Can I use NHS app to show vaccine status for UK to France travel?

Reader question: I live in the UK and I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19. I want to visit my second home in France, but how do I prove that I am vaccinated to the travel authorities?

People in the UK who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can travel to France without needing an essential reason or needing to quarantine on arrival.

Your vaccination proof will depend on where in the UK you are from, as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have different systems.

The Consulate General of France in London states suitable proofs of vaccination include the NHS App or a vaccination document printed off the NHS's website.

England

The UK government states that:

“If you live in England, France will accept the NHS COVID Pass or your NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status.”

You can find out more information about this at this link here.

Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

Scotland and Wales

The UK government states that:

“France will accept your respective NHS letter to demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status.”

You can find out more about getting proof of your vaccination status in Wales here, and in Scotland here

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has introduced an interim proof of vaccination document.

Official Covid-19 vaccine certification is set to be rolled out there later in July.

You can find out more about getting temporary vaccination proof at this link here.

The Connexion has not yet been able to confirm if this interim document will be accepted for entry into France.

However, as it is the only proof available to people in Northern Ireland and France is allowing fully vaccinated people in Northern Ireland to enter, it is thought this proof will be sufficient.

What other documents are required for travel to France?

People who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 in the UK will also need to provide:

• A Covid-19 test with a negative result - taken 72 hours before departure if it is a PCR test or 48 hours before departure if it is a rapid antigen test
• A signed declaration stating they do not have symptoms of Covid-19

What constitutes ‘fully vaccinated’?

France considers a person fully vaccinated:

• Two weeks after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines
• Four weeks after receiving the first (and only) dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
• Two weeks after the first dose of a vaccination for anyone who has already had Covid-19

Note that questions have been raised about the use of some Indian-made 'AstraZeneca' jabs in the UK and whether they are acceptable for entry to France, however they are only identifiable by batch numbers. The French government has not clarified if border officials will be checking batch numbers as well as vaccine names.

Children under the age of 18 years old, who are travelling with fully vaccinated adults, will be exempt from requirements to self-isolate and provide an essential reason for travel, regardless of whether the minor has been vaccinated or not.

Will the UK be integrated into the EU’s Covid-19 health pass scheme?

A spokesperson for the EU told The Connexion last week that ongoing technical talks with the UK to integrate the UK’s vaccination certificates into its system are “progressing well and going in the right direction”.

This is because the UK and EU’s digital “architectures” are aligned, the spokesperson said.

They could not give a time frame for when the systems will be integrated or any further details.

What are the rules for visiting France from the UK for people who are not fully vaccinated?

People who are not fully vaccinated against Covdi-19 can only enter France if they have an essential reason.

There are 12 reasons and most of them are linked to having the right to live or work in France.

You can see these reasons in our article here: 12 reasons unvaccinated people can visit France from an amber country

Non-vaccinated travellers will also be expected to self-isolate for seven days upon arrival.

They will also need:

• A Covid-19 test with a negative result - taken 72 hours before departure if it is a PCR test or 48 hours before departure if it is a rapid antigen test
• A signed declaration stating they do not have symptoms of Covid-19
• To accept the possibility of having to do a Covid-19 test on arrival in France

Read more:

France should be on UK green list, says former BA director

France to charge foreign tourists for Covid-19 tests from tomorrow

15 FAQs on EU’s Covid Digital Certificate and France summer travel

Your France Covid travel queries: NHS app, infection proof, children