With reports that the government is planning to drop day 2 antigen testing for those that are fully vaccinated – or aged under 18 – arriving in England, many families have started planning their February half-term getaways.
However, families planning a trip to France face conflicting advice when it comes to securing the necessary documentation to enter the country and access its venues.
Since January 14, 2022, France has allowed fully vaccinated adults, and children under-12 accompanying them, to visit for non-essential reasons, including a holiday.
Initially, the entry requirements suggested that travellers aged 12-17 must be fully vaccinated to enter the country. However, new guidance for this age group has since emerged, detailing that those aged 12-17 who are not yet vaccinated can enter France, as long as they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult. They must also provide proof of a negative rapid antigen test taken up to 24 hours before their departure on their arrival.
French venues also require visitors to show proof of a ‘pass sanitaire’ – a ‘health pass’. Brits can use their vaccine status as proof to enter certain venues, including ski lifts, cafés, etc. However, this must be displayed through France’s TousAntiCovid app.
Brits can use their NHS app to gain access to their vaccine QR code and simply upload this to the French TousAntiCovid app as proof. Brits aged 12-15 are not yet eligible for the NHS app and must instead request to be sent an NHS Covid pass letter to prove their vaccine status. Families that require this document for their children should leave enough time before their trip to request this pass and for it to arrive.
It is, however, understood that those aged 18 and under can instead take a rapid antigen test 24 hours before they plan to visit a certain venue to show as proof, instead of providing evidence of a vaccine status.
Now, it’s important to remember that failure to provide the right documentation when entering a country could mean that travellers are not allowed in. Being refused or denied entry to a country is not something that a travel insurance provider would offer cover for. And, anyone found in this situation would be responsible for covering the cost of any new flights, accommodation, or emergency documentation.
For this reason, travellers must remain up-to-date with the latest entry and domestic requirements for the country they plan to visit. Destination-specific information can be found on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office website.
If you have any questions or need help with a specific travel query, please do feel free to get in touch with us at hello@travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, and our dedicated team will do their very best to assist.
