The French government has announced that the Covid-19 verification requirement to enter the country will be removed within a while for fully vaccinated travelers.
Testing was conducted in December to combat the Omicron variant of Covid-19 for all travellers entering from outside the EU (including the UK). However, Europe Minister Clément Beaune told France 2 TV that “in the coming days, we will announce that testing is no longer mandatory for vaccinated people. “
Beaune also said new EU regulations will likely be announced this week, saying “there will probably be a new European protocol for other vaccinated people arriving from outside the EU, with a comfortable measure,” The Local reported. .
This comes as many EU countries are easing Covid-19 restrictions on travel, wearing masks, public gatherings and running away from home.
The Guardian reported that Portugal and Greece have announced that vaccinated tourists no longer want to show a negative verification result to enter. The resolution to ease European restrictions will coincide well with many school holidays across the bloc and in the UK.
Currently, not all vaccinated people entering France from the EU/EEA must present evidence of a negative Covid-19 test result.
Unvaccinated people are subject to ongoing restrictions, which vary depending on whether their country is classified in red, orange or green. If they are allowed to fall into those categories, they will need to enter the country with a negative verification result of being a PCR or an immediate antigen check.
France has now made it legally mandatory to want a vaccination pass for ski lifts, theme parks, restaurants (even for dining out) and public events and spaces, which means showing a QR code to prove you are vaccinated, recovered or medically exempt.
France follows the EU directive that to be considered a fully vaccinated tourist, other people must have received a booster shot within nine months of the last dose of the first phase of vaccination.