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Information on the designation of international risk areas as of 23 December 2021

Please note: The list on the classification of risk areas is effective as of Saturday, 25 December 2021 at 0:00 a.m.. The classifications of the current list of areas of variants of concern apply until 3 January 2022 at 0:00 a.m. until further notice (and are subject to a possible extension).

The classification of risk areas can change at short term. Please check immediately before departure whether the countries in which you have stayed in the last 10 days before entering Germany are classified as risk areas.

The Federal Ministry of Health points out the following information for travellers entering Germany from areas of variants of concern: Before departure, please be prepared for your carrier (e.g. airline) to require from you an up-to-date PCR test if you spent time in an area of variants of concern at any time in the ten days prior to entry. After your arrival, further PCR testing may be ordered by the health authorities at the airport or at the place of isolation/quarantine. Please be aware of the 14-day quarantine requirement, which also applies to vaccinated and recovered individuals. The duration of the 14-day quarantine may not be shortened. For more detail please click this link.

Mandatory testing or proof of immunity from COVID-19 into Germany

As of 23 December 2021, every person over the age of six is obliged to carry proof of their COVID‑19 status when entering Germany. Persons over the age of six must therefore have a negative test result or proof of recovery or vaccination when entering Germany. As a rule, COVID‑19 test results (antigen or PCR tests) must not be more than 48 hours old at the time of the (planned) entry. However, if entering Germany with a carrier (e.g. an airline), PCR tests may be taken a maximum of 48 hours before the (scheduled) start of the journey (e.g. departure time). But antigen tests must not be taken more than 48 hours before the (scheduled) time of arrival in Germany even if travellers are being transported by a carrier.

Travellers who are only transferring at an airport in Germany are also required to present proof of their COVID‑19 status. This applies both to non-Schengen transit from or to third countries outside the EU and to transit from or to Schengen states.

The negative test result, proof of recovery or proof of vaccination must be shown to the carrier for examination prior to departure. Only in the case of cross-border rail travel or cross-border short sea transport may the relevant documentation be presented during transit. Proof must also be shown to the German border authorities upon entry if requested.

Travellers entering Germany from areas of variant of concern must present a negative PCR test result: in this case a rapid antigen test or proof of recovery or vaccination is not sufficient. If using a carrier to enter Germany, the PCR test result must be less than 48 hours old at the time of the (scheduled) start of the journey. Furthermore, the German authorities may require travellers to take additional PCR tests after entering the Federal Republic of Germany, in particular at their point of arrival (e.g. at the airport).

Requirements for tests and proof of vaccination or recovery

In principle, the following forms of proof are accepted:

Proof of a negative test result:

A negative test result obtained using nucleic acid amplification technology (e.g. PCR, PoC- PCR) in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. The test must have been carried out no more than 72 hours prior to entry (time of swabbing).

Alternatively, a negative antigen rapid test result in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Following a stay in a high-risk area, the test must have been carried out no more than 48 hours prior to entry. Following a stay in an area of variant of concern, the test must have been carried out no more than 24 hours prior to entry.

Details on the recognition of tests are provided on the website of the Robert Koch Institute.

Proof of vaccination:

Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish in digital or paper form (e.g. EU Digital COVID certificate; WHO vaccination booklet). Note that a photo of a proof in paper form is not sufficient.

The vaccine used must be one of those listed on the website of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. A period of at least 14 days must have elapsed since receiving the last vaccine dose. For persons who recovered from an infection (see below) one dose of the vaccine is sufficient and the 14-day waiting period does not apply.

The proof of vaccination must contain:

- personal data of the person vaccinated (at leat surname, first name(s) and birth date or number of passport / ID

- date and number of vaccinations

- name of the vaccine used.,

- name of the illness against which the person was vaccinated.

- characteristics that allow to identify the person of institution that was responsible for the vaccination or the issuance of the certificate, such as an official seal Symbol or name.
Info

Proof of recovery:

A positive PCR test result carried out at least 28 days but no more than six months previously.

For more information please refer to Embassy of Germany, Malaysia website.