Vaccine certificate / travel in Germany

[William Gillespie]

Hello,

I arrived in Germany on 4 April using my Aussie int`l vaccine certificate at the airport. I have not been asked once in 2 weeks since to show a vaccination certificate anywhere -- not when entering shops, restaurants, the opera last night.... an N95 mask is still mandatory on public transport and Deutsche Bahn trains and on flights in Germany. Shops and other establishments can impose their own mask-only entry policy for customers. The masks in most cases have to be the N95 type. A box of 20 masks costs €17,95 in shops. There are numerous free COVID rapid testing caravans and places across greater Berlin. A PCR test costs €69.

William

 

[SCM]

Nice. I have a conference there in May, and I'm wondering if they are going to ask for anything.

 

[SYD]

Similar experience in Berlin at the moment.

We easily uploaded our Oz vax certificate on BA.com before flying and were able to do OLCI.

We did manage to get get our vax certificates converted to EU ones on our 1st day (see advice at link), but haven’t needed to use them at all since the recent relaxation of rules. Although, they’re still good for 9 mths (?) and can now be used anywhere in the EU (if required).

Coronavirus / Covid-19: FAQ

Please be advised that the information provided below is subject to change and no liability assumed. Travellers should keep themselves informed of any changes by regularly checking websites listed…

australien.diplo.de

Apparently, some larger nightclubs are still requiring supervised RAT for entry.

The face masks on PT are specifically FFP2 (but an N95 would pass). We managed to track some down in Boots in the UK before flying over.

 

[SCM]

We did manage to get get our vax certificates converted to EU ones on our 1st day (see advice at link),

Link says it's not possible, but maybe some GPs and pharmacies... can you please elaborate on exactly what you did?

Once you are in Germany, you can ask a GP or pharmac_ for assistance in converting the Australian international COVID certificate. However, as there is no obligation for these institutions to do so and there might be technical difficutlies as well, there is no guarantee that a conversion is at all possible.

 

[SYD]

Link says it's not possible, but maybe some GPs and pharmacies... can you please elaborate on exactly what you did?

It says that “..there is no formal process in place“ but it is possible.

It took us two goes to get it done. 1st pharmac_ said they can’t (only residents and visa holders). 2nd one said similar but we showed the link and they agreed to do it. Just needed Oz vax cert and passport. About 5 mins later we had a printed EU cert for each jab. No charge.

 

[Mattg]

I was regularly asked for my Covid certificate (luckily I had the Swiss one) when visiting Germany at the end of March, and FFP2 masks were still required in most indoor places. I think the rules were relaxed quite substantially shortly after I left, although they might still vary by state.

 

[SYD]

I was regularly asked for my Covid certificate (luckily I had the Swiss one) when visiting Germany at the end of March, and FFP2 masks were still required in most indoor places. I think the rules were relaxed quite substantially shortly after I left, although they might still vary by state.

They started going on 19 Mar but as an advisory to states. From 01 Apr most restrictions were dropped officially but some establishments may impose their own eg our Mercure hotel in Berlin is insisting on masks indoors.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I was in Frankfurt / Dusseldorf Apr 1 to 5 - YES FFP2 masks mandatory inside train stations and onboard trains so i bought them online here before dep - AND - not only must you wear them you must wear them correctly - no pulling down to expose nose I was told on a number of occasions by those in some level of authority to pull mask up.

Also major hotels in FRA and DUS insisted masks inside - smaller establishments outside majors much more relaxed.

I needed to get that dreaded RAT to return but there was a tiny testing station just outside my hotel and the gorgeous young lady running it told me I looked like a German so no charge for this today - clearly this pre-flight test no longer required.

And I was asked to show Vacc Cert several times to enter different establishments - absolutely no query about the Oz Cert I showed them - the whole German experience went smoothly and effortlessly

 

[kyle]

I hope most if not all restrictions will go in July when I visit. Not a fan of the mask.

 

[Mattg]

Well I'm back in Germany now and no sign of any corona rules other than masks on public transport.

 

[SCM]

Well I'm back in Germany now and no sign of any corona rules other than masks on public transport.

I can kind of guess the reply, but do many people non-comply with it? Does anyone care?

Here in Sydney I would estimate that 70% of people (outside of morning peak hour) are not wearing masks on public transport and nobody really cares. Sort of a government rules haven't caught up to public sentiment kind of deal.

I would guess in Germany the local population is far more compliant, but I am curious.

 

[SYD]

I can kind of guess the reply, but do many people non-comply with it? Does anyone care?

Here in Sydney I would estimate that 70% of people (outside of morning peak hour) are not wearing masks on public transport and nobody really cares. Sort of a government rules haven't caught up to public sentiment kind of deal.

I would guess in Germany the local population is far more compliant, but I am curious.

It was probably 99% compliance on the metro in Berlin over the Easter weekend. Although people were quick to take masks off leaving the stations. Quite mixed level of mask wearing in shops and obviously very little in bars and restaurants. I got the feeling that they were over it and compliance will taper off.

 

[docjames]

This thread is very helpful with a trip planned for July. THanks to all those posting their experiences.

The vaccine evidence conversion I was concerned about (the logistics / PITA factor), but it appears it seems to be a non-issue (not currently required in most places).

Good tip re: N95s on public transport.