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What to do if you don’t have a French vaccination certificate with a QR code

International travel and access to many venues in France this summer will be be dependent on the country's 'health passport' showing that people are either fully vaccinated or recently tested - but what if you don't have the correct certificates?

Published: 1 June 2021 17:06 CEST
Updated: 13 July 2021 16:09 CEST

What to do if you don't have a French vaccination certificate with a QR code

Vaccination certificates are needed to access health passports for travel and leisure. Photo: Pascal Pochard-Casabiance/AFP

Here’s how it should work:

After getting your vaccination in France you should get a certificate with a QR code on it that looks like this:

You download the TousAntiCovid app (if you have not already, it’s the same app that is used for Covid tracking and where you can find the attestation form for trips out after curfew), head to the ‘My wallet’ section and scan the code on the right hand side of your certificate.

Once you are fully vaccinated (two weeks after receiving two doses of Pfizer, Moderna or AstraZeneca or one dose of Johnson & Johnson or one dose if you have recently had Covid) the app should then produce for you a code with your name, date of birth, the type of vaccine you had and – crucially – the vaccine status terminé (finished) indicating that you are fully vaccinated.

You can use this app to gain access to venues such as concerts, museums, cafés and trains over the summer.

You can also use it to travel within the EU or Schegen zone via the EU digital vaccine passport – here’s how to make sure your certificate is compatible with the EU system.

If you have not yet been vaccinated you can you present evidence of a recent negative Covid test or recent recovery from Covid.

If you do not have a smartphone you can show a paper copy with a QR code of your vaccination certificate or recent negative test.

So that’s the theory, but there are some problems and anomalies within the system.

Here are the most common problems and how to solve them:

People vaccinated before May 3rd either didn’t get a certificate or got one without a QR code, meaning that it cannot be scanned into the app. For most people, certificates with the necessary code are now available via the online Ameli portal.

#Covid19 | Depuis son lancement, le téléservice https://t.co/zFUnLUVTo1 a déjà permis le téléchargement de 1,3 million d'attestations de #vaccination certifiées 📄

En savoir ➕ https://t.co/j7Hvev9UXo pic.twitter.com/VoyQYY2ZrD

— Assurance Maladie (@ameli_actu) June 1, 2021

The Assurance maladie health system says that since May 27th, 1.3 million certificates have been provided to patients who had received their vaccine earlier. You can access it by heading to your Ameli account and either searching attestation de vaccination Covid-19 or clicking on this link.

If you don’t have an Ameli account you can set one up, provided you are registered in the French health system – details on how to set up the account here.

If you are not registered in the French health system and therefore do not have a carte vitale you are still entitled to be vaccinated and if you had your vaccine after May 3rd you should have been given a paper certificate with the correct QR code that can be scanned directly into the app. However if you were vaccinated before May 3rd you will not be able to use the Ameli route to get your certificate.

The Local asked the health ministry for its advice in this circumstance and we were told that people should go back to the doctor, pharmacy or vaccine centre where they got the vaccine, taking with them ID and the paperwork they were given at the time, and swap it for the new certificate.

If you only had one dose of the vaccine, your certificate might incorrectly show up as en cours (in progress) rather than terminé (finished) and this is important because only people with the terminé status are considered ‘fully vaccinated’ in terms of the health passport.

France’s policy is that people who have had Covid in recent months only need a single dose of the double-dose vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca), in consultation with a health professional, and that this should be marked on health records as a second dose, giving people the vaccine status terminé.

However reports in the French media suggest that some people who only received a single dose have not been marked as fully vaccinated, in what appears to be human error in inputting the details.

In this case, the health ministry tells people to approach a medical professional who has access to the database (a GP or pharmacist) taking with them ID, vaccine certificates and test results to show proof of recovery from Covid so their records can be altered. In this case it does not have to be at the place where you received the vaccine.

If you have an Ameli account up and running but it is showing no documents relating to vaccination, the advice is to return to the centre where you had your vaccine with ID and your old certificate to swap it for a new one with the correct code.

If you had your vaccines outside France things are a little more complicated.

Vaccinations done within the EU are compatible with the French system, thanks to the EU vaccine passport scheme.

Those vaccinated in non-EU countries cannot, for the moment use the French health passport, although talks are ongoing on this issue.

They can, however, present a paper or digital vaccination certificate – or the NHS app for people vaccinated in the UK – for proof of vaccinated status. However, this is only accepted if the vaccine has been approved for use within the EU – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca (but not Covishield) and Johnson & Johnson.

We will update our Travelling to France section with the latest on travel rules.

Member comments

Anonymous - 2 June 2021 at 20:08 CEST

I had my second dose today in a centre many miles from my home and only after I had left realised the vaccine certification with the QR code was only showing one vaccination with the status being en cours. I returned immediately to the vaccination centre to get the mistake corrected but was told there was nothing that could be done and I would have to correct it on the Ameli website, I explained that as I did not have a carte vitale, I could not access this site be but still the reply was « I can do nothing » After reading your article I went to my local vaccination centre and asked them to correct the database but again I was told « no we cannot fix this » and they said I would have to return to the centre that provided the vaccination. I then went to my local pharmacy and asked could they access the database to make the correction and the difference that a person with the willingness to help made was amazing, a very kind young man was willing to explore the possibilities and eventually with some difficulty was able to correct the mistake and I received an updated certificate.
Anonymous - 5 June 2021 at 11:41 CEST

So you got it sorted why make such an issue of it. Perhaps you may consider getting a carte vitale now.
1. Anonymous - 5 June 2021 at 20:19 CEST
  
  My comments were to encourage people who have had difficulties to keep trying to find solutions, not to make an issue of it as you have suggested. As a recent resident of France I have yet to receive my carte vitale, this process takes time and having a correctly documented vaccination is important, especially when you are waiting to see family that one has not seen in too long a time. As soon as the EU covid digital certificate is deployed I hope to see my children again.
Anonymous - 25 June 2021 at 19:28 CEST

I am leaving for France June 30. All I have is my fully vaccinated certificate from a vaccine clinic in Santa Barbara California… No QR code. Still no decision or information about how Americans can get their hands on documents or codes that France or the EU will recognize. Am I missing something? Thanks!
1. Anonymous - 25 June 2021 at 23:24 CEST
  
  Cynthiaziegler10,
  
  To be safe and free from French bureaucracy, ensure yourself a PCR test within 72 hours of your arrival in France ( don’t forget your vaccination card ). International visitors must meet this second requirement.

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Europe's new EES passport checks: Your questions answered

Two big changes are coming for travel in and out of the EU and Schengen zone – EES and ETIAS.

You can find an overview HERE on what they mean, but broadly EES is an enhanced passport check at the border including biometric information while ETIAS is a visa waiver required for tourists making short visits.

Despite being scheduled to begin later this year, many aspects of how EES will actually work on the ground are still unclear – while much of the available information is for people who are travelling as tourists (rather than foreigners living in an EU or Schengen zone country).

So we asked readers of The Local to send us your questions.

Here we take a look at some of the most commonly asked questions – including the situation for dual-nationals, for non-EU citizens resident in Europe, for second-home owners and the situation at the UK-France border.

Some answers are still unclear – either because they have not yet been finalised or because the available information is not very specific. Where we have had to answer “we don’t know”, we will continue to badger the European Commission plus national and port authorities on your behalf. We will update this article when we know more.

When is this coming into effect?

Good question. Believe it or not, discussions on the Entry & Exit System began in 2011. At that time the UK was part of the EU and was reportedly enthusiastic about EES. Things changed and now the border between France and the UK – an external EU border since Brexit – is a major worry. More on that below.

Anyway, it’s been a long term project and the start dates have been postponed multiple times, first because of Covid and then because infrastructure was not ready. The most recent postponement came at the request of France, which wanted to get the Paris Olympics over with before any border changes were made.

The EU now says that the start date for EES is the “second half of 2024” – UK media have reported October 6th as a possible start date while European airports have reportedly told to be ready by November. Meanwhile the French interior ministry says that the start is envisaged “between the final part of 2024 and the beginning of 2025”.

We’ll see.

Who does it affect?

EES is aimed at non-EU travellers who are a crossing an EU/Schengen external border.

EU citizens will not have to complete EES registration.

Neither will non-EU citizens who have residency in an EU or Schengen zone country – they will need to produce proof of residency such as a residency permit or long-stay visa.

Neither will non-EU residents who have a valid short-stay visa for a country in the EU. This could include second-home owners who have obtained a short-stay (under six months) visa in order to allow them unlimited visits to their holiday home.

However citizens from countries which do not benefit from the 90-day rule and who therefore need a visa even for short visits (eg Indians) will have to complete EES registration.

It does not apply when travelling between Schengen zone countries (more on that below).

Where does it apply?

EES is about external EU/Schengen borders, so does not apply if you are travelling within the Schengen zone – eg taking the train from France to Germany or flying from Spain to Sweden.

Ireland and Cyprus, despite being in the EU, are not in the Schengen zone so will not be using EES, they will continue to stamp passports manually.

Norway, Switzerland and Iceland – countries that are in the Schengen zone but not in the EU – will be using EES.

The full list of countries using EES is: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Therefore a journey between any of the countries listed above will not be covered by EES.

However a journey in or out of any of those countries from a country not listed above will be covered by EES.

What is EES pre-registration?

You’ll soon be hearing a lot about EES “pre-registration”. EES itself is basically an enhanced passport check – travellers will need to register their biometric details (fingerprints and facial scans) to enhance the security of passport checks.

Automated passport checks will also start to calculate how long you have been in the EU, and therefore automatically detect over-stayers (eg people who have over-stayed their visa or who have over-stayed their 90-day allowance). EES does not change any of the rules regarding length of stay, it just toughens up enforcement of them.

The first time that you cross an external Schengen border you will need to register additional details including fingerprints and a facial scan, and have them electronically linked to your passport. This takes place in a special zone at the airport/port/station that is your departure point.

Once you have completed the pre-registration, you then proceed to passport scanning.

The pre-registration only needs to be done once and then lasts for three years. Those three years renew every time you cross an external border, so regular travellers shouldn’t need to renew it until they get a new passport – at which point the pre-registration must be done again.

Does pre-registration have to be done at the airport/port/station? Can’t I do it on a website or app?

Advance registration is what many travel operators, especially in the UK, are calling for. They say that getting everyone to complete pre-registration in person on site will cause chaos.

However, the EU at the moment seems to be sticking to the original idea of in-person registration. There are a number of practical problems with trying to pre-register fingerprints, but a solution could yet be found.

What can I do now?

Many of our readers want to get organised now and register their details in advance to avoid border delays. Unfortunately this is not possible and at the moment all you can do is wait until the system comes into effect. Frustrating, we know.

What about dual nationals?

People who have dual nationality of an EU and non-EU nation (eg British and Irish passports or American and Italian passports) will not be required to complete EES checks if they are travelling on their EU passport.

If, however, they are travelling on their non-EU passport they would need to complete EES registration.

EES does not change any of the rules relating to dual nationality or to travelling as a dual national – full details HERE.

What’s the situation for non-EU citizens resident in the EU/Schengen area?

The European Commission is clear about one point: EES does not apply to people who have residency in an EU country. This is because a major part of EES is catching over-stayers – which of course does not apply to people who are resident here.

What the Commission is a lot less clear about is how this will work in practice.

Most airports/port/stations have two queues: EU passports and non-EU passports. It’s not clear which queue non-EU citizens resident in the EU should use, how they can avoid automated passport checks entirely and use a manned booth (so that they can show both a passport and proof of residency) or even whether manned booths will be available at all departure points.

What if I live in the EU but I don’t have a visa/residency permit?

For most non-EU citizens, having either a visa or a residency permit is obligatory in order to be legally resident.

However, there is one exception: UK citizens who were legally resident in the EU prior to the end of the Brexit transition period and who live in one of the “declaratory” countries where getting a post-Brexit residency card was optional, rather than compulsory. Declaratory countries include Germany and Italy.

Although it is legal for people in this situation to live in those countries without a residency permit, authorities already advise people to get one in order to avoid confusion/hassle/delays at the border. Although EES does not change any rules relating to residency or travel, it seems likely that it will be more hassle to travel without a residency card than it is now.

Our advice? Things are going to be chaotic enough, getting a residency permit seems likely to save you a considerable amount of hassle.

How does this affect the 90-day rule?

Citizens of certain non-EU countries – including the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand and Australia – are entitled to spend up to 90 days in every 180 in the EU without the need for a visa.

EES does not change this rule, so all the current regulations and restrictions continue to apply.

READ ALSO: How does the 90-day rule work?

What EES does change is the enforcement of the rule – at present non-EU nationals have their passports manually stamped on entry and exit, and border guards use these stamps to calculate whether people are sticking to their 90-day allowance.

It’s a bit of a hit-and-miss system, passports don’t always get stamped when they should, sometimes border guards misread the stamps and sometimes passports get stamped in error. EES should solve all of these problems by using an electronic scan of the passport and automatically calculating the 90-day allowance.

It will make it much harder for people to over-stay (indeed, this is one of its stated aims) but for people sticking to the rules it should actually be easier and more efficient. Should. If it works as advertised, that is…

What’s the deal for second-home owners?

For non-EU citizens who own property in the EU, it all depends on whether they have a visa or limit their visits to 90 days in every 180, as described above.

People who use the 90-day allowance will be subject to EES and use the system in the same way as short-stay tourists.

People who have a visa are exempt and need to show their visa at the border. As described in the “non-EU residents in the EU” section, however, it’s far from clear how this will actually work in practice at the border.

Why is the UK-France border such a problem?

As discussed above, EES will apply to all EU/Schengen external borders, but the biggest fears so far are about the UK-France border.

So is this just the Brits whining about the easily foreseeable consequences of Brexit? Actually no, there are genuine reasons why this border is likely to be a problem, mostly relating to volume of traffic and infrastructure.

Although it is true that EES wouldn’t have affected the UK-France border if it hadn’t been for Brexit, the current reasons for the worries are more practical.

Put simply, the UK-France border is one of the busiest EU external borders that there is, with around 60 million people crossing per year. Of those travellers, around 70 percent are UK citizens, meaning they will have to complete EES formalities.

Add to that the limitations of space: several UK destination points, including the Port of Dover and Eurostar’s London St Pancras terminal, are already in cramped areas with very little expansion room, meaning that creating the new infrastructure to deal with EES checks is very difficult.

For context, the newly completed EES pre-registration area at Coquelles (Calais) covers 7,000 square metres, in order to accommodate up to 60 passenger vehicles simultaneously.

The final factor is the Le Touquet agreement – the 2003 bilateral agreement between France and the UK means that passport checks for people entering France are done on UK soil, and vice versa. This creates a unique situation where people travelling from Eurostar Gare du Nord or St Pancras, the ports of Dover or Calais or the Channel Tunnel terminals of Folkestone and Coquelles go through two sets of passport checks on departure, and none on arrival.

READ ALSO: What is the Le Touquet agreement?

The double passport checks mean that delays at one area can have severe knock-on effects.

Since Brexit, the Port of Dover has reported long delays at several peak times such as the start of the school holidays while Eurostar has been forced to cut the number of trains it runs per day.

EES implementation problems won’t be limited to the UK-France border, but the volume of people crossing the border means that even slight delays to one system can easily lead to hours-long queues.

What about Nato staff or people with diplomatic passports?

People who have a special status such as diplomatic passports will not have to complete pre-registration. However, as with other exempt groups such as non-EU residents of the EU or visa holders, it is unclear how this will actually work on the ground and which passport queue they should join.

Will I need an extra visa to enter the EU as a tourist?

EES does not change anything with regards to visas – in essence all the current visa rules stay the same, only the enforcement changes.

However there is another change coming down the track – ETIAS, which will affect non-EU citizens entering the EU as tourists or visitors.

You can find an overview of how it works HERE, but one thing we do know is that it won’t be introduced until after EES is up and running and (hopefully) most of the problems ironed out.

One unholy mess at a time.

Will it really be an unholy mess?

The European Commission says: “The main advantage of the EES is saving time. The EES replaces passport stamping and automates border control procedures, making travelling to European countries using the EES more efficient for the traveller.”

Hmm.

As outlined above, there could be infrastructure problems at several departure points, there is as yet little clarity on certain import details and of course all new systems take time to bed in.

After the first year of operation things are likely to get smoother – by this time most regular travellers will have already completed the pre-registration and will therefore by able to move straight into getting their passport scanned, leaving only new travellers to complete the pre-registration formalities.

That first year, however, looks like it could be a little chaotic at certain borders, especially the UK-France one, at peak travel times such as the start of school holidays.

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