The application process for France’s digital health pass is currently on hold.

As of November 2, the application process for Americans seeking the French health pass is no longer available. Upon arrival in France, travelers are recommended to take a negative antigen or PCR test to obtain a 72-hour pass.

How we arrived at this situation

What got us here

What began as a seemingly straightforward process has turned into a chaotic situation for travelers eager to enjoy their croissants in Paris.

In July, the U.S. Embassy in France recommended vaccinated Americans traveling to France take their CDC-issued vaccination card to a French pharmacy to convert it into an online French vaccination record. However, many TPG readers reported that French pharmacists were either unhelpful or unfamiliar with the process (one even recounted being verbally abused by a pharmacist for making the request).

Given the challenges, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, along with the embassy, provided updated guidance in early August, advising travelers to apply for the health pass via email:

"In line with the directive from President Emmanuel Macron, we have established a specific system with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs for non-EU tourists currently in France to receive a QR code that will serve as a French COVID certificate," stated French Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad, and Francophonie Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne in a press release on August 9. "Foreign tourists can submit their applications. To request a QR code, simply email us with proof of vaccination, an identity document, the application form, and your flight ticket."

On August 27, they introduced what was meant to be a more efficient online application system featuring two separate applications — one for French nationals living or vaccinated abroad and one for all others, including non-European foreign nationals and tourists.

Due to an overwhelming influx of applications from tourists (over 4.5 million to date), the French government announced a new online application specifically for "non-European foreigners" to convert their foreign vaccination certificates into a French health pass. However, there was a catch: only travelers already in France or those arriving in the next few days could have their applications processed.

In essence, travelers were warned not to anticipate receiving the health pass before their trip, despite it being crucial for participating in most activities in France. This understandably led to numerous complications. Many TPG readers shared their distinct challenges with both the second and third versions of the process.

Applications are now closed for US travelers.

This brings us to the final week of October, when the online application portal seemed to block any submissions from non-French nationals.

The French Embassy in Washington, D.C. seemed just as perplexed as everyone else.

"I believe there has been some confusion. The consulate here has NOTHING TO DO with the QR Code applications, which are all managed in Paris," a spokesperson for the embassy stated via email on November 1. "There has been no alteration in the procedures, and your readers simply need to apply through the links below; they will receive a response in a few days."

The so-called "corrected" link was anything but useful — it merely redirected applicants to the process as if they were French nationals, benefiting no one except the French.

At this stage, a second press representative from the embassy confirmed that the process had been temporarily suspended as of October 31.

"They are not accepting new applications," the embassy stated over the phone on November 1. "We always recommend that travelers fly to France to obtain a temporary QR code that can be generated at a pharmacy."

The spokesperson was referring to the process of submitting a negative COVID-19 test for a temporary pass as an alternative to the health pass. When the application process was operational, this temporary pass served as a potential backup. Currently, it’s the sole option for Americans traveling to France without a valid health pass.

"This system is available for non-European foreign nationals, tourists, and students enrolled in French higher education institutions who are already in France, arriving for the academic year, or before September 5 for non-student foreign nationals," the embassy said on October 5. "Requests for later arrivals will be addressed at a future date."

When I followed up with the initial embassy employee who mentioned a "misunderstanding," I received this reply: "Yes, you are correct; this is the change that has just been implemented."

Still puzzled? So are we.

Currently, U.S. travelers should prepare to navigate the process of obtaining a health pass once they are in France, as the application is not available for non-French nationals. However, be aware that traveling without a guarantee of receiving the temporary health pass required for many indoor activities carries significant risks.