to the UK without needing to quarantine on arrival will include people vaccinated in all EU countries (including France, from August 8), the US, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City.
To qualify travellers must be fully vaccinated with a vaccine authorised by:
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the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for Europe
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Swissmedic for Switzerland
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the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the US
The UK announced in July that it would accept Covid vaccination certificates issued in the EU and the US
Your vaccination proof can be in the form of:
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An EU Digital Covid Certificate (EU DCC) for Europe (digital or paper certificate), showing you’ve had a full course of an EMA or Swissmedic-approved vaccination
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A CDC card for the US – you’ll also need to show proof of US residency, such as your US passport, visa or Green Card
If you cannot show an EU DCC or CDC card, you must follow the rules for those who are not fully vaccinated
You must have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in the UK.
People who are fully vaccinated and travelling from France to the UK from Sunday will still need a pre-departure Covid test and a second test to be taken two days after arriving in the UK.
Children under 18 who are residents of the US or the listed European countries also do not need to quarantine or take a day 8 test, regardless of their vaccination status.
The UK government’s decision to drop quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals from France only applies to England, but Scotland and Northern Ireland have announced they will also implement this change.
Wales has not yet followed and the government has said it is considering the UK government’s latest travel updates.
Related stories:
France-England quarantine easing: What about Scotland, Wales, Ireland?
France to give vaccinated tourists QR code for health pass from Monday
