Jersey’s Government will introduce an interim solution for Islanders who are travelling to France in August and require a ‘Pass Sanitaire’ to enter certain venues.
The French Government’s Pass Sanitaire is digital proof of having received two approved Covid-19 vaccines. It has been a requirement to show vaccine proof in France to enter places of leisure and culture, which bring together more than 50 people, since 21st July. These venues include theatres, festivals, and amusement parks.
The French Government intends to extend this measure to cafes, restaurants, shopping centres and travel from Monday 9th August, pending approval by the French National Assembly. This was originally planned for 1st August but has been delayed.
The Pass Sanitaire requires a person to present a QR code in an EU Digital Covid Certificate format. Jersey’s paper Covid Status Certificates do not have a QR code and so do not currently work with the French system.
Ministers have approved the interim solution while a Jersey digital Covid certificate is developed. The solution will be an emailed QR code available from 13 August, once testing work with NHS colleagues is complete. Islanders can call the Helpline to request a certificate.
Islanders traveling to France in August will be able to request a QR code certificate on a PDF document that can be scanned into the French ‘TousAntiCovid’ App or presented as a PDF at the relevant venues.
Senator Ian Gorst, Minister for External Relations, said: “The Pass Sanitaire situation is developing at speed. The Jersey digital Covid certificate is being developed to incorporate a QR code, but due to development times, delivery is planned for the end of August, at the end of the school holidays and after the popular travel period to France.
“We have close cultural ties with the French mainland, and we know that Islanders enjoy spending time in France in summer. This interim solution is for those double-vaccinated Islanders who will be in France in August to avoid any problems when trying to access places where a Pass Sanitaire is mandatory.
“While the new regulations are currently proposed to come into force on Monday 9th August, we will not be able to issue interim QR codes until Wednesday 13th August when development work with NHS colleagues is complete. In the meantime, Islanders who are already in France or planning to travel during August are able to pre-register for a QR code to be emailed to them by calling the Helpline.”
The Covid Helpline number is 0800 735 5566. Islanders planning to travel to France in September should not contact the Helpline and instead wait to hear more about the new permanent system.
