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With its rich history, colorful architecture, castles, mountains, delicious food and beer, its no wonder why Germany continues to be one of the top destinations for international travelers in the world. 

Germany has opened its doors for tourism and is hoping to revitalize its economy after being shut down due to the pandemic. 

Here are all the COVID-19 entry requirements for Germany that travelers need to know before booking.

*Note: As of November, Germany is currently in a partial lockdown due to a surge in cases. Restrictions may be extended into December.

Old Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Old Town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany

Countries Permitted To Visit Germany For Tourism

Residents of the following countries may enter Germany for tourism:

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Latvia
  • Liechtenstein
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malta
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Thailand
  • United Kingdom
  • Uruguay

Countries NOT listed above are prohibited from entering Germany for tourism.

Important UPDATE: Nov 1

MANY of the above countries now have regions/cities/counties that WILL require a 10-day quarantine upon entering Germany due to a surge in cases.  (See the quarantine section below for more details)

Essential travelers from all other countries may be eligible to enter Germany if they have an imperative need for doing so. 

City hall at the Marienplatz in Munich, Germany

COVID-19 Testing Entry Requirements

Travelers coming from the approved countries will NOT need to present negative test results from a PCR COVID-19 test when entering Germany. 

Amous Neuschwanstein Castle - Fussen, Germany

Quarantine Entry Requirements for Germany 

A 10-day quarantine will apply for travellers arriving from some of the approved nations, or citizens returning from high-risk areas. 

The country list requiring the 10-day quarantine changes constantly, so the German government has created an easy online system to definitely know if you must quarantine upon arrival. 

The Digital Registration Upon Entry system should be used by ALL passengers into Germany to determine if a 10-day quarnatine applies. 

COVID-19 Travel Insurance Entry Requirements 

All incoming travelers should have travel insurance the covers COVID-19 for the duration of their trip to Germany 

COVID-19 Health Requirements While in Germany 

All visitors must follow COVID-19 health requirements while in Germany:

  • Wearing a mask in all indoor public spaces
  • Wearing a mask on public transportation 
  • Social distancing rule of 1.5 meters
Traveler ordering an Uber in Berlin, Germany

COVID-19 Vaccine Entry Requirements 

A vaccine for COVID-19 is not yet available to the public. Germany has not announced any mandates on a proof of vaccine record (POVR) for entry.  

Visa Entry Requirements For Germany During COVID-19

All travelers arriving in Germany will still need to follow German visa requirements. 

180 countries are able to visit Germany for a period of up to 90 days without a visa. Use this government chart to see if your country requires a visa for entry.

Travelers that require a visa must submit an application, together with all necessary documents, in person at the German embassy/consulate in their home country.

Aerial view of Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge

Germany Covid-19 Entry Requirements:

  1. Check if your country is on the approved list to visit Germany 
  2. Check if your country requires a visa to visit Germany
  3. All approved countries will not require prior COVID-19 testing 
  4. Use the Digital Registration for Entry online form/system to determine if you must quarantine for 10-days 
  5. Follow all German health protocols for the duration of your trip.

Read More: 

COVID-19 Entry Requirements By Country: Travelers Guide

Countries In Europe Open For Tourism

All Countries Reopening For Tourism

Travel Insurance That Covers Covid-19

For Breaking Travel Reopening News & Questions, Join Our: Facebook Community

Travel-off-Path-group

Sources: German Federal Foreign Office/German Federal Ministry

Disclaimer: Current Germany travel rules are changing without notice and being updated constantly. We do our best to keep this article up to date with all the latest information, but the decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before traveling.  Travel Off Path does not endorse traveling against government advisories

Article originally published August 21, 2020
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31 Responses

  1. Stacey Fry Reply

    I have a flight in September from turkey to Denver with a layover in Frankfurt, will I be allowed to transit as I’m not entering the country? I nearly got turned back at Munich airport transitting to Greece so I don’t want to have to go through that again .
    Any help would be greatly appreciated

  2. cindy Reply

    hi, im a permanent residence here in canada can i use my US visa to go to Germany?

  3. Bakr Elsabawi Reply

    Hey Kashlee,
    has Spain recently been added to the safe list for Germany?
    because i remember reading last week that Spain, Romania and Bulgaria were on the list of countries that need to present a negative covid test upon arrival. is that still the case?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hello Bakr, As far as I know, yes. But this could change all the time.
      At the bottom of this article we source 2 government sites, you can always go to them directly to check on this as well.
      I had heard that Germany told its citizens to avoid all non-essential travel TO spain, but as far as I know, there is no test needed. Of course, testing on arrival might happen.

  4. Graeme Reply

    Can you comment on the omission of Greece from the list of countries that can enter Germany? From what I have found there are no restrictions on entry into Germany from Greece as it is not yet defined as a “risk area” by The Koch Institute, and is a part of the EU.

  5. Liz Miller Reply

    Hi Kashlee- I am planning to go to Germany for 3 months in October after quarantining 14 days in the U.K. (or another approved country). Since regulations are constantly changing, I was hoping to email German Border Control before I leave. Do you have any contact information for German Border Control?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hi liz, at the bottom of this article there are links to Germany’s government sites that might have contact info.
      I have border police in Frankfurt’s email on this article as well (Click HERE to read)
      Good luck!

  7. Louis Reply

    Hi Kashlee, you wrote that “Travelers that have resided in the following countries for the last 14 days may enter Germany for tourism”. However, in the official German Website, it only mentioned the word “residents”. Does “residents” usually mean holder of certain type of residence permit? Can you clarify the information regarding the entry based on 14 days of stay in the list of approved countries?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hi Louis! I can’t clarify anything at the moment 😉
      The rules and terminology change day-to-day, and also seem to depend on what government site they are on. It’s all kind of a mess globally.

      Most EU nations are residency. However, anything I have here was either quoted to me by government or taken from a government source, but they could have changed their terminology. (I’m actually going to change the tezxt) I would go on residency, meaning a legal permanent resident.

  8. Liz Reply

    I am a US passport holder. I have contacted the German Border Police at Frankfurt. They said that if you have resided in an approved country for 15 days, your visa is valine for Germany, and you can present documents proving where you’ve been the last 15 days, you can enter. They also said that the situation is always changing. One of my German friends recommended not to enter the country in Munich because authorities are stricter in Bavaria.

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      Hi Liz, thanks for the update.
      Yes, they are right when they say its always changing. My fear is that what they might tell you today, they might retract tomorrow.
      if you do attempt, please come back and let us know what happens!

  9. Liz Reply

    I will do! I’m planning on the end of October, and I will give you an update closer to my departure.

  10. John Reply

    GUTEN Auben! Traveling to Frankfort from Marseille, France. I have been in Marseille since August 18, 2020.i will be arriving into Frankfort on today. I will stay in Frankforf for two days. I will then travel to Stuggart. I took a Covid 19 test on Sept 22, 2020.The results were negative.

  11. BA Reply

    I’m a USA Citizen who has been living in the UK for 2 years (have residence card). Can I still visit Germany from the UK. I’ll be coming from London but I’ll have returned from the USA 10 days prior to. This is for a medical appointment (for a followup from an appt in January 2020).

    Do you see issues with this? I’m going to call them anyway but just curious what the current rules say.

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      If you had not taken a recent trip to the USA, I would have said YES.
      However, Germany says any traveler has to be coming from the ‘safe’ country, and has remained there the past 14 days.
      Because of this, there may be a quarantine measure put on you, but I cannot be sure

  12. Sarah Reply

    How is the EU ban on Canadian travellers affecting those Canadians coming n leaving Germany

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      We don’t know yet.
      We have reached out to German authorities to see if they will be banning Canadians or not.
      It won’t ever effect you leaving the country though

  13. Alex Reply

    Hi

    I will do a layover in Germany on my way to Romania,coming from Iceland
    Can i do that,or do i need to quarantine in Germany even if i am not leaving the airport.I will just change the flight.
    Thank you

  14. Stan Brown Reply

    I am a US Citizen and had worked in Germany on a military base (SOFA) from 2011-2019. I left the end of January 2020 with the intention returning in 91 days and form a company with a German National. Due to COVID that didn’t happen but it appears that the necessary paperwork will be completed shortly to create the company and I will be named a partner with a work permit. Would that allow me to enter Germany and start work after a negative test has been received?

    • Kashlee Kucheran

      I’m sorry I don’t have such a specific answer for you, as we follow mainly tourism rules. For work permits, etc, it’s best to contact the consulate to get the proper guidance

  15. Tzouliano Pirko Reply

    Hello, my mum and brother are transiting through Frankfurt tomorrow morning, heading to Paris. They will be flying from Greece. What forms do they need to have with them and surely they don’t have to quarantine for 10 days if they are simply waiting at the airport for the next flight?

    Many thanks in advance.

  16. Jim Reply

    Does US citizen need PCR negative test if they have transit flight in Germany?

  17. Sara Reply

    Does US passport need PCR negative test if they have transit flight in Germany !
    Any information please

  18. Matt Reply

    Does a Canadian need to have a negative COVID test to transit through Frankfurt to Bulgaria?

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