It’s been more than a year and a half since Covid forced the US to shut down. Since then, I’ve postponed a big trip to France twice. I’ve postponed it to the end of November the second time, which means the day is arriving fast. Although I have many questions running through my head, the number one question is: How do I get a French health pass? And, is it easy?

So, for today, I’m going to review how to get a french health pass for US tourists. 

How do you get a French Pass if you’re a tourist?

First, you have to go to their website: https://www.demarches-simplifiees.fr.

It’s in French, but you have the option to translate it if you’re using Google Chrome. However, they also have it translated if you scroll down the page.

Once you’ve landed on the website’s front page, you’ll have to make an account by clicking on the Create a New Account button on the left side of the page.

Once you’ve created the account, the process begins.

The health french pass application form will require THREE essentials. So if you’re trying to practice this for later without these three things, you won’t be able to submit the form.

These three essentials are:

1) A picture of your passport,

2) A picture of your vaccine card,

3) A picture or screenshot of your purchased plane ticket (or itinerary.)

You’re required to upload these three things before you submit your application.

Once you’ve filled out the form with your information and uploaded these items, you can hit submit.

Now You Wait

The most challenging part of getting your French Health Pass is the wait. There are three steps the french authorities take. You’re able to see which steps are completed.

These steps are “in progress, undergoing review, and completed.”

It’s been one week since I submitted mine, and it hasn’t moved from “in progress.”

Some users say it takes about 30 days. However, if you’re terrible at French like me and attempt to translate it, it says two-month turnaround time. 

That’s pretty much it.

Now I wait for them to complete the process, and hopefully, I get my pass before I arrive.

I will update this once I have my pass.

Have you been through the process already? How did it go? Any advice to people reading this?

Nov 3, 2021 update: As of yesterday (Nov 2, 2021) TPG reported that the above website is currently closed for further health pass certificates. Therefore France is no longer accepting new applications for US travelers. So, what does this mean for me? Since I submitted on Oct 22? I emailed them directly to find out, but have yet to have an answer. I will update this soon.

Today (Nov 11th, 2021), the French Health pass website above for US tourists is still shut. Even though I reached out to them directly, I have not received an answer.

So, what now? Is there a workaround? Don’t panic. There is!

Can You Transform Your American Vaccine Card into French Health Pass?

Yes. You can. Even with the government French health pass website closed, there is a workaround. It’s free, and it only takes about a week. But you’ll need a couple of “prerequisites.” To give you a quick answer, the Switzerland government website gives you an EU health pass that you can transform, easily, into a French Health Pass or any other European health pass for that matter.

So, before you start the process, make sure you have these three things in hand.

These three prerequisites are:

1) A picture of your passport,

2) A picture of your vaccine card,

3) A picture or screenshot or PDF of your hotel reservation in Switzerland (Don’t worry if you’re not going to Switzerland, read until the end to see how to get around this.)

So let’s walk you through the process.

Getting an EU Health Pass for U.S Tourists

The first thing I need to mention is that Switzerland has a government health pass website per state (or Canton.) Each state converts it slightly differently.

I found that going through Geneva is the easiest.

So here we go.

1. First make a reservation at a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. With all the covid rules and regulastions most hotels offer easily cancellable reservations.
2. Next, go to Geneve, Switzerland covid certificate website.
3. Go through the process and enter your three documents I mentioned above.

That’s pretty much it.

I should mention you WILL NOT get a confirmation email. Make sure to take a screenshot of your reference number just in case.

I received my EU certificate in six business days.

Let’s Turn This EU Certificate into a French Health Pass

After a week or so, they will email you a PDF of your EU certificate.

Now go to the App Store and download the French Covid Health app called TousAntiCovid. Download it on your phone.

1. Open the French Covid Health app
2. Accept the Terms and Agreements and notifications
3. Click on Scan QR Code
4. Activate the Health App

Now you have a digital French Health Pass you can use all over France.

Keep the Switzerland Health Pass because that is easily converted to other health passes in Europe. So if you’re going to Germany, for example, you can turn the Swiss certificate into a German Health Pass using their appropriate app.

And finally, don’t forget to cancel your Switzerland (Geneva) hotel reservation. With a cancellable reservation, you will receive all your money back.

I hope this helps.