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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 12/17/2020
Country-Specific Information:
- The Department of State has issued a Level 3 – Reconsider Travel Advisory advising U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Germany due to COVID-19.
- The German CDC-equivalent, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), provides daily updates in German and English on the number reported cases, fatalities, and recoveries.
- Starting December 16, 2020, Germany will be in full lockdown until January 10, 2021. Each federal state may have additional restrictions; please see individual state websites (in German) for specific details. At a minimum:
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- Travel within Germany should be restricted to essential travel only, and overnight hotel stays for tourists will not be allowed.
- Gatherings are restricted to two households, with a maximum of 5 people. Children under 14 are not included in this count.
- For Christmas, namely between December 24, 2020 and December 26, 2020, private gatherings can include 4 other immediate family members (not including children under 14), even if this consists of more than 2 households and/or more than 5 adults total. Some states may have other restrictions; please see individual state websites for details (in German).
- There is a ban on gatherings for New Year’s Eve. Fireworks are not permitted.
- All retail except for essential goods such as groceries will be closed.
- Restaurants and bars will be closed except for take-out. Alcohol consumption in public spaces is forbidden.
- Recreation and sports facilities (including gyms and swimming pools), cultural/entertainment venues (including theaters and concerts halls), and personal care services (such as hair salons, massages, nail salons, etc.) will be closed.
- Schools and Kitas (daycares) will be closed except for emergency cases.
- Religious services are allowed with restrictions.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? No (with a few exceptions, see below)
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- Germany will currently only allow EU citizens, EU residents, and residents of certain other specific countries to enter. The United States is not one of those countries. U.S. citizens traveling to Germany from the United States will not be permitted to enter unless they meet one of only a few narrow exceptions. If you do not meet one of these exceptions but believe your circumstances merit entry to Germany, or if you need clarification, you should contact the German Embassy in Washington D.C. regarding entry permission. The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Germany cannot give you permission to enter Germany.
- Persons entering Germany who have spent time in an RKI-designated risk area in the 10 days prior to entry are required to submit a digital registration on entry.
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No, see below
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? YES
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? YES, in certain states. Please see individual state websites (in German) for specific details.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No. However, travel within Germany is strongly discouraged, and no overnight hotel stay for tourists will be allowed.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? YES
- Each federal state within Germany sets its own quarantine regulations. Travelers should check the specific quarantine requirements and possible exemptions for their intended destination within Germany. In general, a person arriving from another country who has spent time in the last 10 days in a country the RKI defines as a risk area or who has been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19 must self-quarantine for 10 days. See this link for the most current information.
- In most states, quarantine can be ended by a negative molecular biological (also called a genetic, RNA, or PCR) COVID-19 test conducted, at the earliest, 5 days after arrival. Some states will exempt arriving travelers from the self-quarantine if they can show a negative molecular biological COVID-19 test from an accredited lab conducted in the 48 hours prior to their entry. Please note that antibody tests are NOT accepted by German authorities at this time to evidence a traveler is negative for COVID-19.
- If you are subject to a quarantine requirement and have not submitted the digital registration on entry, you must register with the local health authority for the place you will be staying. You can look up the local health authority by German zip code (Postleitzahl or PLZ) here.
COVID-19 Testing:
- You can find the most up-to-date information on COVID testing in Germany through the German Ministry of Health.
- U.S. citizens in Germany can obtain a COVID-19 test by calling 116 117 to be connected to the local health authorities who will explain testing options.
- Travelers arriving from designated risk countries or regions after September 15, 2020, are offered a free test within 10 days of arrival.
- The cost of a test for those who do not qualify for a free test (testing later than 10 days after arrival) or who are not covered by insurance is 59 Euros.
COVID-19 Vaccines:
- The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow German developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? YES
- Is public transportation operating? YES
- Masks are required on all public transportation and no passengers may sit in the front seat of taxis.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- According to the Ministry of Health, violations of quarantine may be prosecuted as an administrative offense, punishable with a fine of up to 25,000 Euros.
Consular Operations:
- The U.S. Embassy in Berlin and the Consulates in Frankfurt and Munich are offering emergency appointments only for passport and citizenship services. Please be aware that emergency appointment availability is extremely limited. See this website for more information.
- The U.S. Embassy in Berlin and the Consulates in Frankfurt and Munich are currently providing only emergency visa services. See this website for more information.
Local Resources:
- The German Health Ministry posts up-to-date information in English about COVID-19 in Germany at: https://www.zusammengegencorona.de/en/ (“Together Against Corona”)
- Additional information in German can be found at Robert Koch Institute.
Other links:
- COVID-19 crisis page on travel.state.gov
- CDC page on COVID-19
- Country Information – Germany
- Re-open EU – Country-Specific EU Travel Information
- U.S. State Department Office of Overseas Citizen Services: 888-407-4747 or 1-202-501-4444
