Health restrictions for air travel

Since 1 July, the European Health Pass is the essential document for travelling through the 27 countries of the European Union. It provides for coordinated measures to facilitate travel between countries through certified proof of vaccination or PCR and antigen tests.

From 1 August, the health pass is compulsory for air travel. 

It consists of the presentation of one of the following three health proofs, either digital through a European QR code or in paper form:

• Vaccination in its complete scheme, either 2 weeks after the second injection (only 7 days for a trip to France) or 4 weeks after the single injection in the case of the Johnson&Johnson vaccine.
• A negative PCR or antigenic test less than 72 hours old.
• A positive PCR or antigenic test attesting to the recovery of the Covid-19 dating back at least 15 days and less than 6 months.

In concrete terms, a Greek or Italian border police officer will flash a QR code presented by a traveller from France, Germany, the Netherlands, etc., regardless of the language in which the vaccination or test certificate was written. Its control terminal will indicate by a green or red colour whether the passenger can enter the territory or not.

Children over 12 years of age are subject to the current health restrictions (vaccination or negative PCR test) for air travel. The obligation to present a health pass for passengers aged 12 to 17 inclusive, as well as for employees of transport operators, will apply from 30 August. 

For travel abroad, a classification of countries has been defined on the basis of health indicators. The lists of countries may be adapted according to the evolution of the epidemic situation.

Here is the classification defined on 2 June: 

• Green countries: no active circulation of the virus, no variants of concern identified => European area, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Lebanon, New Zealand, Singapore.
• Orange countries: active circulation of the virus in controlled proportions, without dissemination of variants of concern => all countries, except those defined as "green" and "red".
• Red countries: active circulation of the virus, presence of variants of concern => Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, India, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Turkey, Uruguay.

Since 13 July, the conditions of access to Morocco have been tightened for French citizens. Passengers will have to present a complete vaccination certificate and a negative PCR test less than 48 hours old before boarding. For those who are not vaccinated, they will be required to undergo a 10-day controlled quarantine in one of the facilities previously designated by the local authorities, at their own expense. A new PCR test must be carried out on the ninth day to allow release from quarantine.

The table below lists the health requirements for travel according to the classification of the country of destination or origin. 

You are a French national:

• Presentation of a declaration on honour attesting to the absence of symptoms of infection with covid-19 and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19.

You are a national of a European country or a country classified as "green":

• Submission of a declaration on honour attesting to the absence of symptoms of covid-19 infection and contact with a confirmed case of covid-19.
• Proof of full vaccination or a negative PCR or antigenic test less than 72 hours before departure.

You are a national of a European country or a country classified as "orange":

• All travellers, whether or not they have been vaccinated, coming from these countries must present a negative PCR test result less than 72 hours before the flight or an antigenic test less than 48 hours old at the time of boarding. They may be subject to a random antigen test on arrival.
• Non-vaccinated passengers must have a compelling reason and must commit to a 7-day self-isolation. 

You are a national of a "red" country: 

• Entry into France is conditional on compelling reasons, the list of which is specified in the travel and movement certificate issued by the Ministry of the Interior. According to this list, the following persons may enter France: French nationals, their spouses and children, European Union nationals and their spouses and children who have their main residence in France or who are joining, in transit through France, their main residence in a European Union country or the country of their nationality.
• Presentation at boarding of a PCR test or a negative antigenic test performed less than 48 hours before the flight.
• Mandatory antigenic test on arrival in France.
• Compulsory and controlled 10-day quarantine for unvaccinated passengers and 7-day self-isolation for vaccinated travellers. 

In order to limit the circulation of the virus as much as possible, the French overseas territories are subject to a compulsory negative PCR test less than 72 hours before boarding. 

Depending on the local epidemiological situation, the competent authorities may impose restrictions on a local basis. 

A state of health emergency was declared in Martinique and Réunion on 12 July. Both islands are subject to a curfew from 11pm until 6am in the coming days.