The following are allowed to enter Germany:

• German citizens and members of their immediate family (spouses, unmarried minor-age children, parents of minor-age children)
• EU citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland and members of their immediate family (spouses, unmarried minor-age children, parents of minor-age children)
• Third-country nationals with an existing long-term right of residence in an EU or Schengen state and members of their immediate family, provided they meet the passport and visa requirements.

The following are also allowed to enter Germany:

Persons resident in third countries like the United Kingdom may enter Germany if they are fully vaccinated (see “What rules apply for fully vaccinated people?”) or if they are serving in an important role or there is an urgent need to travel (see “What constitutes an urgent need to travel?”). 

A person is deemed resident in a country if they have either their domicile or their habitual residence there. A place constitutes a “domicile” if, in particular, you have spent the last 6 months there.

With regard to family members entering Germany, see also “What special conditions apply to entry into Germany by family members who are nationals of a third country?”

Travellers must present proof of vaccination, proof of having recovered from the virus, or a negative Covid-19 test (the so-called 3G rule) upon entering the country. PCR, LAMP, TMA and antigen tests are all accepted. Antigen tests must meet certain quality standards. More details can be found here.

The test must have been taken no more than 48 hours before arrival in Germany. The basis for calculating the 48-hour period is the time of arrival in Germany. In the case of entry using a carrier and where testing comprised a nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR), then the actual time or scheduled time of carrier departure is taken as the basis.

Information on proof of vaccination or recovery can be found under question 8.

*It is up to the Federal Police to decide what documents count as adequate evidence of residence. Airlines, too, often carry out strict checks on this at check-in. The following documents can be used as evidence of residence in Germany:

Residence registration certificates, confirmations of registration with a foreigners authority, especially in connection with the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the EU, tenancy agreements, payslips from a German employer, tax statements, account statements, credit card statements, electricity bills, telephone/internet bills, Part I of a Registration Certificate (vehicle registration certificate) and similar documents. A single document is not normally sufficient. The more supporting documents you can present as proof, the better. We advise expressly that this list is not exhaustive.

2a. Minor children of Germans, EU citizens and of persons with a right of residence in Germany 

Minor children of Germans, EU citizens and of persons with a right of residence in Germany are generally allowed to enter, but require a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination or recovery in order to enter the country. This requirement applies to children aged 12 and above. They are not required to quarantine.

2b. Minor children of third-country nationals (e.g. British nationals)

• Children up to 5 years old are allowed to enter Germany if accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent and are not required to prove their Covid status on entry. They are not required to quarantine.
• Children aged 6 to 11 are allowed to enter Germany if they are fully vaccinated or have an urgent need to travel. They are also allowed to enter the country if accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent. However, in this case they need to show a negative Covid-19 test. They are not required to quarantine.
• Children aged 12 to 17 are allowed to enter Germany if they are fully vaccinated (see information under “Important” below) or have an urgent need to travel. They are not required to quarantine.

Important:

• Minors between the ages of 12-17 are only allowed to enter if they are fully vaccinated or have an urgent need to travel.
• In Germany, a person is only deemed to be fully vaccinated when they have had 2 or in some cases 3 doses of vaccine (or 2 primary doses + booster).
• Details regarding proof of vaccination/ recovery/ a negative test can be found under question 8.

Please refer to the FAQs of the Federal Ministry of the Interior to find out what constitutes an urgent need and what other options there are.

Travellers from the United Kingdom should in principle travel directly to their destination country.

Transit to another EU member state or Schengen state

Citizens of countries outside of the EU (e.g. British citizens) may enter Germany to travel to another EU member state or another Schengen state as their country of final destination if the following conditions are met:

1. the traveller remains in Germany (as country of transit) only as long as absolutely necessary to travel directly to the country of destination or another transit country;
2. the traveller is permitted to enter the country of destination or another transit country (in accordance with Annex I or II of the Council Recommendation of 30 June 2020 or with individual confirmation of permission to enter issued by the country of destination).

Under these conditions, citizens of countries outside of the EU may also enter Germany by air and travel overland to their country of destination.

The traveller must, on entering the country, provide evidence that the conditions listed above have been met. Airline or other travel tickets, etc. may be presented to meet condition (1). A printout of the current national regulations in place in the country of destination implementing Annex I of the Council Recommendation may be presented to meet condition (2). It must be clear from the text that residents of certain countries are not required to provide proof of the reason for travel to the country of destination. If this is not possible, then evidence must be provided of the urgent need for entry in accordance with Annex II of the Council Recommendation. Germany’s border control officials will only check for compliance with the requirements for entering Germany. Alternatively, the traveller may present a document issued by the responsible authorities of the country of destination certifying that entry restrictions have been waived or that approval of entry has been granted.

All travellers in transit are required to provide proof of their Covid-19 status (fully vaccinated or tested or recovered – see also question 8).

Transit through Germany to travel to a country outside of the EU

Citizens of countries outside of the EU may enter Germany to travel to a country outside of the EU if the following conditions are met:

1. the traveller remains in Germany (as country of transit) only as long as absolutely necessary to travel directly to the country of destination or another transit country;
2. the traveller is permitted to enter the country of destination or another transit country, if applicable.

The traveller must provide evidence on entry that the conditions (1) and (2) listed above have been met. Airline or other travel tickets, etc. may be presented to meet condition (1). To meet condition (2), travellers can present authorisation of entry to the country of destination (e.g. a visa) or an identity document or residence authorisation for the country of destination, for example.

All travellers in transit are required to provide proof of their Covid-19 status (fully vaccinated or tested or recovered – see also question 8).

The rules set out in questions 4-8 apply.

Before you travel, you must submit a digital registration form if you have stayed in an area designated by the Robert Koch Institute as a high-risk area or area of variant of concern in the ten days prior to your planned date of entry (even for a short time).

With effect from 20 February 2022, the Robert Koch Institute no longer classifies the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a high-risk area. You can find a complete list of all high-risk areas and areas of variants of concern on the Robert Koch Institute website.

Therefore digital registration via www.einreiseanmeldung.de is no longer necessary.

Other exemptions can be found here.

The decision as to who is allowed to enter Germany is taken solely by the Federal Border Police. Should you have questions regarding entering Germany, you can contact the Federal Border Police at your destination airport in Germany. Please use the email address below if possible. In spite of the very high volume of enquiries, the Federal Border Police endeavour to reply to enquiries within twelve hours. You should carry a printout of the reply from the Federal Border Police or ensure it is displayable on your mobile device.

Federal Border Police Hamburg Airport
E-Mail: bpolifh.ham@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Bremen Airport
E-Mail: bpolrfh.bre@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Hannover Airport
E-Mail: bpolifh.haj@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Berlin Brandenburg
E-Mail: bpoli.ber@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Düsseldorf Airport
E-Mail: bpolifh.dus@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Köln/Bonn Airport
E-Mail: bpolifh.cgn@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Erfurt-Weimar Airport
E-Mail bpoli.erfurt@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Leipzig/Halle Airport
E-Mail: bpoli.leipzig@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Dresden Airport
E-Mail: bpoli.dresden.fh-leitstelle@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Frankfurt am Main Airport
E-Mail: bpold.frankfurt@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Saarbrücken Airport
E-Mail: bpolr.scn@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Stuttgart Airport
E-Mail: bpolifh.str@polizei.bund.de

Federal Border Police Munich Airport
E-Mail: bpol.muc@polizei.bund.de

Since 18 December, new rules have been in effect for entering and transiting through France. You can find detailed information on the French regulations here.

Travel from the UK to and through the Netherlands is possible subject to certain conditions. More details here. The Embassy is not able to issue a Note Verbale or certificate for this for third-country nationals to present to the Dutch border authorities.

Travel through Belgium to other EU and Schengen countries is possible subject to certain conditions. Please refer to the travel and safety information for Belgium and the information from the Belgian Embassy in London.

Travellers are not required to quarantine on arrival.

Questions on quarantine should be addressed to the relevant authorities (e.g. the local health department) at your destination. Links to the websites of the federal states can be found here:

What constitutes proof of a negative test?

Nucleic acid amplification techniques (PCR, LAMP, TMA) and antigen tests are generally recognised for the direct detection of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Proof of a negative test can be provided in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish in written or digital or paper form.

Travellers entering the country must provide a negative result from a test taken no more than 48 hours previously. As a rule, when calculating these time frames, it is the time of entry into Germany that counts. If the traveller enters the country using a carrier and the test taken was a nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR), it is the actual or scheduled carrier departure time that Counts.

What constitutes proof of vaccination?

In order to enter Germany, your proof of vaccination must meet the requirements of section 22a (1) of the Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG):

1. It must prove full vaccine protection against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus provided by one or more vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) (list here) or equivalents of these vaccines used in non-EU countries (list here). Furthermore, the vaccination itself must meet certain requirements in order to provide complete immunisation in accordance with section 22a (1) of the Protection against Infection Act.

In order to provide complete immunisation, approved vaccines are required as follows:
a) until 30 September 2022: two vaccination doses;
b) until 30 September 2022: one vaccination dose, provided that:

• the person concerned can provide proof of a positive antibody test carried out prior to the vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the vaccination; or
• the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out prior to the vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the vaccination; or
• the person concerned was infected with the coronavirus after the vaccination and can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out after receiving the vaccination and at least 28 days ago;

c) as of 1 October 2022: three vaccination doses; the last dose must have been administered at least three months after the second dose;
d) as of 1 October 2022: two vaccination doses, provided that:

• the person concerned can provide proof of a positive antibody test carried out prior to the first vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the first vaccination dose; or
• the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out prior to the second vaccination dose; or
• the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out after receiving the second vaccination dose and at least 28 days ago.

2. Proof of vaccination must contain the following information:

• the personal details of the vaccinated person (at least their surname, first name and date of birth or the number of the passport or other official photo ID to be presented upon inspection);
• the date/s of vaccination and number of vaccination doses;
• the name/s of the vaccine/s;
• the name of the disease vaccinated against; and
• distinctive features which show the identity of the person or institution responsible for administering the vaccination or issuing the certificate (e.g. an official logo or name of the issuer).

3. It must be an EU Digital COVID Certificate or comparable proof of vaccination in digital or paper form in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Photographs of physical proof cannot be accepted as digital proof. Proof in digital form needs to have been issued electronically by the authorised issuer and transmitted electronically to the authorised holder.

The EU Digital COVID Certificate provides an additional EU-wide, standardised form of proof that can be automatically scanned via barcode, which can be carried and verified in a data protection compliant manner in paper form or using an app. EU Digital COVID Certificates are accepted as proof in Germany.

Important: If you are planning to travel, please note that the EU Digital COVID Certificate is only valid for 270 days from the date of completion of primary immunisation (generally your second dose of vaccine). This time limit still applies! You must then provide another form of proof, e.g. a yellow WHO vaccination booklet or an NHS COVID pass.

If you have received a third dose of vaccine or a booster vaccination, the 270-day limit does not apply.

Vaccination certificates issued by the NHS and in the Channel Islands are recognised in Germany. There is currently no time limit on these for people travelling to Germany.

What constitutes proof of recovery?

Proof of immunity acquired through previous infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus issued in written or digital form in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish.

The proof must comply with the following criteria  as set out in the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations:

• Type of testing (normally a PCR test) that may be used to demonstrate prior infection,
• The amount of time that must have elapsed since the test demonstrating prior infection or the test certificate needed to end self-isolation following a prior infection,
• The maximum period of time that may have passed since the test performed to demonstrate prior infection.

Please click here for information on current requirements for the recognition of proof of recovery.

EU vaccination certificates are now only valid for entry into EU countries for 9 months (270 days) rather than 12 months from the date of primary immunisation (i.e. second vaccine dose) unless you have had a booster. This applies if you are travelling from the United Kingdom to Germany.

Proof of recovery is only valid if the test was done at least 28 days but no more than 3 months ago.

Public life is Germany is subject to considerable, constantly changing restrictions. You can find the latest regulations here (in German).

New and/or tougher restrictions may be imposed at short notice due to ongoing developments.

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is being more severely affected by COVID-19 again. There are outbreaks of the highly infectious Delta and Omicron variants in all parts of the country. With effect from 20 February 2022, the United Kingdom is no longer classified as an area with a particularly high infection risk.

New and/or tougher restrictions may be imposed at short notice due to ongoing developments.

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have each implemented their own pandemic rules with different sets of regional alert levels (“lockdown” or “tiers” or “protection levels” or “alert levels”).

These alert levels entail different restrictions on public life. You can find detailed information here: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Gibraltar, Guernsey and Alderney, Jersey and the Isle of Man.

Before travelling abroad, please check for possible coronavirus restrictions. You can find detailed information on the website of the British Government.

What should I do if I am ill or suffering from coronavirus symptoms?

Please follow the NHS advice.

• Anyone with a cough and/or high temperature, and/or loss of smell and taste, and/or other symptoms, should self-isolate at home for 10 days and anyone living in the same household should do the same.
• If you require medical advice or treatment, we would ask you to use the NHS 111 Online Coronavirus Service or call the NHS hotline on 111. The hotline is usually very busy. Please expect a long waiting time. The hotline is free of charge and available to all, including tourists and other Visitors.
• If you suspect you may be infected with coronavirus/Covid-19, please do not visit the doctor’s surgery, pharmacy or any other facility without telephoning in advance.

Federal Foreign Office: Information on entry restrictions, testing and quarantine requirements in Germany, transiting through Germany

Federal Ministry of Health: FAQ Registration on entry – Obligation to provide proof – Quarantine on entry

Registration on entry

Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community: Please scroll down to Travel restrictions/ Border controls, I. and IV.

Robert Koch Institut: Information for travellers entering Germany/ Flyer