Entry to Germany in December 2021: There are very strict restrictions on the border and in Germany making it hard for travellers from some countries to gain entry into Germany. Some are advised to carry with them a covid certificate, while for others, this will not be approved.
Access to hotels, restaurants, cultural facilities and other places regarded as public spaces throughout the country will be restricted. Here’s what we know about entry into Germany:
- What restrictions apply in DECEMBER 2021 to people travelling to Germany from African Countries
- What restrictions apply to people travelling to Germany from countries recognised as HIGH RISK AREAS (this list currently includes many European Union countries).
- From which countries is it currently impossible to enter Germany for tourism purposes (VIRUS MUTATION AREAS).
- The 3G rule and the 2G rule – what do these restrictions mean in Germany and in what facilities.
- What kind of covid certificate you need to have to use buses, trams and trains in Germany.
Entry into Germany from AFRICAN countries in December 2021
Friday, November 26, Germany added some more African states to their list of high-risk countries due to the onset of the new variant, Omicron.
The Federal government agency and RKI announced that the eight countries were added to the virus variant list after South African scientists announced they had detected a new, more dangerous virus variant.
- Gabon
- Botswana
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- South Africa, and
- Zimbabwe
READ ALSO: COVID-19: South Africa’s President Ramaphosa calls for lifting of Omicron travel bans
Entry and transit through Germany is only possible with a negative test result, a certificate of vaccination against covid-19 or a person being a convalescent.
The following are exempt from the tests:
- children up to 12 years of age;
- vaccinated persons (14 days after administration of the last dose of vaccine authorized in the EU);
- convalescents (28 days-6 months after illness);
- persons professionally transporting persons or goods;
- cross-border workers;
- persons crossing the border as part of local border traffic up to 24 hours.
How do I transit through Germany?
In transit (i.e. traveling through Germany  to another country), the  following are exempt from the obligation to take a test:
- children up to 12 years of age;
- vaccinated persons (14 days after administration of the last dose of vaccine authorized in the EU);
- convalescents (28 days-6 months after illness);
- persons professionally transporting persons or goods;
- people transferring at the German airport for the next flight.
Transit should take place without unnecessary stops and overnight stays.
Test requirements:
Rapid antigen tests can be performed at the earliest 48 hours prior to border crossing. It is important to note that the time is counted from the time the sample was taken, not from the receipt of the results.
The test results must be available in German, English, French, Spanish or Italian.
Requirements for vaccination certificates and being a healed:
The EU COVID-19 Certificate may serve as confirmation of being a vaccinated or recovered person.
Sanitary controls at the border with Germany
Health checks at the border with Germany are random.
Entering Germany from a high risk area (Hochrisikogebiet):
German authorities have recently identified a number of EU countries as high-risk area of Sars-CoV-2 infection. These people are subject to a 10-day quarantine when entering the country.
Passengers who have previously stayed in the risk zone are required to complete the digital entry registration form at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de and to have the confirmation received upon entry. The confirmation is checked by the carrier and, if necessary, also by the federal police as part of the border guard’s duties.
Persons returning from these countries to Germany must undergo a mandatory 10-day quarantine. After 5 days, however, they will be automatically released from further quarantine. People who have been vaccinated or who are convalescent after returning to Germany from these countries are released from quarantine.
Entry from the mutation area (Virusvariantengebiet)
It is not possible to enter Germany from the mutation zone for tourist purposes. As a rule, travel from these areas is only allowed for German citizens and people residing in Germany (with a certificate of residence from Germany Meldebescheinigung).
All persons entering the mutation area must have a test result at the earliest 24 hours before entering Germany (PCR, LAMP, TMA 72h tests) and must go through a 14-day quarantine. It is not possible to shorten the quarantine. There is no quarantine release for vaccinated and convalescent people.
What kind of covid certificate do you need to have to use buses, trams and trains in Germany?
ONLY people who have been vaccinated against Covid-19, convalescents or tested negative (3G rule) can use public transport in Germany. Random checks are carried out on buses, trams and trains throughout the country.
Passengers caught travelling without the required covid certificate will have to end their journey at the next stop. They must also take into account a fine, which can be up to 2,500 euros!
Source: bundesgesundheitsministerium.de