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Updated 15 July 2021
Months after its first few cases were reported, COVID-19 pandemic is still raging on all around the world, wreaking havoc on stability and economy. But countries are fighting back with travel restrictions, quarantine measures, and perhaps primarily, upping the testing capacities.
If you’re in France or are looking to travel to the country, what do you need to know about COVID-19 testing in France?
Table of Contents
Testing requirements for visitors entering France
According to France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs website, depending on your point of departure, you may be subject to a COVID-19 test before boarding or arrival. A list of countries of departure has been drawn up on the basis of the health indicators.
Travellers arriving from Green List Countries
Countries on the “green” list:
- Countries in the European space (European Union, Andorra, the Holy See, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland)
- Albania
- Australia
- Bosnia
- Canada
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Lebanon
- Montenegro
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- The United States of America
- Vanuatu
If you are vaccinated:
- You are not subject to any health measures.
If you are not vaccinated:
- Upon boarding, each traveller aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 72 hours before the flight.
Travellers arriving from Orange List Countries
Countries on the “orange” list: All countries not listed on the green list and red list.
If you are vaccinated:
- Upon boarding, each traveller aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before the flight or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight.
If you are not vaccinated:
- You can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.
- Each traveller aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR test taken less than 72 hours before departure or a negative antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before departure.
- You may be subject to a random test when you arrive in France.
- You must pledge to self-isolate for 7 days.
Travellers arriving from Red List Countries
Countries on the “red” list:
- Afghanistan
- Argentina
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- India
- Maldives
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Russia
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Zambia
If you are vaccinated:
- You can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.
- Each traveller aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 48 hoursbefore departure.
- You will be tested when you arrive in France.
- You must pledge to self-isolate for 7 days.
If you are not vaccinated:
- You can only travel to France if you have pressing grounds for travel. The list of pressing grounds is set out in the certificate of international travel drawn up by the Ministry of the Interior.
- Upon boarding, each traveller aged 11 years or older must present a negative PCR or antigenic test taken less than 48 hours before the flight.
- You will be tested when you arrive in France.
- You will be subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine supervised by security forces.
Travelling from French Overseas Countries
Each overseas territory sets its own entry conditions and possible restrictions (curfew, lockdowns, etc.) based on the local epidemiological situation. Travel between Metropolitan France and some overseas territories is only possible if you have pressing grounds for travel. You must in that case have a travel certificate for overseas territories, available on the Interior Ministry’s website.
The specific conditions for each overseas territory are available on the website of the prefecture or high commission of the relevant territory.
- Guadeloupe
- French Guyana
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- New Caledonia
- French Polynesia
- Reunion
- Saint Barts and Saint Martin (French side)
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- The French southern and Antarctic territories
- Wallis and Futuna
Testing at Paris airport
You can get tested at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport or Orly Airport up to 72 hours before your flight. You will need to present your flight ticket and the Doctolib booking confirmation to reach the terminal.
The PCR test results done at the airport are sent to passengers (in french and english) by dematerialised way, by text message or email. They also can be consulted on Cerballiance’s website within 48 hours maximum.
Available only in Orly Airport, rapid PCR test slots are available and remain limited in number. These rapid tests are only offered to passengers with a flight ticket for a same-day flight on departure and only for passengers who have made an appointment beforehand. They allow rapid results to be obtained within 1 to 2 hours. The passenger tested will be charged 20€.
The COVID test is done for free for French Nationals. Non-residents can benefit from free testing with a medical prescription or if they are identified as a contact case (subject to presentation of the European Health Insurance card).
Rates for persons living outside France:
- PCR tests: 50€
- Antigenic tests: 30€
At Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport:
- Location: Terminal 2E, above the TGV station on the same level as the flight board, follow instructions on the terminal.
- Opening hours: From Monday to Saturday from 7:00 to 17:00, and Sunday
- Book your appointment here.
At Orly Airport:
There are two testing centers within the Orly Airport
- Location: Orly 3, door 34A, Arrivals area. Centre dedicated to rapid antigenic tests (RAT) on appointment only.
- Opening hours: From Monday to Sunday from 7:00 to 19:00.
- Location: Orly 4, door 42D, Departures area. Centre dedicated to PCR tests on appointment only. Please note that rapid PCR tests can be carried out in less than 60min on appointment only and are only available to passengers with a same day departure.
- Opening hours: From Monday to Sunday from 7:00 to 19:00.
Book your appointment here.
When should I get tested in France?
Common signs of the infection listed on France government website include respiratory symptoms, fever, coughing, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
If you are experiencing these symptoms or recently came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you can locate a general practitioner nearby online to make an appointment. You’ll then get a prescription to be tested at the nearest facility.
Alternatively, if you came into contact with someone who tested positive, you may be contacted for tracing purpose. You’ll be directed to the nearest testing facility.
Where can I get tested in France?
A geographical map of labs performing COVID-19 test is available on the French Ministry of Solidarity and Health website (content in French).
Cities all across France are also setting up a free pop-up or mobile testing centres, the list of which can be found on the websites of each local government.
Pharmacies across France are now authorized to offer a serology-based rapid test that detects antibodies in the blood. The presence of antibodies may suggest that you have been infected by the virus within the past two to three weeks. The Health Authority of France (content in French) recommends that this rapid test is used only for diagnostic purposes and to be followed up with medical biology examinations carried out in the laboratory.
While we do recommend consulting the geographical map above, here are some COVID testing centers available in the Île-de-France region:
Paris
- Paris 4th: La Scala laboratory, 2 place Baudoyer 75004
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Paris 13th: Eurofins CEF laboratory, Mairie du 13e, 3 rue Philippe de Champagne 75013
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Paris 15th: Cerballiance Paris and IDF Est laboratory, Mairie du 15è, 31 rue Péclet 75015
From 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for priority audiences (prescription or SMS from the CPAM)
From 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Paris 17th: Biolam LCD laboratory – Parc Martin Luther King, entrance at 52 rue Gilbert Cesbron, 75017
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Paris 18th: Biolam LCD laboratory, place Dorléac, 10-12 rue Maurice Grimaud 75018
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Paris 19th: Guevalt laboratory, Espace Pierre Girard, 5/7 rue Pierre Girard
From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Seine-et-Marne
- Lognes (77): Armainvilliers laboratory, Espace Diderot 97 boulevard du Segrais 77185
From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Dammarie-Les-Lys (77): 444, avenue du Général Leclerc
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Yvelines
- Trappes (78): Eurofins CEF laboratory, 2 allée Antoine de Saint Exupéry 78190
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority groups
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Mantes-la-Jolie (78): Cerballiance IDF Ouest laboratory, Espace Les Eglantines, 1 rue Georges Braque 78200
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Poissy (78): 53 avenue Blanche de Castille, 78300
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. only for priority audiences
Essonne
- Evry (91): Cerballiance IDF Ouest laboratory, 2 clos de la Cathédrale 91000
From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. - Massy (91): Screening center, 4 Place de l’Union européenne 91300
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority groups
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Hauts-de-Seine
- La Défense (92): Biolam LCD laboratory, CNIT screening center, 2 Place de la Défense 92092 (opposite the pharmacy)
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority groups
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Issy-les-Moulineaux (92): Biolam LCD laboratory, 239 Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau 92130
From 9 a.m. to
2 p.m. for priority audiences From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Seine-St-Denis
- Bondy (93): Guevalt laboratory, Espace Chauzy, esplanade Claude Fuzier 93140
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Saint-Denis (93): Biolam LCD laboratory, 6 rue de la legion d’honneur 93200
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Val-de-Marne
- Fontenay-sous-bois (94): Biomega laboratory, Salle Pacquot, 18bis rue de Neuilly 94120
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Vitry-sur-Seine (94): Cerballiance IDF Sud laboratory, Place du marché, 7 Avenue Henri Barbusse, 94400
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
Val-d’Oise
- Argenteuil (95): Biolam LCD laboratory, 9 boulevard Héloïse 95100
From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority audiences
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment - Cergy (95): Cerballiance IDF Ouest laboratory, 2 rue de la Pergola 95000
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for priority groups
From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for people without a prescription and without an appointment
How much is the cost for COVID-19 test in France?
All Covid-19 tests in France are free for people living in the country.
This is not always the case for non-residents. Some laboratories charge people who are not in the French healthcare system. Prices range from €30 to €50.
