Which rules apply to fully vaccinated people?

type: Frequently asked

People who are fully vaccinated with vaccines listed in section 2 no. 10 of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations (Coronavirus-Einreiseverordnung, CoronaEinreiseV) can enter Germany from outside the EU (with the exception of China, which does not offer reciprocal entry). Such travellers can also enter Germany for the purpose of visits or tourism. Fully vaccinated individuals as defined above can apply for visas at a German mission abroad if required. 

However, this does not apply to entry to Germany from countries that are classified as virus variant areas. Travel to Germany from these areas continues to be prohibited, with a few exceptions. 

Travellers who are fully vaccinated with one or more vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or equivalents of these vaccines used in non-EU countries or with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) and listed in section 2 no. 10 (b) of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations may enter Germany.

Proof of vaccination

To enter Germany, all travellers must present proof of vaccination within the meaning of section 2 no. 10 of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations that meets the following requirements in full:

It must be an EU Digital COVID Certificate or comparable proof of vaccination in digital or paper form in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish. Photographs of documents in paper form will not be accepted as digital proof. Proof in digital form needs to have been issued electronically by the authorised issuer and transmitted electronically to the authorised holder.

Proof of vaccination must contain the following information:

  1. the personal details of the vaccinated person (at least their given name and family name and the date of birth or the number of the passport or other official photo ID to be presented upon inspection),
  2. the date/s of vaccination and number of vaccination doses,
  3. the name/s of the vaccine,
  4. the name of the disease vaccinated against, and
  5. distinctive features which show the identity of the person or institution responsible for administering the vaccination or issuing the certificate (e.g. an official logo or the name of the issuer).

Furthermore, the vaccination itself must meet certain requirements in order to provide complete immunisation.

Complete immunisation according to section 2 no. 10 (a) of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations in conjunction with section 22a (1) of the Protection against Infection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG) (EMA-approved vaccines):

  1. until 30 September 2022: two vaccination doses;
  2. until 30 September 2022: one vaccination dose, provided that
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive antibody test carried out prior to the vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the vaccination; or
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out prior to the vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the vaccination; or
  • the person concerned was infected with the coronavirus after the vaccination and can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out after receiving the vaccination and at least 28 days prior to travel;
  1. as of 1 October 2022: three vaccination doses; the last dose must have been administered at least three months after the second dose;
  2. as of 1 October 2022: two vaccination doses, provided that
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive antibody test carried out prior to the first vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the first vaccination dose; or
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out prior to the second vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the second vaccination dose; or
  • the person concerned was infected with the coronavirus after the second vaccination and can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out after receiving the second vaccination dose and at least 28 days prior to travel.

 

Complete immunisation according to section 2 no. 10 (b) of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations (WHO-approved vaccines):

  1. two vaccination doses, and no more than 270 days have elapsed since the last dose (recently vaccinated); or
  2. three vaccination doses with a vaccine listed in section 2 no. 10 (b) of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations; or
  3. two vaccination doses with a vaccine listed in section 2 no. 10 (b) of the Ordinance on Coronavirus Entry Regulations, provided that
  • the person concerned has had a third vaccination with a vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency or an equivalent of EMA-approved vaccines used in non-EU countries; or
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive antibody test carried out prior to the first vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the first vaccination dose, followed by two vaccination doses; or
  • the person concerned can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out prior to the second vaccination, showing that they were infected with the coronavirus before receiving the second vaccination dose; or
  • the person concerned was infected with the coronavirus after the second vaccination and can provide proof of a positive nucleic acid test (e.g. PCR test) carried out after receiving the second vaccination dose and at least 28 days prior to travel.

Before all planned travel, you should check whether your proof of vaccination meets the requirements above.

Children under the age of 12 who are not yet vaccinated can enter the country with proof of a negative test result (PCR test or antigen test) when accompanied by at least one fully vaccinated parent. Children under the age of six do not require proof of a negative test result.