If the 7-day incidence is less than 100, the rules take effect as set out by the federal states in their respective coronavirus control regulations. Rules may therefore vary depending on the incidence and the federal state. Whatever the reason is for your trip, you should consult the information published by the relevant federal state, before you travel. This will tell you what the conditions for travel are, what testing regime is in place, and what evidence you will be required to present.

The Federal Foreign Office website offers up-to-date travel and safety advice for all countries. The travel app Sicher Reisen also provides up-to-date information on travel destinations. You can also check the information posted by the EU Commission on the Re-open Europe website to see what COVID-19 rules apply when you are travelling within the EU.

Travel warnings, testing and quarantine regulations, and the evidence you will have to provide vary depending on whether the area you are travelling to is classed as a risk area, a high incidence area or an area of variant of concern. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) publishes an up-to-date list of the countries classed as risk areas, high incidence areas and areas of variants of concern. Given the dynamics of the pandemic, classifications can change at short notice.

A travel warning for non-essential tourist travel applies to all countries classified by the Federal Government as high incidence areas or as virus variant areas. In the case of countries classified as risk areas – but not as high incidence or as virus variant areas – non-essential tourist travel is discouraged unless more rigorous safety-related recommendations apply. 

After a trip abroad – what do I need to know when re-entering Germany?

The provisions set out in the COVID-19 immigration regulations apply. They came into effect on 13 May 2021 and introduced uniform nationwide registration, testing and quarantine regulations with regard to entry into Germany, as well as the evidence that you will need to present. The transport ban from variant of concern areas was also incorporated in the regulations.

The regulations aim to reduce as far as possible the risk of infections being brought into Germany from other countries, especially variants of concern. For this reason, testing will remain mandatory for air travel. Evidence that you have vaccination protection or that you have recovered from COVID-19 will be accepted as equivalent to a negative test result. Anybody failing to provide the appropriate evidence to the carrier before flying and who is not covered by an exemption may not be transported.

For further information, see the FAQ on immigration regulations published by the Federal Ministry of Health.

The following applies to travellers who have been in a risk area within the ten days prior to travelling to Germany: 

Before entering Germany, all travellers must register electronically using the digital immigration registration system.

All travellers must quarantine immediately on arrival in Germany at their own expense for a period of at least ten days. Anyone who has full vaccination protection, has recovered from COVID-19, or has a negative test result must present the relevant evidence to the responsible authorities. They will then no longer be required to quarantine.

Children aged under 6 are exempted from the testing requirement but not from the quarantine requirement. Quarantine is not required if a negative PCR or antigen test is presented.

The following also applies to all travellers: If you develop symptoms of a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first ten days following your arrival in Germany, you must report this to the responsible authorities. This will help us discover new variants.

Turkey and Morocco are currently among those countries that have been designated as risk areas. For up-to-date information on the epidemiological situation in your destination country, see the Foreign Office website or this list published by the RKI.

Classification as a risk area is decided jointly by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Foreign Office and the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. First criterion: the 7-day incidence is above 50 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The second step assesses additional criteria (including test rates, test positivity and the reliability of the information) to ascertain whether the regional risk of infection is considered to be higher or lower.

The following applies to travellers who have been in a high incidence area within the ten days prior to travelling to Germany: 

Before entering Germany, all travellers must register electronically using the digital immigration registration system. In addition, a current negative test result (PCR test – maximum 72 hours, or antigen test – maximum 48 hours) is required upon entry, unless the traveller has recovered from COVID-19 or has been vaccinated.

All travellers must quarantine immediately on arrival in Germany at their own expense for a period of at least ten days. Anyone who has full vaccination protection or has recovered from COVID-19 must present the relevant evidence to the responsible authorities. They will then no longer be required to quarantine. 

The following applies to all others: quarantine can be ended prematurely no sooner than after the fifth day by means of a negative test.

Children aged under 6 are exempted from the testing requirement but not from the quarantine requirement. Quarantine can be discontinued on presentation of a negative PCR or antigen test no earlier than on the fifth day.

Anyone who develops symptoms of a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first ten days following arrival in Germany must report this to the responsible authorities. This will help us discover new variants.

The UK and Portugal are currently among those countries that have been designated as high incidence areas. For up-to-date information on the epidemiological situation in your destination country, see the Foreign Office website or this list published by the RKI.

The following applies to travellers who have been in a virus variant area within the ten days prior to travelling to Germany:

Before entering Germany, all travellers must register electronically using the digital immigration registration system. In addition, a current negative test result (PCR test – maximum 72 hours, or antigen test – maximum 48 hours) is required upon entry, unless the traveller has recovered from COVID-19 or has been vaccinated.

Everyone – including those who have recovered or been vaccinated – must observe a strict 14-day quarantine at their own expense; in view of the particular risk posed by virus variants, there is no option here to present a negative test in order to avoid the quarantine requirement. 

Brazil and South Africa are currently among those countries that have been designated as virus variant areas. For up-to-date information on the epidemiological situation in your destination country, see the Foreign Office website or this list published by the RKI. For other important information on travel restrictions and exceptions to transport bans from virus variant areas, see the Federal Ministry of Health website.

Anyone who goes on holiday to a region that was already classified as being at risk (risk area, high incidence area or virus variant area) prior to the trip is not entitled to remuneration or compensation for the period spent in quarantine on their return. 

The situation is different if you are returning from an area that was not previously classified as a risk area. Anyone who has to go into quarantine in this case – for example due to an infection – is entitled to receive remuneration from their employer equal to their net pay for the duration of the quarantine, though only for a maximum period of six weeks. The employer can apply for reimbursement of the amount paid. Compensation is the responsibility of the federal state in which the authority (e.g. the health authority) that ordered the quarantine or the ban on employment is located. From the beginning of the seventh week, the state continues to pay benefits at the level of a regular sickness allowance.

Operators of public mobile telephone networks are required to provide accessible information for travellers via text message when they enter the country about the immigration and infection protection regulations applicable in Germany in connection with COVID-19 as well as the measures to be observed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (coronavirus text message).

Insofar as they technically capable of doing so, transport companies are still required to provide travellers with information on the immigration and infection protection regulations and measures that apply in Germany

There is no one clear answer to this question, since situations vary. It will depend on whether you have booked a package deal or are travelling individually, where you are travelling from, whether you are travelling inside Germany or abroad, and what means of transport you use.

If, at the time of travel, or shortly before the planned travel date “unavoidable exceptional circumstances” or “force majeure” applies – i.e. circumstances that could not have been foreseen when you booked the holiday – it ought to be possible to cancel the trip free of charge. Immigration bans imposed because of the pandemic, for instance, or an official travel warning are important indications that consumers have the right to cancel.

In the case of package deals you are then entitled to choose between reimbursement of the cost, issue of a voucher or the option to re-book.

The situation is not so straightforward where travel arrangements have been booked individually. If the accommodation booked cannot be used because of “exceptional circumstances”, for instance, under German law you would be entitled to withdraw from the contract free of charge. The situation might be different if you have booked accommodation directly with the property owner in another country, however, and the legal situation in that country applies.

Even if a trip is planned several weeks or months in advance, consumers cannot automatically expect to be able to cancel free of charge. The pivotal factor in whether or not a planned holiday can be cancelled free of charge is always that the “exceptional circumstances” occur at the time of travel or shortly beforehand. The simple fear of falling ill does not entitle consumers to cancel a trip free of charge. If a tour operator cancels a trip, however, they are required to refund the cost or offer a voucher.

Many travel providers now offer special supplements (flex rates) as well as free re-booking or cancellation options. Be sure to take a close look at the specific terms and conditions when booking. Does the supplement have to be booked in addition or is it included in the cost of the trip? What requirements apply to free cancellation and which of the provider’s trips or products are covered?

In general: If consumers are unable or unwilling to travel, they should contact the hotel or travel company and endeavour to find a solution that is acceptable to both sides. As an alternative to cancelling free of charge, other options would be to accept a voucher or to re-book at a later date. Consumers can also contact the consumer advice centre in their federal state, which will be happy to give them advice on their specific case, whether it involves airlines or tour operators.

The consumer advice centres and the European Consumer Centre Germany have produced a number of different scenarios to help consumers in various cases.

In many EU countries, the general terms and conditions of service and the discretion of the airline determine whether a fight can be cancelled free of charge. Contact your airline and negotiate. Given the current situation, many airlines are accommodating and will offer you the chance to re-book or cancel free of charge.
If your flight is cancelled, the ticket price must be reimbursed or you must be offered an alternative transport to your destination, e.g. a rail ticket, or the option to re-book on a later flight. Your rights are set out in the EU Flight Compensation Regulation.

If consumers experience difficulties having their tickets reimbursed, the consumer advice centres can be of assistance. For further information, consult the website of the European Consumer Centre Germany.

Please contact your provider to find out whether the planned trip can take place and what hygiene measures apply.

If a coach is cancelled, the provisions of the EU Coach and Bus Passenger Rights Regulation apply. The operator is obliged to inform passengers about the situation and status of the trip in good time. Contact the company to find a solution. For further information, consult the website of the European Consumer Centre Germany.

Please check with your organiser. They provide details of the applicable regulations on their websites.

Crises in your destination country are not covered by a travel cancellation insurance policy. Here you are only covered if you fall ill yourself or are unable to travel as a result of certain events (e.g. death of a close relative, unemployment, short-term work). Many insurance companies do not offer cover for damage, sickness or death resulting from pandemics such as COVID-19. If your insurance policy does include coverage for a pandemic, your insurance company may not subsequently exclude this.

Important: be sure to check with your insurance company. Some insurance companies have recently started offering additional coverage for pandemics.

Depending on which border is crossed to or from which neighbouring country and what risk classification is in place, different testing and quarantine regulations apply, and the evidence you will be required to present varies.

You will find more detailed information in the regulations published by the relevant federal states and in the FAQs published by the Federal Ministry of the Interior.