Update of November 26, 2020 – The German government extended, and in some cases even tightened, anticovid restrictions. The limited lockdown will generally apply until the end of 2020, but there are exceptions during the holiday season. For more information, see Germany: Restrictions extended and tightened. Exceptions during the holiday season
Do I have to register my entry into Germany on the portal www.einreiseanmeldung.de ?
Anyone entering Germany who has stayed in a high-risk area 10 days prior to entering Germany should report their arrival electronically at www.einreiseanmeldung.de .
The electronic registration of travellers replaces paper travellers’ location cards and the obligation to report to the competent health authority upon arrival in Germany. The data provided during registration will be forwarded to the appropriate health authority, which will oversee compliance with quarantine regulations. Confirmation of electronic registration may be requested by the carrier and will be required by a border officer in the event of an inspection.
Only in the event of technical problems, paper travel location cards may be used, which must be handed over at the border control or sent directly upon arrival in Germany to the competent health authority.
More information as well as paper travel registration forms in English and German can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health .
The obligation to register travellers electronically follows an order of the Federal Minister of Health . Electronic registration of travellers does not apply to people who pass through Germany in transit, travel within the border traffic for up to 24 hours. and people professionally transporting people, goods or goods (i.e professional drivers and employees of transport companies).
In case of doubt as to whether an electronic travel application should be made, please contact the competent health authority .
I live in a high-risk area and work in Germany. Am I quarantined?
The quarantine under the new rules does not apply when you travel to Germany every day (stay in Germany for up to 24 hours as part of border traffic) or when you travel to Germany regularly (at least once a week). If you travel once a week, ask your employer or client for a relevant certificate.
Please note that the regulations of the individual federal states on quarantine are legally binding and that there may still be differences from the general exception groups . The Länder can specify in their regulations which border countries are exempted for entries up to 24 hours. If in doubt, please contact your health authority .
I have to come to Germany on business, e.g. for three days. Am I quarantined?
The quarantine under the new rules does not apply if you come for urgent work purposes, which cannot be postponed to less than 5 days. You should have with you a certificate from your employer or client and a negative test result (PCR) in English, German or French taken 48 hours before entry. You should report a negative test result to the appropriate health authority.
Please note that the regulations of the individual federal states on quarantine are legally binding and that there may still be differences from the general exception groups . The Länder may specify in their ordinances whether such a test is necessary, and so, for example, Brandenburg and Saxony do not require a negative test result in the event of urgent business or training entry. In Saxony, however, such a stay can last up to 72 hours. If in doubt, please contact your health authority .
IMPORTANT: In BERLIN, a regulation has entered into force that exempts from quarantine persons entering the high-risk area for family visits (first – father, mother, children and second degree – brother, sister), life partners who do not belong to the same household or to care for people under guardianship for a period of up to 72 hours. (so far up to 24 hours)
I live in a high-risk area. I want to come to Germany to visit my family. Am I quarantined?
The quarantine according to the new rules does not apply to people who enter Germany to visit family members (first degree), visit life partners who do not belong to the same household, or enter to look after people under guardianship when their stay does not exceed 72 hours.
If you arrive longer than 72 hours, a negative coronavirus test (PCR) test result in English, German or French may be required 48 hours prior to entering Germany to be released from quarantine. You should report a negative test result to the appropriate health authority.
Please note that the regulations of the individual federal states on quarantine are legally binding and that there may still be differences from the general exception groups . If in doubt, please contact your health authority .
I live in Germany. I want to go to a high-risk area to visit my immediate family. Am I quarantined after returning to Germany?
The quarantine according to the new rules does not apply to people who visit their closest (first degree) family, life partners who do not belong to the same household, or travel to care for people under guardianship. However, in this case, your stay in the risk area must not exceed 72 hours.
It should be remembered that the regulations of individual Länder on quarantine are legally binding and some Länder only release people visiting their immediate family in Germany from quarantine. Contact your health authority in Germany to see if you will be quarantined upon your return.
I live in a high-risk area. I am a professional driver and I want to go to Germany. Do I have to go to quarantine after entering Germany?
The quarantine according to the new rules does not apply if you follow the appropriate hygiene standards and sanitary regime and enter Germany for less than 72 hours. You do not need to have a negative test result before entering.
Is it possible to obtain an exemption from the quarantine obligation after entering Germany from a high-risk area?
If you are not subject to any of the groups excluded from the quarantine obligation according to the relevant federal state regulations and you can only obtain such a waiver from the competent health authority for your place of stay in Germany.
How to understand the compliance with appropriate hygiene standards and sanitary regime?
You can obtain detailed information on the appropriate hygiene standards and sanitary regime from the appropriate health authority .
I come to Germany from a high-risk area. Will I be shown a place where I should be quarantined?
It is a person entering Germany from a high-risk area who is obliged to secure a proper place for quarantine. If you plan to quarantine in a hotel or other accommodation, please arrange it in advance with the accommodation.
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 while in quarantine, you are required to report to the health authority and take a test. IMPORTANT! From 2 to 30 November, the hotels will not accept tourists.
How can I prove that I was in the area of increased risk?
A boarding pass, a train or bus ticket, or a confirmation of an overnight stay at a hotel in a high-risk area may be used as confirmation of a trip in a high-risk area.
If you are travelling in your own car, a declaration that you came from a high-risk area is often enough.
After coming to Germany, I noticed symptoms of COVID-19. What should I do?
Contact your GP, the medical helpline on 116 117, or the competent health authority. In this case, the health authority may order a test and extend the quarantine.
My test was positive. How long do I have to stay in quarantine?
The laboratory is required to report a positive test result to the appropriate health authority. Follow the recommendations of the health authority during quarantine. In such a case, quarantine may last up to 10 days. Note that the health authority may request you to repeat the test or extend the quarantine.
After entering Germany from a high-risk area, I did not report my arrival to the health office, even though I do not belong to the group of people who are not subject to the quarantine obligation. Will I be punished?
Violation of the quarantine rules can carry an administrative penalty of up to € 25,000.
I will be traveling through Germany (e.g. by car from the Netherlands to Poland, I land from Spain at a German airport and continue by bus to Poland). Am I quarantined in Germany?
No. In all federal states, people travelling in transit (transit) are exempt from the obligation to perform the test and the related quarantine. The transit journey should take place without unnecessary stops and overnight stays. In the case of a transit journey, there is no obligation to electronically register the journey.
Where can I get more information on Mandatory Testing and Quarantine?
For exact information on the rules and conditions of quarantine, contact your health authority .
Source: The website of the Polish Embassy in Berlin, PolskiObserwator.de