Fully vaccinated Americans can now travel to Germany without having to take a Covid test, register their information before departure, or undergo quarantine.
Joining a growing list of European nations – that no longer require citizens from the United States to take a Covid test before, or on arrival – Germany has also removed the U.S. from their list of ‘high risk’ countries.
What does this now mean for Americans traveling to Germany?
Basically, it now means that travelers from the U.S. are not required to complete the pre-departure digital registration – that they were previously instructed to do, with the U.S. having been considered a ‘high risk’ nation for the last few months. Joining visitors from the United Kingdom – which has also been taken off the list – Americans that have been fully vaccinated will also now be exempt from any form of quarantine upon arrival.
And, Germany will be hoping that the new rule change – which came into effect from 20 February – will attract many American travelers, with major tourist companies predicting a busy summer of travel to the country.
However, anyone who has visited a country that is on Germany’s list of high risk nations – in the previous 10 days before their planned arrival in Germany – will still be required to follow additional entry requirements.
This applies to everyone – whether fully vaccinated or not. Germany’s list of international risk areas – including high risk countries – has recently been updated.
Is your vaccine certificate valid for entry to Germany?
Following guidance – issued by the European Union – Germany will only recognise an individual being fully vaccinated if they have received their primary vaccination in the previous 270 days (9 months) before arriving into the country.
Can you still travel to Germany without being fully vaccinated?
Unfortunately, at this time travelers that are unvaccinated are unable to visit Germany for tourism purposes.
Instead, you will need to have an ‘essential’ purpose for your visit, or have German citizenship or residence, serve in an important role, or have an ‘urgent’ reason for traveling to the country. Children under 5 years – as well as those aged 6 to 11, who are unvaccinated – are able to enter Germany if they are accompanied by a parent who has received their full vaccination against Covid-19.
For all unvaccinated travelers, aged 6 and above – who are allowed to enter the country – a negative Covid-PCR or rapid antigen test result is required by the German authorities, which must have been taken within the last 48 hours before departure. Unvaccinated individuals will also be required to undergo a ten-day quarantine upon arrival into Germany, which may be shortened to five days using the country’s ‘test and release’ programme.
Further relaxation of Covid-19 rules expected in March
With the above news being welcomed by those who are looking to once again explore the country of poets and thinkers, there is hope that Germany will lift most of their Covid restrictions as early as next month (March).
Just last week (16 Feb) the German authorities met to discuss the nation’s Covid restrictions – with a decision being made to ease these in three stages.
The country is hopeful that by later next month (March) all of the “more profound protective measures” – which includes the requirement for individuals to work from home – will be lifted.
This is sure to be ‘music to the ears’ of travel – and tour – companies in the country, as Germany once again looks to place itself well and truly back on the list of ‘the’ countries to visit in 2022.
And, there is no doubt that with such mesmerizing and multicultural cities, such as Berlin – offering so much for travelers – Germany will soon be seeing the high number of tourists that has made them one of the most popular European tourist destinations.
