Coronavirus in Germany

Update on entry rules: People’s Republic of China (excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) is classified as an “area of variants of concern in which a variant of particular concern threatens to emerge”

https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/...ublicationFile

Changes since last amendment As of 0 a.m. (midnight) on 9 January 2023, the People’s Republic of China (excluding the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) is classified as an “area of variants of concern in which a variant of particular concern threatens to emerge” (see below for information regarding corresponding obligations to furnish proof before entry and/or obligations for random testing after entry into Germany). On account of the dynamic development of infection rates, short-notice changes to classification are possible at any time.

Note: As of 0 a.m. (midnight) on 7 January 2023, with the entry into force of the “Eighth Ordinance amending the Coronavirus Entry Regulations”, the previous category of “areas of variants of concern” (an area of variants of concern in which a variant of particular concern already exists) is complemented by an additional, new category:

An area of variants of concern in which a “variant of particular concern threatens to emerge”. Classifying an area as such is associated with an obligation to furnish proof upon entry into Germany (through proof of testing using a nucleic acid test (PCR) or PoC antigen test).

To help detect potential newly emerging or re-emerging particularly dangerous virus variants, the newly introduced section 5a of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations enables the competent authorities to require additional random testing after entry into Germany from areas of variants of concern.

There is no obligation to register before entry into Germany.

An obligation to quarantine (“obligation to self-isolate”) upon entry into Germany or a “ban on carriage” still only applies for regions classified as areas of variants of concern, in which a variant of particular concern already exists. The criterion for distinction is therefore whether a variant of particular concern already exists or (only) threatens to emerge.

Since beginning of April almost all rules and restrictions have been lifted!

Currently, there are no general borders closure, but see link below for restrictions. There are still controls at certain borders, but in general free movement with the European Union is possible. Currently no country is listed as a high risk area or a virus variant area. Please always check the current list at Robert-Koch-Institut (RKI) since it can change.

There are also quarantine requirements if you travel to Germany from a virus variant country. Among those are all those, who are on the list of the

The Federal Ministry of Health as set up a homepage with FAQ for those travelling to Germany. Addition information could be found on the homepage of the ministry of foreign affairs (Auswärtiges Amt)


Corona rules in Germany
In general all restrictions have been lifted. Restaurants, bars, clubs, museums, sport venues are open and can be entered without a mask or any additional checks. Only exceptions are:
Public transport: Almost in every state a FFP-2 mask is required
Hospitals, assisted living homes or other institutions with vulnerable people: A FFP-2 mask is required

3G or 2G rule (currently not applied)
If you travel around Germany you will come across the 3G or 2G rules. The G stands for
- Geimpft / Vaccinated
- Genesen / Recovered
- Getested / Tested

3G means that you must be either fully vaccinated, recovered or tested to enter a location
2G means you must be either fully vaccinated or recovered to enter a location. A negative test is NOT sufficient
In addition you need will often need an FFP2 mask.

If you see something like 2G+ or 2G Plus it means that in addition to your fully vaccination or recovery you MUST provide a negative test!

The simplest way to proof your vaccination or recovery is a digital EU certificate. If you are a tourists without access to such a certificate the yellow WHO vaccination passport is sufficient or for Americans your CDC card. Always have some kind of identification ready. Some locations are not familiar with the CDC card and you might need to discuss with them.In addition the official rule is fuzzy and leaves open what a comparable proof of vaccination is. See below:

Es muss sich um ein digitales COVID-Zertifikat der EU oder einen vergleichbaren Impfnachweis in digitaler oder verkörperter Form (Papierform) in deutscher, englischer, französischer, italienischer oder spanischer Sprache handeln. Abfotografierte verkörperte Nachweise gelten nicht als digitale Nachweise. Nachweise in digitaler Form sollten vom berechtigten Aussteller digital ausgestellt und digital dem Berechtigten übermittelt worden sein.

It must be a digital EU COVID certificate or a comparable proof of vaccination in digital or physical form (paper form) in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Photographed embodied evidence is not considered digital evidence. Evidence in digital form should have been issued digitally by the authorized issuer and transmitted digitally to the authorized person.

"Local Hotspot meassures" in Germany are possible

In case of high incident rate each state can decided to reimplement additional measures. Please check the websites of the individual states for more information

Curfew / limitation of movement
There are NO curfews

Gatherings
There are NO limitations

Travel
Check the current travel rules at Re-Open Europe - Germany Document checklist

Travellers over the age of 12 must carry with them proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test result (PCR or antigen). Documents equivalent to the 'EU Digital COVID Certificate' (EUDCC) are accepted if they meet the same requirements:

• Proof of vaccination after receiving full vaccination. Vaccine certificates are valid for 270 days. Vaccines authorised by the European Union (EU) or vaccines which are licensed in a third country and identical in formulation to a vaccine in the EU are accepted.

Or

• Proof of recovery showing a positive PCR test result carried out at least 28 days but no more than 90 days prior.

Or

• Negative result to a test taken no earlier than 48 hours before the actual time or scheduled time of entry. Where entry takes place using a carrier, the scheduled time of departure is decisive.

Entry from high-risk and virus variant countries/areas

Special rules apply to travellers arriving in Germany from countries designated as "high-risk" or "virus variant." High-risk areas are where there is an increased risk of infection or where there are other indications that there is such risk; virus variant areas can be areas with widespread occurence of a mutant strain of the virus that is not prevalent in Germany. With only a few exceptions, including German citizens, airlines are prohibited from carrying persons from areas of variant concern.

Although no countries or areas are currently identified as high-risk or virus variant, this situation may change at short notice:

• Travellers arriving from such international risk areas must complete the Digital Registration on Entry form before they arrive.
• Travellers entering Germany following a stay in a high-risk area enter home quarantine for 10 days. Home quarantine can be ended early by submitting proof of vaccination or of recovery via the upload portal Digital Registration on Entry. If these documents were already submitted, no quarantine is necessary. For all others, quarantine can only end with a negative test result.
• Travellers approved for entry from a stay in an area of variant concern enter home quarantine for 14 days. At the time of entry they must present their carrier with a negative PCR test result. Proof of vaccination or recovery does not suffice. In the context of cross-border traffic into Germany, this proof may be demanded by the Federal Police. If using a carrier to enter Germany, the PCR test result must be less than 48 hours old at the time of the scheduled start of the journey.
• Furthermore, the German authorities may require travellers who spent time in an area of variant concern to take additional PCR tests after entry.
• Children who have stayed in a high-risk area are no longer required to enter quarantine on arrival.

Learn more

Federal Ministry of Health



Social Life
No limitations.

Sport
No limitations

The general rules are summarized

• FFP2 mask for public transportation and hospitals
• General hygienic rules recommended

Federal Government
Information on the homepage of the Federal Government in Berlin

There might be some difference as of today for the federal states:

Federal States

Baden-Württemberg
Information on Homepage

Bavaria (Bayern)
Information on homepage

Mandatory to wear FFP2 mask in public transportation.

Berlin
Information on homepage

Brandenburg
Information on homepage. You need to look for the different information There seems to be no special page.

Bremen
Information on homepage

Hamburg
Information on homepage


Hesse (Hessen)
Information on homepage

Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen)
Information on homepage

Mecklenburg-Vorpommen
Information on homepage

North Rhine - Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen)
Information on homepage

Rhineland Palantine (Rheinland-Pflaz)
Information on homepage

Saarland
Information on homepage.

Saxonia (Sachsen)
Information on Homepage

Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt)
Information on Homepage / detailed information Homepage

Schleswig-Holstein
Information on Homepage

Thuringia (Thüringen)
Information on Homepage


Related discussions threads about travel in / to Germany

Summer tourism in Germany
Quarantine rules relaxed (May 2021)
Covid19 testing in FRA / MUC


Updated on April 22st 2022