France has added the United States and Canada to its green list of countries after a successful rollout of the vaccination campaigns in both countries, which has resulted in the drop of COVID-19 cases in their territory.
The decision has been taken on Thursday, June 17, and announced through the government’s Journal official when both countries were reclassified from orange to the green category, in which countries with lower COVID-19 rates are placed.
The change now means that travellers from the US and Canada can now travel to France without the need to present a strong purpose of entry or having to quarantine. Tourists are also welcomed, both vaccinated and those not vaccinated.
Those who have been vaccinated with one of the vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) – which are Pfizer, Astra Zeneca, Moderna & Janssen – can enter the country without the need to undergo any COVID-19 tests before or after arrival.
However, those who have not been vaccinated will have to present the negative results of a PCR or antigen test performed within the last 72 hours before they reach France.
Currently, in addition to the US and Canada, the following countries are on France’s green list:
- European Union and Schengen Area countries
- Australia
- South Korea
- Israel
- Japan
- Lebanon
- New Zealand
- Singapore
Previously, on June 4, when France unfolded its roadmap strategy for the reopening of the borders for travellers from the EU, Iceland, Switzerland, Lichtenstein and Norway, as well as travellers from third countries, both Canada and the US were places in the orange list.
Since June 9, when the roadmap started applying, Americans and Canadians have been eligible to enter France for non-essential travel only if they were vaccinated against COVID-19 with one of the EMA-approved vaccines.
The same were still subject to the requirement of a PCR test performed in the last 72 hours or an antigen test taken in the last 48 hours before their arrival in France.
Non-vaccinates Canadians and Americans were only permitted to enter for compelling purposes of entry. They were also obliged to present a PCR test taken in the last 72 hours or an antigen test taken in the last 48 hours before they reach France and take an antigen test upon arrival in France. The same are also obliged to undergo self-isolation for one week.
France’s decision comes at a time when the EU Council is expected to come up with a recommendation on the removal of the EU entry ban on travellers from the United States after it was reported that the latter will be added to the EU’s list of epidemiologically safe third-countries amid COVID-19.