Entry Regulations, Travel Restrictions, National Guidelines

• Entry Regulations, Border Controls, Travel Restrictions
• National Guidelines to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus
• National Corona Warning App and European Platform

Entry Regulations, Border Controls, Travel Restrictions

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office has prepared important information relating to entry and travel restrictions, behavior when in Germany, and transit through other countries.

In order to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus, Germany implemented travel restrictions for entries from outside the Schengen area in mid-March.

On July 1, 2020, the European Council adopted a recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU. Germany implemented the recommendation on July 2, 2020, allowing unrestricted entry to Germany from specific third countries with low infection rates. For up-to-date information and a list of all relevant countries, please refer to the dedicated website of the German Federal Ministry of Interior. Travel to Germany from other third countries is also permitted in specific cases including for example:

• nationals from EU countries and associated Schengen countries and the UK,
• third country nationals with a valid residence permit for Germany,
• foreign experts and highly qualified personnel whose work is necessary from an economic point of view and which cannot be postponed or carried out abroad,
• third country nationals with specific essentials functions or needs.

The possibility to enter Germany depends on the place of departure and not the person’s nationality. 

Regardless of the possibility to enter the country, Germany still has a quarantine requirement in place in all federal states for those returning to and entering Germany from regions designated by the Robert Koch Institute as being international risk areas. 

As of June 21, 2020, Germany has lifted all border controls to and from all EU countries. To support a safe relaunch of travel across the 27 EU member states, the EU has launched the ”Re-open EU” web platform. It provides up-to date information on borders, practical information on travel restrictions, and public health and safety measures. 

National Guidelines to Slow the Spread of Coronavirus 

To protect individuals from infection, a minimum distance requirement of 1.5 meters and the use of masks in public spaces – especially in shops and on public transport - will remain in place until further notice. Big events have been banned until at least the end of December 2020.

Details of most restrictions will be set at the federal state level. The federal states and the federal government have agreed upon an emergency mechanism. Should new infections rise to above 50 people cumulatively per 100,000 in a district within seven days, the responsible federal state has to reimpose restrictions.  For detailed information, please check the rules that apply in the different federal state. For an overview of links to the federal states, please refer to the website of the federal government (only available in German language). Additionally, the  FAQs provided by the Federal Ministry of Interior and the special information website for the Corona virus  provided by the Federal Ministry of Health offer useful information.

National Corona Warning App and European Platform

The official Corona “Warning” App of the federal government has been made available as of June 16. The free app has been designed to enable contact tracing of infected persons in order to shorten the potential chain of infection. Use of the app is entirely voluntary, with the government promoting its broad use and promising a high level of data protection. Starting October 2020, European Union (EU) member states have launched a cross-border coronavirus tracing network using a shared platform that links different member state tracking apps.  

• Corona Crisis and Germany