Travel to Germany during Covid-19: What you need to know before you go

(CNN) — If you’re planning to travel to Germany, here’s what you’ll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The basics

Germany’s border policies have been changing swiftly as the country regularly updates its lists of high and moderate risk destinations. However, on March 3 the high risk list was wiped, meaning there are no destinations now classified as high risk — anywhere.

From June to the end of August, the vaccination entry requirements will be relaxed. This means anyone can enter the country during high season.

What’s on offer

Who can go

Effectively, everyone. From June to the end of August, all entry restrictions have been dropped. Anyone can come into the country other than those destinations designated to have a “variant of concern” — although the listing of those countries is also on hiatus (see below).

From September, the following rules will return:

In principle, residents of EU member states and the Schengen-associated states of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland may enter Germany without restrictions — although if they become classed as high risk, or having a variant of concern, restrictions apply. They must also present either evidence of vaccination or a negative test.

What are the restrictions?

Until the end of August, there are no restrictions, other than for arrivals coming from an area of a variant of concern.

If you have been in an “area of variant of concern,” there is a ban on entering via rail, ship, plane or bus. Essentially, you must drive, and then quarantine for 14 days. This is the only restriction that remain in place between June and September 2022.

From September, the following rules will apply again:

Travel for EU and Schengen-related residents is unrestricted — though you must use your EU Digital Certificate to show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test.

If you have been in a country designated to have a high level of risk within the past 10 days, you must provide a negative test result, and you must travel directly to your destination and quarantine there for 10 days. Those from a high-risk area may end quarantine early if they test negative after five days, while children between 6 and 12 may end quarantine on day 5 without testing. Children younger than 6 are exempt from quarantine. The quarantine requirement is waived upon proof of vaccination or recovery.

The list was last updated March 3, when the high risk list was wiped completely. In other words, there are currently no areas of concern or high risk destinations anywhere on the planet.

If not vaccinated, only those traveling for essential reasons can enter. Unvaccinated children younger than 12 can enter if traveling with a vaccinated parent.

What’s the Covid situation?

As of June 3, there have been 139,313 deaths and nearly 26.5 million cases to date, with over 250,000 in the past week. Over 77{3b930a6ca12a59604e1bbadfc55b7d1b7a0aa8613f1ab9377cace0d5afcb5fb9} of the population is now fully vaccinated, according to John Hopkins University’s Covid-19 tracker.

What can visitors expect

Despite rising infection rates, nearly all Covid-19 restrictions were dropped on March 20 on a national level. However, individual regions and states can still impose their own restrictions, and many have done so.

The national rules are as follows: Masks are no longer required indoors, except for on public transport (including flights to and from Germany, where the masks must be FFP2 grade) and healthcare settings.

You will no longer need to show proof of vaccination to enter shops, hotels, bars and restaurants.

You may only travel on public transport or by air if you are vaccinated, have a certificate of recovery or have been tested. You must also wear an FFP2 mask. Taxis are not included in this rule, and children under six do not have to mask.

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