Most Covid-19 test requirements have been dropped, but if you still need one, testing is easy and results are fast. If you are planning a trip to Paris, where can you get a Covid-19 test to return home and what are the requirements? I’ll explain how to get a Covid test in Paris to return to the United States or other countries, and also how much Covid-19 tests cost in France, plus where you can get a Covid-19 test in Paris.
Current Covid-19 Travel Rules in France
Update June 12, 2022: As of midnight on June 12, 2022, the United States will no longer require a negative Covid-19 test result for travelers flying into the U.S. If you are traveling elsewhere, please check with your local authorities, airline, or cruise ship for current requirements.
Update February 12, 2022: To enter France from any EU member state, fully vaccinated travelers do not need to show a negative test result before or upon arrival, according to the French government as of February 12, 2022. (Still current as of April 22, 2022.)
Unvaccinated travelers must present a negative test to enter France, but if the traveler is from a designated green country, they won’t have to isolate or quarantine. Unvaccinated travelers from “orange” countries must have a valid reason for entering the country, submit to a random test, and self-isolate.
We’ll cover the three main areas where you can get a Covid-19 test in Paris:
Headed to Paris? Great idea! Take a look at our Paris guide and dedicate a few minutes to reading about our favorite things to do in Paris. Also, check out our Paris tours for the most memorable experience.
Labs, Private Clinics, or Pop-Up Testing Sites
Appointment Often Required | Convenient | Central Locations
It’s hard not to notice one of the many new testing centers in Paris since there are even pop-up testing sites throughout the city. Whether you go to a lab or a new testing site, appointments are often required. You’ll want to check the hours of operation and appointment requirements well ahead of when you need your test.
The French government has published a list of available labs and testing centers throughout France. The website is in French, so be sure to toggle your browser translation to English. To select a primary location, choose 75 for Paris.
The list of labs and testing centers is by sorted postal code. One hack is to look at the last number of the postal code for the arrondissement. For example, 75004 is the Marais because Marais is the 4th arrondissement and Paris is 75 postal code. There are many testing sites throughout the city, so choose a lab or location convenient for you.
Most of the labs list their information for appointments. You may notice some testing centers do not require an appointment. Many labs on the list, especially ones that require an appointment, are by Bioborne or BioClinic Be sure to pre-register on their websites to obtain an appointment and have a smooth process.
Before booking an appointment from home, you may want to ask your hotel if their guests have any experience with the testing center you have chosen in Paris. If you booked an appointment before leaving home, you can travel confidently, knowing you have that necessary travel chore done.
Cost: €30-50
Pharmacies
Budget Friendly | Quick Results | Various Locations
As of November 2, 2021, French pharmacies will be even busier since they are now the place where American travelers can convert their CDC vaccine cards into the Digital French Pass Sanitaire. That will cost €36. You can find all pharmacy locations on this map from the French government website.
Getting a Covid-19 test in Paris at a neighborhood pharmacy is the preferred method of most locals and travelers. Pharmacies are located all over Paris, and there will likely be several in your area of Paris.
Pro Tip: Please email or call your hotel ahead of your trip to find out which pharmacy they recommend in their neighborhood. It also doesn’t hurt to bookmark a couple of pharmacies.
Various pharmacies all over Paris offer rapid antigen tests. These tests meet the requirement for travelers flying to the United States. Be sure to research if the pharmacy requires an appointment but many accept walk-ins during certain hours.
For example, if you are headed to my favorite neighborhood, Le Marais, you might get off at the St. Paul Metro stop. Here is a link to the pharmacies near that metro stop.
Pro Tip: Be sure to ask your hotel ahead of time, where the nearest pharmacy is located that offers Covid-19 tests. Pharmacies are the quickest way to get your Covid-19 test results in hand. Results are returned to you within 15-30 minutes.
Cost: €25-30
Locations
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Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris
Appointment Necessary | Last-Minute Option | Convenient Location
If you want a last-minute option to get a Covid-19 test in Paris, Charles de Gaulle Airport has a testing center. So unlike getting a Covid-19 test in Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, appointments are compulsory. Yes, you are likely going to the airport anyway, but do you want to add an extra 2 hours to your time in the airport?
Appointments for Covid-19 tests at Paris Charles De Gaulle are available online. The Doctolib website is in French, so be sure to translate to English in your browser or use Google Translate. From the booking menu, you can select antigen, PCR, or rapid PCR test. Doctolib handles the booking, but you will have to make an account to secure your booking.
Cost: €30 Antigen and €50 PCR
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Covid-19 Testing Center Details
The testing center is in Terminal 2E. If you are arriving by RER B train from central Paris, then take the escalator upstairs. The testing center is above the train station in terminal 2E.
The operating hours are limited: 7 am to 7 pm or as late as 8 pm depending on the day. Plan accordingly so the testing center is open for your scheduled flight.
The results are emailed to you, but you will also get a text message alert of your results. Results can take up to 90 minutes, so plan accordingly not to miss your check-in deadline.
If you are spending less than 72 hours in Paris and flying in and out of Charles de Gaulle, then you might as well get your test there. The testing center at Charles De Gaulle allows tests to be administered 72 hours before departure. Also, anyone with a valid flight ticket can take a test.
The Reality of Getting Tested at Paris Charles de Gaulle
I’m not too fond of unnecessary stress or time at the airport, so I view the airport as a last resort option.
Getting a Covid-19 test at the airport also means it will be too late to upload results to your airline’s app or use Verifly if you fly British Airways or American Airlines. It also means you will have to fill out the paper version of the health declaration form required to enter the United States.
Bonus: Take-Home Tests
Take-home tests purchased before leaving the USA are becoming increasingly popular for travelers. I think they are a good backup option, but I have never taken one. They cost about the same, or a little more, as a test in France. If everything goes smoothly, the test can take about the same time as getting a Covid-19 test in Paris.
The most significant caveat is that you never know how long it will take. The tests acceptable for travel to France require an online consultation. This summer, several outlets reported outrageous wait times for travelers. The discrepancy among wait times was a huge turnoff for me, and I would prefer to research ahead of time where to get a Covid-19 test in Paris and take just a mere 20-30 minutes out of my day as I’m exploring the city.
HUGE HUGE HUGE THANK YOU! THIS WAS SO HELPFUL TO ME!
That’s great! You made my day. Thank you for the comment.
I saw it to travel to Paris from Japan!
It was helpful.
thankyou！！！！( ＾∀＾)
Your information regarding Covid testing options in Paris was very helpful. Thank you
My pleasure. Happy travels.
I had a Sunday flight from Paris back to Canada and went for a PCR test with Biogroup Friday morning for about 45 euro. No appointments, just flash your passport and they know what you are looking for. Got the result later that afternoon. Just note there is usually a separate line up for PCR testing at the clinic doors.
Your site claims that antigen tests are OK for entry into the US. The US State Department site states that one needs to have a PCR test for entry. Do we believe you or the State Department?
Can you pls provide a link where it says that so we can investigate further?
I leave to head back to USA on Jan 2 need a excepted test withing 3 day I know new years eve and new years is days off for lab (Maybe) so I can get a test on 30th and get results? thanks love your site
Hi David. The rule has changed to 24hrs now. We’ve made it easy to book your antigen test for returning to the USA. You can book your COVID test here: https://thetourguy.com/tours/paris/paris-covid-test
Thanks for all this info on Covid testing and Green Pass conversions and such there, TG! Mad props to you! 🙂 I’m headed to Europe for a month – Italy, Germany, France – this Sunday so this is beyond handy. Why is it governments can never make finding this info this easy? It’s all as clear as mud. I’ll definitely raise a glass in your honor, thanks again!
The Cutter
I am currently in Paris for the month and the CDC website does not specify if a nasopharyngeal swab test is allowed to return to the US. Is a nasopharyngeal swab test a valid antigen test to return to the US? I am having a hard time finding an article online which specifies this. Thank you for the article as it is incredibly helpful for test sites and how to book appointments! 🙂
This was beyond helpful!! I know things will probably change before my trip to Paris at the end of December but reading about someone who has walked the walk is so much more helpful than even some of the government sites. Thank you!!
Happy travels and thanks for the kind words
Hello! Thank you for the article as it has been very helpful in finding/scheduling appointments. I will be flying from Paris to the US. I am confused on the CDC’s wording on their website. If I am fully vaccinated, can I take an antigen test (Nasopharyngeal Swab Test) to meet the requirements of entry for the US.
Hi Morgan. Yes you can. We’ve made it easy to book your antigen test for returning to the USA by partnering with a local pharmacy. You can book your COVID test here: https://thetourguy.com/tours/paris/paris-covid-test
Hello, i am traveling back from india to toronto on 28 dec. (Fully vaccinated)
Flight is New delhi> paris (CDG) > toronto.
Latest appointment i can get on doctolib is 1.35 pm on website and my flight is 2.05 pm. What’s your suggestions?
I don’t know enough about your situation to fully answer. But from what you wrote, I would change flights because you clearly don’t have enough time
I have booked rapid PCR test
Thank you so much for your input! Very helpful.
I have a question on CDG test, difference between regular PCR (24-48hr result) and rapid PCR (1-2hrs result).
Are they both proper RT-PCR with either Nasal or Saliva testing? On the web site, regular PCR specifically stats that it’s Nasal, but the rapid PCR isn’t specified.
Thanks for this! We’re in Paris now and flying to Portugal tomorrow, Dec 5 2021. Currently rules allow an antigen or PCR test to fly into Portugal. We were able to find a pharmacy offering tests very easily. (Just looked for the green cross and the second pharmacy we entered was offering tests.) We got antigen tests for 25 euros each and received a print out of our negative results, Hopefully all will go smoothly at the airport tomorrow! If not I’ll update this information.
Anyone with help on how to get an account on Doctorlib so you can schedule an appointment. Spent 30 min and can’t get past the place of birth as it doesn’t have United States, USA, america, or the French language Version (etats units – yes spell check won’t let me do the correct on your site) in the pull down menu. What is everyone using??
Thanks mate great info. Will you be updating as requirements change? Thanks again
Already updated. Check the top of the page. Cheers!
Thank you this is so helpful. Do you know if the results are in French only or has english translation?
Hi Pearl. It depends on pharmacy or testing center.
Hello, is it known whether I may leave a French airport during an extended layover if I gather all of my documents (vaccination, passport, declaration of health, and test taken in the US)?
If you meet the entrance requirements and are willing to go through passport/immigration, then sure!
Hi do you know of any pharmacy open on Sunday providing rapid test ?
I have backup appt at cdg 3,5 hours before my departure but trying to avoid the airport madness of i can get one local
Thanks
Hi Li,
Check the link in the article for a pharmacy near you. Check their hours on google or on their own website. Double check by calling them or having your hotel call. That’s what I would do. Cheers!
We’ve now made it easy to book a covid test in Paris. You can book an antigen test directly at: https://thetourguy.com/tours/paris/paris-covid-test
Do you know what documentation pharmacies require for the antigen test? Trying to avoid taking the passport. Thanks !
You should take your passport. What’s the problem with taking your passport
Do you know what documentation pharmacies require for the antigen test? Trying to avoid taking the passport. Thanks !
You should take your passport. What’s the problem with taking your passport?
Dec. 30, 2021 Six of eight family members tested positive yesterday and are now in quarantine in Paris for an indeterminate period of time. We are having a hard time getting solid information and are beyond stressed at this moment. If anyone can provide any suggestions about what we need to do an when we need to do it in order to get out of the country and back to the states, I would be most appreciative
This is fine for peace of mind, but you do NOT need to pay extra for this. I booked this COVID test through The Tour Guy and it was a significantly slower process than all around. In Paris, there are testing sites virtually everywhere with zero lines (here on NYE ’21). Even though it says you can go to the front of the line, they will still ask you to wait in the line. So for us, since it was pre-purchased, we waited in the line for 45 mins with others who had pre-purchased, vs being able to go across the street and getting it done immediately. Like I said, fine if you want peace of mind, but actually cost me time vs saving me time.
Hi Raja – thanks for this comment. Yes, during the holidays (NYE) in Paris the testing site was very busy. There was a surge in cases on top of a busy travel season which caused delays. We’ve actually be in touch with the site across the street as well as 3 other sites in Paris. This way, in the future delays will be less of an issue. We began marketing this service a week before your test so it was very new. We’ve already made drastic changes and upgrades based on valuable feedback like yours.
Le Marais is 75003, the third arrondisement. It is not the fourth.
If you were at St. Paul, you may have encountered businesses on the extreme southern border of the Marais that technically fell over the line into the 75004 zip code.
Cool. Glad you agree with me.
Just a few comments on our Paris experience in Early December…our hotel was VERY helpful, they pointed us to a pharmacy just up the street, but would even arranged a test at the hotel if we needed it. the day we arrived we went to the pharmacy to obtain our Passe Sanitaire, showed our passports and covid vaccine certificates from the US, paid the fee and they were immediately emailed to us (could have had a printed version but their printer was down!). the day before we departed we went there again to get our test to return to the states, Waited til they opened, which was an hour LATER than their sign said, waited another 1/2 hour because the tech who administered the test was late to work, but again got our results (paper copy this time) w/i 15 minutes. All in all not as stressful as anticipated!!!
That’s great! Thanks for sharing. We love happy endings.
Any advice on doctors to see if you test positive?
I needed to find out if I can get a COVID test in Paris on a Sunday to prepare for a Monday flight to the US. Thank you for having the best and clearest info of all the sites I checked.
Great info! I am visiting in August. I see ongoing demonstrations, civil unrest and increased risk for terrorism on the us travel government site. Was this an issue for you when you were there? Or did it seem relatively safe? I am staying in Le Marais, but seeing major tourist attractions.
I will put it plainly, Paris is a very safe place.