Germany will once again reopen to U.S. travelers as of this Sunday June 20, 2021.
“The German Government is lifting all travel restrictions for persons residing in the United States, effective Sunday, June 20, 2021. So starting Sunday, travel to Germany for all purposes will be permitted again. However, a proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, or negative test result is still required for entry via air travel,” says the German Tourism Board.
Travelers in Germany must continue to wear a mask covering mouth and nose when aboard any public transport, in stores, busy outdoor places where the minimum distance can’t be kept.
If travelers develop symptoms associated with COVID-19 during their visit, they should get in touch by phone with a doctor or contact the hotline 116 117. Often travel guides or hotels can also help in such cases. Travelers should also keep the contact details of their home country’s embassy or consulate in Germany in case they need to contact them.
Digital Entry Registration
Travelers who have visited a risk area, high incidence area, or area of variant of concern in the last 10 days must register at einreiseanmeldung.de before arriving in Germany and carry proof of registration with them upon entry. Exemptions to this registration requirement apply in particular to persons who:
- have only passed through a risk area 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.
Additionally, persons entering Germany following a stay in a risk area or high incidence area (but not an area of variant of concern) are exempt from this requirement for stays of less than 72 hours to visit close relatives (parents, children), spouses and partners who do not belong to the same household, or for the purpose of shared custody.
Testing Requirements
When entering the country, travelers ages 6 and above must have proof of the following:
- Following a stay in an area of variant of concern in the last 10 days: a negative COVID-19 test result. This proof must be held prior to entering the country, and must be presented to the airline before departure where applicable.
- Following a stay 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. This proof must be held prior to entering the country, and must be presented to the airline.
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. This proof must be held prior to entering the country, and must be presented to the airline before departure.
- 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. This proof must be presented no later than 48 hours after entry.
The same exemptions apply as for digital entry registration; i.e., in particular for persons who merely passed through a risk area without a stopover, are only passing through Germany and leaving the country via the fastest route available, or in the case of border traffic for 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.
Quarantine Requirements
A requirement to self-isolate is in place in Germany pursuant to the Federal Ministry of Health’s Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations as of May 12, 2021.
Under the new Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations, persons entering Germany following a stay in a risk area, high incidence area or area of variant of concern in the last 10 days must:
- proceed directly to their destination following entry and
- self-isolate there for 10 days (quarantine). After a stay in an area of variant concern, travelers must self-isolate for 14 days rather than 10 days.
The requirement to quarantine applies to arrivals from risk areas and high incidence areas until proof of full vaccination, recovery from an infection or a negative test result is submitted via the entry portal of the Federal Republic of Germany (einreiseanmeldung.de).
For arrivals from high incidence areas, the quarantine period may be ended on the basis of a negative test carried out no earlier than five days after entry. For persons who have been vaccinated or recovered from an infection and arrive from a high incidence area, mandatory quarantine ends immediately after submitting proof of vaccination or proof of recovery.
For arrivals from areas of variant of concern, a reduction of the quarantine period is not possible. In such cases, the quarantine period is always 14 days.
For more information, visit auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus.
For more destination updates, click here. And don’t miss, “Become a Travel Specialist for SouthWest Germany.”
