Petition calls on the UK government to recognise vaccination certificates of Brits living in Germany

“Regardless of vaccination status, we face prohibitively lengthy and expensive hotel quarantine if we return home. Many of us have not seen family since before the pandemic and are being prevented from doing so by quarantine restrictions,” the petition read.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced recently that from July 19th, Britons visiting amber list countries, such as France, would no longer have to quarantine on arrival back in the UK, as long as they were fully vaccinated.

However the UK will only accept vaccines administered by the NHS.

The rules mean that UK nationals in Germany who had their jabs in the UK can travel overseas and return without having to quarantine – but those who had their vaccines in Germany will face a 10-day quarantine if they want to travel to the UK to visit friends and family, as well as paying around £170 for the compulsory testing on the second and eighth day of self-isolation.

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The announcement sparked anger among UK nationals living abroad, many of whom have not seen family for 18 months as they cannot afford expensive travel testing packages as well as taking an extra 10 days off work to quarantine.

Adding to the stress, many people have questioned why Germany has not been added to the UK's green list for travel due to the low level of Covid cases. Arrivals from green list countries do not have to quarantine. 

https://twitter.com/psychomologist/status/1415420792087711744?s=20

More than 49,600 people have now signed the petition, prompting a response from the government. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

The UK government said in its response: “Public health has always been our number one priority and we will not risk throwing away our hard-won achievements which have only been possible through the work of the British people.

“We recognise the impact that restrictions and this pandemic have had on many people. We have made enormous progress this past year in tackling the pandemic across Britain. That progress has been hard won and it is important that we do not risk undermining it now. Yet we are also a nation with ties across the globe.

“There are some instances where travellers might be able to get an exemption from needing to quarantine. These exemptions are exceptional and limited, and you will need evidence to support your request.

“Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you still have to follow the same testing and isolation requirements as non-vaccinated people when you return to the country, as per the traffic light system.”

You can sign the petition HERE.