After opening to all U.S. travelers—regardless of vaccination status—on June 20, Germany added the United States to its list of high-risk areas on August 15, which changes the requirements for U.S. travelers, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.
According to the German government, those who have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to arrival in Germany “may enter Germany for any travel purpose” and from any country, including those countries considered high-risk such as the United States. The proof of vaccination must be a physical copy. (A digital photo of a card will not be accepted.) Unvaccinated children under 12 can enter Germany if they are traveling with at least one fully vaccinated parent.
Unvaccinated travelers age 12 and older from the U.S. will need to provide proof of recovery from COVID; a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to entering Germany; or a negative rapid antigen test taken no more than 48 hours prior to entry. After arrival, they will need to quarantine for up to 10 days—the quarantine can be shortened to 5 days if at that time proof of a negative COVID test result can be provided.
Travelers from the U.S. must fill out a digital registration form before entering Germany. The form will be checked by airlines and border control.
In the past month, Germany has reported 83,244 new COVID cases, a decline from its record high of 690,608 in December 2020, per Johns Hopkins University. Thus far, the country has fully vaccinated 57 percent of its population. The United States, however, is in the midst of a surge in cases fueled by the now-dominant Delta variant.
This story was originally published on June 18, 2021, and has been updated to include current information.
