More than just do’s and don’ts: Update on Germany travel this summer

Strict lockdown measures have been practiced in Germany owing to the COVID-19. It has created uncertainty in Germany travel just like it happened globally.

Now, even though stringent restrictions on entry existing, Germany’s borders are open to those arriving for essential purposes. They must be arriving from the EU/Schengen Area countries and third countries.

Since July 2020, Germany began to permit border entry from various countries. But as of now, it's impossible to enter the territory of the latter for the purposes of tourism for non-EU nationals.

Germany has nevertheless decided to allow entry without restrictions for certain nations in the EU/Schengen Area as well as other countries. Travelers from these countries can make Germany travel with some leniency.

Countries permitted by Germany travel inside its borders

On the basis of the data given by the Federal Ministry of Interior, Building & Home Affairs of Germany, entry to the country is allowed to the EU Member States as well as Schengen-associated countries. These include Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.

In addition, following a recommendation of the EU, travelers arriving from Israel, Australia, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Thailand, and South Kore are also permitted to enter Germany.

Those coming from the EU and Schengen Area nations listed as “high incidence areas” or “risk areas” have to register online. While doing Germany travel they also have to provide a negative result for the COVID-19 test done not earlier than 48 hours before they arrive in Germany. In addition, they must stay self-isolated for 10 days.

Travelers from these areas with proof of COVID-19, vaccination or recovery can forego testing and requirements of quarantine.

The negative PCR test result shouldn’t be older than 72 hours. Testing certificate in English, German, French, Spanish, Italian is recognized.

For those who vaccinated against the COVID-19 the certificate of vaccination is recognized in the same languages. The vaccine doses approved by Germany include Moderna, Comirnaty, Janssen, and Vaxzevria.

Travelers from the countries and regions listed below are permitted for Germany travel without restrictions:

• Austria: only Jungholz and Mittelberg/Kleinwalsertal
• Faroe Islands
• Iceland
• Malta
• Portugal, except Madeira and the Azores
• Spain, except
  • Andalusia
  • Canary Islands
  • Castilla and León
  • Extremadura
  • Basque Country
  • Aragon
  • Cantabria
  • Cataluña
  • Madrid
  • La Rioja
  • Asturias
  • Castilla-La Mancha
  • Ceuta
  • Melilla Navarra
• Australia
• Greenland
• Ireland, except Dublin, Mid-East, and Midland regions
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Thailand
• China
• Finland, except for the Päijät-Häme region
• Israel
• Norway, except Viken, Oslo, Vestfold og Telemark, and Agder
• South Korea

EU countries on the high incidence list are:

• Croatia
• Estonia
• Lithuania
• Slovenia
• Cyprus
• France
• The Netherlands
• Sweden

Germany’s list of profoundly affected countries by COVID-19

High incidence areas are those countries and regions with over 200 infections per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 7 days. Strict rules are applied to the arrivals from these countries.

• Egypt
• Bolivia
• Ecuador
• Qatar
• Maldives
• Peru
• Suriname
• Trinidad & Tobago
• Argentina
• Cabo Verde Chile
• Georgia
• Colombia
• Mexico
• Seychelles
• Tanzania
• Tunisia
• Bahrain
• Costa Rica
• Iran
• Kuwait
• Paraguay
• Sudan
• Syria

Countries where COVID virus variants have spread widely along with mutations and rapid transmission that Germany guards itself against includes:

• Botswana
• India
• Mozambique
• Zimbabwe
• Northern Ireland
• Brazil
• Lesotho
• Nepal
• South Africa
• Eswatini
• Malawi
• Zambia
• Uruguay
• The UK

Rules for arrivals from high-incidence and COVID virus variant mutation areas

All those wishing for Germany travel after a stay of over 10 days in an area of high COVID risk must present COVID-19 test results in the negative. They also must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or proof of recovery. But those who have traveled through such high-incidence areas without stopping there are exempted from the mandatory criteria.

Those traveling by air must show a negative COVID-19 test result. One of these should be provided prior to departure and the other upon entry in Germany. The responsibility to check the negative test result document prior to departure is of the airline.

The same rules apply to people traveling by bus, train, or ferry.

Travelers who have made a stay in a high-risk area due to COVID-19 are also required to fill in a digital entry registration form and carry the confirmation code received.

Germany’s Simple Risk Areas

Barring the 2 areas mentioned above, Germany has also categorized nations in another list. This list is called “Simple risk areas”. This list includes nations with increased infection risk of COVID-19 that were mentioned in no list indicated above.

In recent times, Sweden, Turkey, and Lithuania moved from the high-risk list to the simple risk area list. So, the arrivals from these nations have exemptions from requirements made strict. Among other simple risk areas today are the Norwegian regions of Trøndelag and Troms og Finnmark.

The following regions and countries aren’t any longer treated as risk areas:

• Czechia, Italy, Vatican City
• France: Mayotte, Corsica, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and New Caledonia
• Croatia: Istria, Dubrovnik-Neretva, Karlovac, Požega-Slavonia, Krapina-Zagorje, and Split-Dalmatia
• Netherlands: Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, and Sint Eustatius
• Switzerland: Basel-Stadt Basel-Land, cantons of Aargau, Graubünden, Solothurn, Zurich, Ticino, and Zug

Quarantine requirements

• All people who have been in a COVID high-risk area in the last 10 days need to quarantine. All of those who are arriving from these risky areas must go to their accommodation ASAP after arrival. They must stay self-isolated for 10 days.
• Those arriving from areas where virus variants have spread have to go into self-isolation for 14 days.

During the period of self-isolation, nobody can leave their accommodation. None can receive visitors too.

Exemption from quarantine is granted for people in the following categories:

• Those who traveled through high incidence or high-risk areas sans any stopovers
• Those traveling to transit via Germany
• Those who have made a stay in an area with COVID risk for under 24 hours or those who depart from Germany within 24 hours of entry

Travel insurance for Germany travel

All persons wanting to travel to Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic are urged to buy an extended travel insurance package. It must cover situations of pandemic and epidemic.

With the insurance, even if the trip gets canceled due to the COVID-19, the traveler can save most of the money spent on reservations.

Any traveler can buy the protection of medical travel insurance for Germany at a nominal cost from Europ Assistance, AXA Assistance, or MondialCare.

EU digital COVID-19 passport in Germany

Germany joined the EU gateway on 10^th May. On June 1, the country began the issuance of the first vaccination certificates for travelers.

What Is Open in Germany?

In Germany few places including few hotels are open. But tourists aren’t allowed to make overnight stays. Only those traveling for essential purposes can stay at hotels.

Places like architectural sites, museums, zoos, and galleries have gradually started to reopen in different parts of the country. As a consequence, restaurants in these areas are allowed to open for dining outdoors. But if persons from not the same household are sitting at the same table, they are required to carry a test result in the negative.

Attractions in areas with under 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants are allowed to reopen only with appointment bookings.

Germany’s busiest and leading airports are open. These include Frankfurt, Berlin Brandenburg, Munich, Hamburg, and Dusseldorf. There, international flights have resumed operation.

As of now, there is no national curfew imposed. Everyone must wear masks in public areas. All must respect the rules for social distancing too.

The vaccines offered by the authorities in Germany include Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Johnson & Johnson, and Oxford-AstraZeneca.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Germany, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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