On January 21, 2022, France’s Constitutional Council approved a law requiring individuals who are 16 or older to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (a “vaccine pass”) before entering certain public places, such as restaurants, bars, and stores. The law also permits business owners to check a customer’s vaccine pass against the customer’s identification documents where they have good reason to suspect that the vaccine pass being shown does not genuinely belong to the customer presenting it.

Currently, individuals in France are required to present proof of vaccination or of a negative test result to enter public venues. Under the new law, which will take effect on January 24, 2021, a negative test result will no longer be accepted.

However, this new requirement will not apply to those who cannot be vaccinated for valid medical reasons and those who can show a valid “certificate of recovery from COVID-19.”

Moreover, individuals who are not yet fully vaccinated may be granted access to restricted public places if they can show proof of both 1) having received the first dose of an approved vaccine within the previous four weeks and on or before February 15, 2022, and 2) a negative test result received in the 24 hours prior to seeking access to a restricted public place.