What big events in France require a ‘health pass’ from today?

Public events gathering over 1,000 people (up to a limit of 5,000) are allowed in France again from today (June 9) but attendees must present a valid ‘health pass’ to be able to enter.

The official list of events and places affected includes matches at sports stadiums, music festivals and large-scale shows. Public places that function on a daily basis, such as restaurants, bars, museums, cinemas, etc. are not included.

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A physical health pass does not exist and is a catch-all term to show one of the following: a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours of the event, proof of immunity to Covid-19 (a positive test dating from between two weeks and six months before the event) or proof of a completed cycle of Covid-19 vaccinations.

These documents can be uploaded onto your smartphone via the application TousAntiCovid or presented in paper form.

For more information on the ‘health pass’ you can read our article here - How do I get a French Covid health pass? Do I download it on my phone?, or read the government’s description of it (in French).

From today, anyone over the age of 11 attending a large public gathering will have to present this proof.

There will be a maximum capacity of 5,000 people at events until June 30, when this limit is set to be removed. People attending these events will still be required to wear masks.

The list of venues below will require attendees to present a “health pass”:

• Indoor sports facilities (velodromes or other large spaces)
• Outdoor sports facilities or events (stadiums, or horse-racing events, etc.)
• Cultural, sporting, recreational or festive events organised in the public space or in a place open to the public (music festivals, arts festivals, concerts, etc with over 1,000 people)
• Big casinos
• Auditoriums, conferences, etc, with more than 1,000 people
• Arcades or games rooms with more than 1,000 people
• Commercial establishments hosting temporary exhibitions, fairs or shows
• Marquees, tents, etc. hosting an event of over 1,000 people
• Cinemas, museums, theatres only if there are over 1,000 people in attendance
• Cruise liners or passenger boats that can accommodate over 1,000 people

Places that will not require a health pass:

• Theme parks (unless there is a specific show inside the park that groups over 1,000 people)
• Zoos (unless there is a specific show inside the zoo that groups over 1,000 people)
• Cinemas, theatres, museums
• Restaurants, cafés, bars
• Gyms or sports halls
• Shopping centres, supermarkets
• Any event with fewer than 1,000 people attending

Use of the health pass is legally permitted until September 30 but the government may extend this date.

Read more:

Explained: QR code scans and eating inside restaurants in France

4 ways to get your French online Covid vaccine certificate