Entry requirements into Germany

MrsCherryBakewell · 2022-01-08T08:41:56+00:00

I'm hoping there might be someone here who can help me! I've looked at the Foreign Office advice, the airline and the German government website and I can't find the answer! I'm travelling to Germany next month with my husband and 9 year old daughter. Husband and I are fully vaccinated so the rules are clear for us. But as my daughter is only 9, she's obviously not vaccinated and the guidance is unclear. It has specific detail for under 6s and the unvaccinated but nothing for 6-12 year olds. As she is under 12 I was assuming there would be an exemption to being vaccinated but I can't find confirmation of that anywhere. Is there anyone travelling there in the near future in the same situation who has been able to make or tail of the guidance please?

AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/01/2022 09:11

This is what I found on the FCO website for Germany in the Entry Requirements section:-

From 11pm GMT on 3 January 2022 travellers aged six or over entering Germany from abroad must possess either proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival and present this proof on request to carriers or authorities.

Original poster

MrsCherryBakewell · 08/01/2022 09:16

@AttilaTheMeerkat

This is what I found on the FCO website for Germany in the Entry Requirements section:-

From 11pm GMT on 3 January 2022 travellers aged six or over entering Germany from abroad must possess either proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival and present this proof on request to carriers or authorities.

Thanks @AttilaTheMeerkat

But further down on the same page it states;

If you’re not fully vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are a German citizen; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a German citizen; a resident of Germany; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a resident of Germany; serve in an important role; or have an urgent need to travel.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated and do not meet one of the exemptions outlined above may not currently enter Germany from the UK

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsCherryBakewell · 08/01/2022 09:17

It's just so unclear!

We're going to visit family so if we have to isolate then we'll just postpone.

OP posts:

JohannSebastianBach · 08/01/2022 09:23

www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/EinreiseUndAufenthalt
As of 23 December 2021, every person over the age of six is obliged to carry proof of their COVID‑19 status when entering Germany. Persons over the age of six must therefore have a negative test result or proof of recovery or vaccination when entering Germany. As a rule, COVID‑19 test results (antigen or PCR tests) must not be more than 48 hours old at the time of the (planned) entry. However, if entering Germany with a carrier (e.g. an airline), PCR tests may be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the (scheduled) start of the journey (e.g. departure time). But antigen tests must not be taken more than 48 hours before the (scheduled) time of arrival in Germany even if travellers are being transported by a carrier.

From the link above, German federal foreign office website.
They will need a negative PCR.

Clymene · 08/01/2022 09:52

However, children younger than 12 who are not fully vaccinated and do not have an urgent need to travel are allowed to enter the country if accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent. However, they need to show a negative Covid-19 test or proof of recovery to enter the country (the Embassy recommends presenting a negative Covid-19 test). They have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival, but quarantine can be ended early with a vaccination/recovery certificate. Alternatively, quarantine can also be ended early with a negative Covid-19 test on day 5 after entry. See also information under “Important” below. Minors younger than 6 are not required to provide proof of their Covid status (no Covid-19 test etc.). For them, quarantine ends automatically 5 days after entry.

It looks like she needs to have a negative test and has to quarantine

uk.diplo.de/uk-en/02/coronavirus

SimonedeBeauvoirscat · 08/01/2022 09:57

“ But further down on the same page it states;

If you’re not fully vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are a German citizen; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a German citizen; a resident of Germany; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a resident of Germany; serve in an important role; or have an urgent need to travel.”

Are you or your H a German citizen or resident in Germany? If not, I’m not sure why you think this applies to your daughter?

Original poster

MrsCherryBakewell · 08/01/2022 10:57

@SimonedeBeauvoirscat

“ But further down on the same page it states;

If you’re not fully vaccinated
If you’re not fully vaccinated you may only enter Germany from the UK if you are a German citizen; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a German citizen; a resident of Germany; the spouse/partner/child under 18 of a resident of Germany; serve in an important role; or have an urgent need to travel.”

Are you or your H a German citizen or resident in Germany? If not, I’m not sure why you think this applies to your daughter?

We're not German citizens no. I'm assuming from this that my DD would have to quarantine and that a negative PCR would not be sufficient to avoid that?

As we were only planing on going for 5 days we might have to push the trip back to later in the year.

It's all very confusing!

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 08/01/2022 11:12

That part about the not vaccinated seems to be about adults.

Clymene · 08/01/2022 13:11

@AttilaTheMeerkat

That part about the not vaccinated seems to be about adults.

The section I quote from the German embassy is about children between 6-11.

The OP's daughter will have to quarantine for minimum 5 days.

Original poster

MrsCherryBakewell · 08/01/2022 15:11

Thank you all for your help. It's still not 100% clear. I think I'm going to call the German embassy on Monday and see if they can confirm.

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BendingSpoons · 08/01/2022 15:18

In Germany they are offering vaccinations to 6+, which is probably why they are expecting them to be vaccinated. We are due to go soon, with DD who will have just turned 6 unfortunately!

Original poster

MrsCherryBakewell · 08/01/2022 15:36

@BendingSpoons

In Germany they are offering vaccinations to 6+, which is probably why they are expecting them to be vaccinated. We are due to go soon, with DD who will have just turned 6 unfortunately!

That's bad luck! Hoping they change the rules again before we are due to go.

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BendingSpoons · 08/01/2022 18:55

Yes fingers crossed!

EileenGC · 08/01/2022 18:59

The UK is off the variant ‘red’ list now, so she’d be able to travel (with a negative test) even if you aren’t German citizens. But she will definitely need to quarantine for 5 days and take a test to release, or do the full 10 days of isolation. I live here and have several friends who went abroad over the holidays and their under 12’s all had to stay at home for 5 days when they came back. Even if everybody else in the party was vaccinated and exempt from isolation.

Thunderpunt · 22/01/2022 10:45

@JohannSebastianBach @BendingSpoons @MrsCherryBakewell
Sorry to hijack this thread, wondered if any of you could just clarify fully vaccinated in Germany for me? Is it 2 jabs plus booster?
Would 2 jabs plus recovered from Covid be ok? 2 of us had Covid at Christmas so can't have booster until week before we due to stop in Germany for one night before onward travel to Austria.

Metalhead · 24/01/2022 19:11

According to this, 2 jabs still counts as fully vaccinated at the moment: www.pei.de/DE/newsroom/dossier/coronavirus/coronavirus-inhalt.html?nn=169730&cms_pos=3

EileenGC · 24/01/2022 23:06

Germany counts 2 doses as fully vaccinated. The only places you need a booster is venues requiring ‘2G+’, which is either 3 vaccines or 2 vaccines + antigen test every 24 hours.

Rules are different in Austria I believe.