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Updated 11 June 2021
Germany is currently suspending entry for countries designated as “areas of variant of concerns,” which are countries with the widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants. As such, entry from the following countries by way of flights, trains, and other modes of transportation are strictly prohibited with a few exceptions.
If you’re among the exempted categories and are thinking of visiting the country, you may want to take into consideration Germany’s quarantine rules and regulations for international arrivals. Here is the latest information on Germany quarantine.
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Germany entry requirements
Currently, entry to Germany is limited to members of the EU, Schengen associated states, (Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), and a handful of third countries as follows:
- Australia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Thailand
In addition, the list is to be expanded to include China, Hong Kong and Macao SARs of the People’s Republic of China, as soon as the possibility of mutual entry is confirmed.
Entry from any other country is only possible in exceptional cases and is conditional on there being an urgent need. Among others, an urgent need is defined as follows:
- Entry for the purpose of family reunification or marriage
- Short-term entry by immediate family members who are citizens of countries outside of the EU
- Short-term entry by first- and second-degree relatives who are citizens of non-EU countries only if urgent family reasons are demonstrated. This includes births, weddings, deaths/funerals
- Short-term entry by more distant family members
- Return to habitual abode
Testing requirements
Upon entering Germany, travellers aged six years or older must hold proof of the following:
- For travellers having stayed in an area of variant of concern in the last 10 days: a negative COVID-19 test result.
- For travellers having stayed in a high incidence area in the last 10 days: a negative COVID-19 test result, proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of recovery from an infection.
Exemptions apply in particular to persons who have passed through a high incidence area without a stopover, or those passing through Germany via the fastest route available. - For arrivals by air without prior stays in high incidence areas or areas of variant of concern: a negative COVID-19 test result, proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of recovery from an infection.
- Following a stay in a risk area (not an area of variant of concern or a high incidence area) and entry by land or sea (e.g. by car or ship): a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of vaccination or recovery from an infection.
A negative test result obtained using nucleic acid amplification technology (e.g. PCR, PoC- PCR) in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. The test must have been carried out no more than 72 hours prior to entry (time of swabbing).
Proof of vaccination
For vaccinated travellers, the proof of vaccination against COVID-19 must either be in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish in digital or paper form. Accepted vaccines are Comirnaty, Janssen, Moderna, Vaxzevria (COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca).
Quarantine requirements
As per the Federal Ministry of Health’s Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations of 12 May 2021, all persons entering Germany following a stay in a risk area, high incidence area or area of variant of concern in the last ten days must:
- proceed directly to their destination following entry and
- self-isolate there for ten days (quarantine). After a stay in an area of variant of concern, travellers must self-isolate for 14 days rather than 10 days
During this quarantine, travellers may not leave the house or flat or receive guests.
Exemptions from the quarantine requirements
Exemptions from the requirement to quarantine apply in particular to persons – except those travelling from areas of variant of concern – who:
- have merely passed through a risk area or high incidence area (not an area of variant of concern) without a stopover,
- are only passing through Germany and leaving the country via the fastest route available, or
- in the case of border traffic: persons who have spent less than 24 hours in a risk area or are only entering Germany for a period of up to 24 hours.
Fully vaccinated or recovered persons no longer need a negative Covid-19 test and no longer have to go into quarantine. This does not apply to those entering from virus-variant areas. For arrivals from areas of variant of concern, no exceptions are possible.
