Current rules on travel to Germany during COVID-19 pandemic

One of the most popular destinations in Europe for both business and tourism, Germany continues to impose COVID-19 related restrictions on the entry of travelers, particularly those from outside the Schengen area. Now, with vaccination rates continuing to rise throughout the world (especially in the West and much of Asia), many travelers are wondering if Germany travel restrictions will be eased for vaccinated individuals and/or people arriving from countries identified as low-risk. Today’s blog presents the latest coronavirus update for Germany, i.e. the  current rules on travel to Germany during COVID-19. Read on to find the most recent Germany entry and exit requirements affecting travel to Germany, including requirements for tests and proof of vaccination. In addition, you will find other relevant country-specific Germany tourist information, such as who is allowed to enter German borders, what countries remains banned, and which travelers are subject to requirements for tests and proof of vaccination. 

Schengen area travel

• Germany is a member of the Schengen area; a block of 26 countries located in Europe that was created to facilitate the easy movement of residents throughout the zone. Residents of the Schengen area therefore do not need visas to enter and reside in other Schengen states.  
• The Schengen area has a common visa policy, which means that all of the Member States are in agreement as to which non-Schengen countries have visa-free entry to the zone. Some countries enjoy-visa free entry to the zone, which means that their residents are not required to obtain a visa in order to travel to it and throughout its various countries. In contrast, most citizens of countries who do not have visa-free entry to the zone must receive a Schengen visa in order to enter and travel throughout the area. 
• While the Schengen area continues to uphold the principle of free movement for its residents, it has taken steps since the pandemic began to prevent the spread of the virus throughout the zone, which have included broad entry bans on travelers arriving from outside the block. 
• The zone has issued recommendations to its various member states, which they are encouraged to implement. At the moment, the Schengen area recommends that residents of the following countries be allowed to enter the zone without restrictions: Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, China, and Israel. 

Travel to Germany during COVID-19

• As a member of the Schengen area, Germany has generally allowed the unrestricted entry of nationals and residents of fellow Schengen/European Union states (including Iceland, Liechtenstein Norway, and Switzerland) in addition to its own citizens. 
• Since the pandemic began, the country has allowed certain foreigners to enter German borders, provided they adhere to national and regional Germany entry and exit requirements. 
• At the moment, Germany travel restrictions include mandatory pre-departure testing, post-arrival testing, and quarantines. Some of these restrictions are universal to all travelers, regardless of their nationality or where they are arriving from, while others only apply to those who are arriving from (or who have spent time in) certain countries.
• Currently, Germany is allowing residents of the following states to travel to Germany without restrictions: Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand. If you are a resident of one of the states on this list, you will be allowed to come to Germany even if you do not have an essential reason for doing so. 
• Residents of all other “third” countries face restrictions on their entry to Germany. If you are a resident of a non-Schengen, non-EU third country that is not one of these listed states, you will therefore only be granted permission to travel to Germany if your need for travel is classified as “urgent”. 
• Broadly, Germany defines the following categories of people as meeting the “urgent travel” requirement: doctors and other medical professionals, seafarers, certain foreign workers and foreign students unable to work or study remotely, travelers pursuing family reunification, transiting travelers whose final destination is not Germany, diplomats, refugees, and transport workers (for a full list, contact us here). 
• If you are a third-country resident who do not fall into one of the above “urgent” categories (and you are not from Australia, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Thailand), you will almost certainly be denied entry to Germany. 
• If you do fall into one of the above categories, you should be able to travel to Germany, provided you adhere to the following testing and quarantine regulations.
• Finally, there is a third category of third countries, which Germany defines as “areas of variant concern”. In effect (and with few exceptions), Germany bans the entry of travelers from areas of variant concern. If you plan to arrive from one of these countries (to arrive after spending time in one of these countries immediately prior (within 10 days of) entering Germany) you will almost certainly be denied entry unless you are a German citizen/resident or are simply transiting through the country. 
• The majority of countries defined as areas of variant concern are found in Africa, however the United Kingdom is also on the list. The full travel ban list is: Botswana, Brazil, Eswatini, India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, South Africa, the UK, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Germany testing and quarantine regulations

• In general, all travelers granted entry to Germany must present a negative COVID-19 test (taken at least 72 hours before arrival) as a condition for traveling to the country. In addition, certain travelers may present evidence of having been vaccinated from COVID-19 (or of having previously been infected with the virus) in place of a negative test result. 
• At the moment, some third-countries (i.e. non-Schengen/non-EU) can be described as being unsafe areas, meaning that they are places where there is a heightened risk of coronavirus. These countries are further separated into the following categories official categories (in order of increasing threat): “risk areas”, “high risk areas”, and “areas of variant concern”. Those arriving from these categories are collectively subject to additional entry requirements and restrictions not imposed on those coming from countries not on those lists.

The following countries are considered risk areas: 

Afghanistan, Algeria Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria,  Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad,  Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire,  Croatia, Cuba,  Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, DR Congo, El Salvador Equatorial Guinea,  Eritrea,  Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Gabon, Gambia,  Ghana,  Greece,  Guatemala,  Guinea,  Guinea-Bissau,  Guyana,  Haiti,  Honduras, Hungary,  Indonesia,  Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya,  Liechtenstein, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali,  Mauritania, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia,  Nicaragua, Niger,  Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman,  Pakistan,  Palestinian territories,  Panama,  Papua New Guinea, Philippines,  Poland, Portugal, Republic of the Congo, Russian Federation, São Tomé and Príncipe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Senegal,  Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka (since 16 May 2021), St. Lucia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Timor Leste, Togo, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, USA, Uzbekistan, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Yemen 

The following countries are high incidence areas: 

Argentina, Bahrain, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Egypt, Ecuador, Georgia, Iran, Kuwait, Lithuania, Maldives, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Qatar, Seychelles,  Sudan, Suriname,  Sweden, Syrian Arab Republic, Tanzania Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay. 

Please note that the information contained within the above lists is subject to change. For the latest Coronavirus update for Germany, contact us here.

• The following requirements (with some exceptions) apply to travelers arriving from areas of variant concern, high incidence areas, and high risk areas. If you spent any time in one of the countries on these lists, and you attempt to travel to Germany within 10 days of doing so (even if you will be arriving in Germany from a country not on these lists), this requirement also applies to you: 
  • Complete digital entry registration.
  • Complete mandatory quarantine for a period of 10 days (please note, if you are arriving from an area of variant concern, you must quarantine for an additional for days, for a total period of 14 days). 
• Generally speaking, if you are arriving from a high incidence area or a risk area (or spent time in one prior to arriving in Germany) you must present one of the following in order to board your flight to Germany:
  • A negative COVID-19 result (48 hours before entering).
  • Evidence of having been vaccinated. 
  • Evidence of having previously been infected (and of having recovered) from the disease.
• In contrast, if you are arriving from an area of variant concern, you must present a negative COVID 19 result that is taken within 24 hours in order to board your flight to Germany. Because the risk presented by arrivals from areas of variant concern is so great, Germany insists that travelers from those areas take a negative test (i.e. they will not accept evidence of having been vaccinated or evidence of having previously recovered from the disease as a condition for entry). 

Germany tourist information

• Tourism in Germany is very restricted at the moment. Because tourism is not currently classified as an “urgent” reason for travel, only Germans (as well as nationals from the Schengen area/EU and the six countries whose residents are exempt from travel restrictions) may travel to Germany for the purpose of tourism. 
• Additionally, German hotels are currently banned from allowing tourists to book rooms (only people traveling for urgent reasons can pursue hotel lodging). 
• At the moment, Germany is only granting tourist visas is rare cases. 
• In addition to national entry requirements, certain domestic German regions have previously imposed additional restrictions on residents and travelers living (even temporarily) there, such as curfews and/or regional travel bans. If you are traveling to Germany, check what (if any) restrictions are in place for the region you intend to visit.