What are the quarantine rules at present in Germany?

Before getting into Germany, it is very crucial to know about what are the quarantine rules at present in Germany. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, restrictions are made for entry into Germany from many countries.

Digital entry registration for Germany

Travelers who are coming from Covid-19 risk areas must register on https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering Germany and they have to carry the confirmation document with them. This confirmation may be checked by the Federal Police. Exceptions to this registration requirement apply in particular to persons who:

• have passed through a high-risk area without a stopover.
•  Persons who are only passing through Germany.

Since 19.9.2021 Bhutan and India are not considered high-risk areas, digital entry declaration is not necessary for the people who are coming from these countries.

Mandatory testing for entry into Germany

1. A negative covid-19 test result or
2. Proof of final Covid-19 vaccination or
3. Proof of recovery from an infection.

These documents must be held prior to entry in Germany and must be presented to the airline before departure.

Travelers who are permitted to enter Germany

Based on the data provided by the Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Home Affairs, entry to Germany is permitted for the people who are coming from European Union Member States and Schengen-associated countries, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

EU and Schengen Area countries are placed in the high-incidence areas and people who are coming from these countries have to register online and provide Covid-19 negative results carried within 48 hours before entry in Germany. Additionally, they have to stay self-isolated for 10 days in Germany. For the people who are required to submit a negative PCR test, the result must not be older than 72 hours. The testing document must in either German, English, French, Italian or Spanish.

NOTE: The German Government has made some changes to its quarantine rules. People who have fully vaccinated or have fully recovered from Covid-19 can skip testing and quarantine requirements when entering Germany.

This rule will not apply to people who are coming from a country where the virus mutations are highly prevalent, such as India.

Covid-19 testing requirements for unvaccinated people

The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made some rules for unvaccinated people. From 1st August 2021, all persons aged 12 and above are required to provide a current testing report when they enter Germany unless they have been vaccinated or fully recovered. According to the same ministry, the PCR test result must be taken within 72 hours, and the rapid antigen test must be taken within 48 hours before entering Germany.

Travelers who are allowed to enter Germany restriction-free

Based on the EU Council’s recommendation, travelers who are from the following countries, are allowed to visit Germany restriction-free:

1. Australia
2. Canada
3. Kuwait
4. Jordan
5. New Zealand
6. Qatar
7. Singapore
8. South Korea
9. Uruguay
10. Taiwan
11. Macao

Note: People who are coming from other non-EU countries are only permitted to enter Germany if they have any urgent need to travel, serve in an important role, or are fully vaccinated.

Covid tests which are required in Germany

1. PCR tests
2. Rapid Antigen tests

Vaccines that have been approved by European Medicines Agencies

1. BioNTech/Pfizer
2. Janssen
3. Moderna (Spikevax)
4. Covishield by Serum Institute of India
5. AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)

Quarantine Requirements in Germany

People who are coming from high-risk areas or have stayed in a virus variant area within the last 10 days have to go to their accommodation and stay self-isolated for 14 days. During this period, they are not allowed to leave their accommodation.

How to manage yourself in Germany during this pandemic

Mouth and nose must be covered by masks. Masks should fulfill the requirements of FFP2 or KN95/N95. If one develops Covid-19 associated symptoms, he should call the doctor or contact the hotline 116 117. People are advised to keep their home country’s embassy contact details, if there may be any need in the future.

Travel Insurance

People are suggested to purchase an extended travel insurance package that covers pandemic and epidemic situations. People can also buy medical travel insurance protection for Germany from Mondialcare, AXA Assistance, or Europe Assistance.

The coronavirus pandemic is causing great uncertainty worldwide. One should always keep an eye on the news as regulations and restrictions are changing frequently in Germany.