Traveling during the COVID-19 pandemic – entry restrictions largely lifted (2023)

entry restrictions

From Saturday, June 11, 2022, all COVID-19 entry restrictions to Germany will be temporarily lifted. From this point in time, entries into Germany for all travel purposes (including tourism and visits) are permitted again. However, persons residing in the People's Republic of China still need an important reason for entering Germany (due to reciprocity) - this does not apply to German citizens residing in the People's Republic of China. Proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or proof of testing is no longer required to enter Germany.

ForVariant areas of interest(currently no countries are designated as virus variant areas) further entry restrictions would apply.

entry requirements

The federal government classifies countries with widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants as so-called incident areas. The list of problem areas is available on theWebsite of the Robert Koch Institute.

Travelers who have stayed in a danger area within ten days before entering Germany must observe special regulations. A travel ban applies to these areas. Transport companies are not allowed to transport people from these countries to Germany, unless exceptions apply. Travelers must register before entering the country, present a negative PCR test result and self-quarantine for 14 days. Detailed requirements are given below.

There are no special entry regulations for travelers from other countries (no previous stay in a problem area). In particular, neither registration nor a negative test result are required.

Travel bans from countries affected by coronavirus variants

A travel ban applies to countries with widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants (so-calledVariant areas of interest). Transport companies, e.g. airlines and railway companies are not allowed to transport people from these countries to Germany. There are only a few, strictly defined exceptions to this travel ban, namely for:

German nationals and persons resident in Germany with an existing right of residence in Germany as well as their spouses, life partners (when entering from outside the Federal Republic of Germany).EUor United Kingdom / Northern Ireland: only partners living in the same household) and minor children
Persons boarding a connecting flight who do not leave the transit zone of a passenger airport, and
some other special cases.

However, persons eligible for these exceptions must complete digital entry registration prior to entry, undergo mandatory testing or provide proof of immunity, and comply with applicable entry quarantine regulations. See below for more information.

Travelers can find more information about the travel ban on theWebsite of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI),theWebsite of the Federal Ministry of Healthandthis information sheet.The list of problem areas will be published on theWebsite of the Robert Koch Institute.

Digital entry registration for problem areas

Travelers who have visited aArea of affected variantin the last ten days you have to registerwww.einreiseanmeldung.debefore entering Germany and carry a registration certificate with them upon entry. Exceptions to this obligation to report apply in particular to persons who

have only driven through a questionable variant area without a stopover,
are only passing through Germany, resp
in border traffic: people who have stayed in a danger area for less than 24 hours or who only enter Germany for a period of up to 24 hours.
Frontier workers and frontier workers within the meaning ofWebsite of the Federal Ministry of Health

If, exceptionally, it is not possible to fill out a digital entry registration, travelers must fill out a insteadSubstitute registration on paper.

English

French

Italian

polishing

Spanish

Portuguese

Croatian

Albanian

Romanian

Serbian

Russian

Turkish

Arabic

Chinese

Mandatory tests for areas of the problem variant

People over 12 years oldwho have stayed in a risk area in the ten days before entering Germany are obliged to carry proof of their COVID-19 status with them when entering Germany. You must provide a negative PCR test result: a rapid antigen test or proof of recovery or vaccination is not sufficient. In principle, COVID-19 test results must not be older than 48 hours at the time of (planned) entry. However, when entering Germany with a transport company (e.g. an airline), PCR tests may be carried out no more than 48 hours before the (scheduled) start of the journey (e.g. departure time).

Travelers who only transfer at one airport in Germany must also prove their COVID-19 status. This applies both to non-Schengen transit from and to third countries outside of theEUand for transit to or from Schengen countries.

The negative test result, proof of recovery or proof of vaccination must be presented to the carrier for verification prior to departure. Only in the case of cross-border rail traffic or cross-border short sea shipping can the relevant documents be presented during transit. The proof must also be presented to the German border authorities upon request upon entry.

You can find more information on theWebsite of the Federal Ministry of Health.

Quarantine regulations for people entering from dangerous areas

In Germany, there is an obligation to self-isolate in accordance with the ordinance of the Federal Ministry of Health on the Corona Entry Ordinance.

According to the Corona Entry Ordinance, persons who, after a stay in aArea of affected variantin the last ten days

drive straight to the destination after entering and
self-isolate there for 14 days (quarantine).

During this quarantine, travelers are not allowed to leave the house or apartment or receive guests.

The quarantine ends automatically when the country concerned is no longer classified as a problem area.

Exceptions to the quarantine obligation:

Exceptions to the quarantine obligation apply to persons who:

have only driven through a questionable area without stopping,
only travel through Germany and leave the country as quickly as possible,
in border traffic from risk areas: people who have stayed in a risk area for less than 24 hours or who only enter Germany for a period of up to 24 hours,
are cross-border commuters and cross-border commuters within the meaning ofWebsite of the Federal Ministry of Healthwith the proviso that the work they perform is urgent and essential for maintaining operations.

For more information, see theWebsite of the Federal Ministry of Healthandthis information sheet.

How do you behave in Germany?

Mouth and nose must be covered on all public transport. Masks must meet the requirements of FFP2.

If travelers develop symptoms related to COVID-19 (cough, runny nose, sore throat or fever), they should contact a doctor by phone or call the hotline 116 117. Travel guides or hotels can often help in such cases. Travelers should keep the contact details of their home country's embassy or consulate in Germany in case they need to contact them.

Extensive information is available in English and other languages on current regulationshere.

You can find an overview of what you can do to protect yourself and others here:

Coronavirus information and practical advice.

Pay attention to local regulations

Measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 are subject to local regulation.

International advice to reduce the spread of COVID-19 should be followed. This includes washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap for 20-30 seconds, sneezing into the crook of your arm or quickly throwing away tissues or handkerchiefs, keeping your distance from other people and not shaking hands. Further information and details can be found on theWorld Health Organization website.

Travel should be reduced where possible and public transport avoided to further reduce the risk of infection.