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EXPLAINED: What people vaccinated with Covishield need to know about travel to France

France announced on Saturday that people who receive the Covishield injection, the version of AstraZeneca's Covid vaccine manufactured in India, will be allowed to enter the country without quarantining. Here's what they need to consider before travelling to France.

Published: 19 July 2021 11:12 CEST
EXPLAINED: What people vaccinated with Covishield need to know about travel to France
Photo: Ian LANGSDON / POOL / AFP.

The Covishield vaccine is mainly used in India and Africa, but is also widely administered in the UK. Here’s everything you need to know about travelling to France if you have received the Covishield jab.

What’s the latest?

France will now accept the Covishield vaccine for travel purposes, as well as for use with the country’s health pass, which will soon be necessary for everyday activities such as going to the cinema or eating at a restaurant, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Saturday July 17th.

Covishield is the version of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced under licence by the Serum Institute in India. It is made to the same specifications as Vaxzevria, the version produced in Europe, but is not currently approved by the European Medicines Agency.

The UK and Indian governments had been putting pressure on the EU to recognise the jab. Several European countries already allowed visitors vaccinated with Covishield, including Germany and Spain. But as The Local reported earlier this month, France previously considered travellers from the UK, India and Africa who received the Covishield jab to be “unvaccinated”.

From Sunday July 18th, they will be treated the same as those who received a Pfizer/Comirnaty, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or AstraZeneca/Vaxzevria injections.

What are the requirements for travel for people vaccinated with Covishield?

Castex also announced on Saturday that France was lifting all restrictions for vaccinated travellers. Whatever the country of departure, proof of vaccination means there is no need to show an essential reason for travel, a negative Covid test, or to observe a quarantine period.

READ ALSO Unvaccinated travellers to France from UK must show 24-hour test from Sunday

The statement said the exemption was in place because “vaccines are effective against the virus, and in particular its variant Delta”.

“We nonetheless strongly advise against travel from France to countries on the “red” list,” the website for France’s foreign ministry states.

Non-vaccinated travellers from “red zone” countries including India must have an essential reason for travel, take a test before and after travelling, and quarantine for ten days on arrival.

What does my vaccine certificate need to show?

France will now consider people fully vaccinated one week after they received their second dose of Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca, including Covishield, instead of 14 days previously, and 28 days after their Johnson & Johnson jab.

In order to travel to France, you will need to show your vaccine certificate at the border. This needs to be a certificate from the issuing health authority that complies to EU or WHO standards – showing the person’s details, date of vaccination, type of vaccine used and a batch number – and can be presented either on paper or in a digital format.

Can I use the French health pass?

Once you have arrived in France, your vaccination certificate should also allow you to access establishments such as museums, bars, restaurants, as well as long-distance train and bus travel.

CALENDAR: The key dates to know as France tightens Covid restrictions

France has announced that Covishield can now be used for the health pass which must be shown to enter many leisure and cultural venues.

French residents can upload their vaccination certificate to the TousAntiCovid app, but it is more difficult for people vaccinated outside of the EU. Those coming from the UK can present an NHS Covid Pass instead.

Government spokesman Gabriel Attal recently said there would be a ‘relaxation’ of the rules for people vaccinated outside the EU who cannot easily use the French health passport, and more information should be provided by July 21st, when the pass is extended to leisure and cultural venues hosting more than 50 people.

You can read our tourists’ guide to using France’s health pass HERE.

Member comments

  2. That is for ones good news, you return from any country without needing negative covid tests if vaccinated, now the next step should be that vaccinated people can choose or they want to wear masks. In anticipation I cut out two layers already, my mask is now a sinle layer summer mask now, lol.

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EU

How would a ‘youth mobility scheme’ between the UK and EU really work?

The EU and the UK could enter into a 'youth mobility' scheme allowing young people to move countries to work, study and live. Here's what we know about the proposal.

Published: 18 April 2024 17:09 CEST
How would a 'youth mobility scheme' between the UK and EU really work?

Across the 27 countries of the EU, people of all ages can move countries to work, study, spend a long visit or chase the possibility of love – and all this is possible thanks to EU freedom of movement.

That freedom no longer extends to the UK. As a result of Brexit, a UK national who wants to move to an EU country, or an EU citizen who wants to move to the UK, will need a visa in order to do so.

However, a new ‘mobility scheme’ could re-create some elements of freedom of movement, if the EU and UK can come to an agreement.

The European Commission on Thursday announced proposals for a ‘youth mobility scheme’.

Who would benefit?

First things first, it’s only for the youngsters, older people will have to continue with the time-consuming and often expensive process of getting a visa for study, work or visiting.

The Commission’s proposal is for a scheme that covers people aged 18 to 30. 

Their reasoning is: “The withdrawal of the UK from the EU has resulted in decreased mobility between the EU and the UK. This situation has particularly affected the opportunities for young people to experience life on the other side of the Channel and to benefit from youth, cultural, educational, research and training exchanges.

“The proposal seeks to address in an innovative way the main barriers to mobility for young people experienced today and create a right for young people to travel from the EU to the UK and vice-versa more easily and for a longer period of time.”

How would it work?

We’re still at an early stage, but the proposal is to allow extended stays – for young people to be able to spend up to four years in the EU or UK – under a special type of visa or residency permit. It does not, therefore, replicate the paperwork-free travel of the pre-Brexit era.

The Commission states that travel should not be ‘purpose bound’ to allow young people to undertake a variety of activities while they are abroad.

Under the visa system, people must travel to a country for a specific purpose which has been arranged before they leave – ie in order to study they need a student visa which requires proof of enrolment on a course, or if they intend to work they need a working visa which often requires sponsorship from an employer.

The proposal would allow young people to spend their time in a variety of ways – perhaps some time working, a period of study and then some time travelling or just relaxing.

It would also not be subject to national or Bloc-wide quotas.

It seems that some kind of visa or residency permit would still be required – but it would be issued for up to four years and could be used for a variety of activities.

Fees for this should not be “excessive” – and the UK’s health surcharge would not apply to people travelling under this scheme.

Are there conditions?

Other than the age qualification, the proposal is that young people would have to meet other criteria, including having comprehensive health insurance, plus financial criteria to ensure that they will be able to support themselves while abroad.

The visa/residency permit could be rejected on the ground of threats to public policy, public security or public health.

Will this happen soon?

Slow down – what’s happened today is that the European Commission has made a recommendation to open negotiations.

This now needs to be discussed in the Council of Europe.

If the Council agrees then, and only then, will the EU open negotiations with the UK on the subject. The scheme could then only become a reality if the EU and UK come to an agreement on the terms of the scheme, and then refine the fine details.

Basically we’re talking years if it happens at all, and there’s plenty of steps along the way that could derail the whole process.

Don’t start packing just yet.

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