As of 24 October, Germany considers Poland an area of increased epidemiological risk. This means that people arriving in Germany from Poland will have to undergo quarantine or take a coronavirus test. What about transit and cross-border workers?
Rules for people travelling to Germany
- Find out which federal state in Germany you are travelling to. Germany has 16 federal states (Länder), and the authorities of the federal states establish detailed quarantine regulations.
- Read the regulations applicable in your destination state: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Lower Saxony, Hamburg, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thuringia. Below you will also find general information in Polish.
- Check whether you belong to a group of people exempt from the testing and quarantine requirement. Such groups generally include people transporting goods and passengers and cross-border workers. If you work in Germany, ask your employer whether you will be subject to testing and quarantine requirements upon arrival. If in doubt, contact the public health office (German: Gesundheitsamt).
- If you do not belong to one of these groups, you must take a coronavirus test 48 hours before entering Germany or take such a test immediately after entering Germany. You can find a list of testing sites in Germany on the website of the relevant federal state or obtain it from the competent public health office. Testing centres have been established, among other places, at airports and major railway and bus stations. In many cases, the test can be performed by a general practitioner. The place and date of testing after entry may also be specified by the public health office. The result of a test taken before entering Germany must be in English or German. Tests performed in Germany are free of charge. Keep the result for at least 14 days.
- Go to the place where you plan to spend your quarantine. During the journey, avoid unnecessary contact with other people.
- Report your arrival to the competent public health office. You can do this by phone or email. Some public health offices have prepared special forms for this purpose. You must wait at least until you receive a negative test result before being released from quarantine; in some federal states, there is also an obligation to repeat the test after five days. If you have a negative test result obtained before entering Germany, inform the public health office of this in your notification.
- Remember that the public health office decides whether to release you from quarantine. Even if you receive a negative test result, the public health office may order a longer quarantine.
Information on exceptions in individual federal states.
What about transit through Germany?
During transit through Germany, you are not subject to quarantine in Germany and are not required to take a coronavirus test.
Questions and answers
I live in a voivodeship that has NOT yet been designated a high-risk area and plan to travel to Germany before Saturday, 24 October 2020, at 00:00. Do I have to take a test and am I subject to quarantine?
No.
I live in a high-risk area. I want to travel to Germany for tourism (e.g. to visit family) and do not have a negative test result from Poland. Can I do so?
Yes. The testing and quarantine requirement does not mean that people from high-risk areas are prohibited from entering Germany. You must take a test after entering Germany and go into quarantine.
If travelling by train, bus or plane, complete the passenger locator card provided by the carrier and take advantage of the opportunity to be tested immediately after arrival at testing centres (e.g. at airports and major railway or bus stations). Passenger locator cards are passed by carriers to the relevant public health offices. Then report your arrival to the public health office, go into quarantine and wait for the test result. In most federal states, a negative test result means the end of quarantine. In some federal states, the test must be repeated 5–7 days after the first test.
If travelling by car, report your arrival to the public health office and arrange to take a test (e.g. at a local testing centre or medical practice). Go into quarantine and wait for the test result. In most federal states, a negative test result means the end of quarantine. In some federal states, the test must be repeated 5–7 days after the first test.
I live in Germany but plan to travel to a high-risk area. Will I be subject to quarantine when I return to Germany?
Yes. The testing and quarantine requirement applies from the time the given territory is declared a high-risk area. In some federal states, people travelling to high-risk areas for business purposes are exempt from testing and quarantine upon their return. Contact the public health office responsible for your place of residence in Germany.
I live in a high-risk area. I travel to work in Germany every day (once a week/every few days). Do I need a certificate from my employer to avoid quarantine?
In some federal states, workers crossing the border and commuting to work are exempt from testing and quarantine requirements. Contact your employer and establish with them whether the regulations of the federal state exempt you from testing and quarantine and whether you may need a certificate from your employer. If in doubt, contact the competent public health office.
I live in a high-risk area. I am a professional driver and work in Germany. Do I have to take a test and go into quarantine?
Almost all federal states have regulations exempting people working for transport companies from testing and quarantine requirements. Contact your employer and establish with them whether the regulations of the federal state exempt you from testing and quarantine and whether you may need a certificate from your employer. If in doubt, contact the competent public health office.
Is it possible to obtain an exemption from testing and quarantine requirements after entering Germany from a high-risk area?
If you do not belong to any of the groups exempt from testing and quarantine requirements under the relevant state regulations, you can obtain such an exemption only from the competent public health office for your place of stay in Germany.
I am travelling to Germany with my family from a high-risk area. Is it enough for only one person to take a test?
No. The testing and quarantine requirement applies to everyone.
I am travelling to Germany from a high-risk area and want to take a test in Germany. How long will I wait for the result of a test conducted in Germany?
The waiting time depends on where the test is conducted. If many people are taking tests, the waiting time may be as long as several days.
I am travelling to Germany from a high-risk area, have taken a test and am waiting for the result. Will I be told where I have to undergo quarantine?
The person entering Germany from a high-risk area is responsible for arranging a suitable place to undergo quarantine. If you plan to undergo quarantine in a hotel or other accommodation, arrange this in advance with the accommodation provider. Remember that, depending on the regulations of the given federal state, it may be necessary to repeat the test, and if the test result is positive, the public health office may extend the quarantine.
How can I prove that I have been in a high-risk area so that the test in Germany is free?
A boarding pass, train or bus ticket, or confirmation of accommodation at a hotel in a high-risk area may serve as proof of travel from a high-risk area. If you are travelling by your own car, a declaration that you came from a high-risk area is often sufficient.
My test result was negative, but after a few days I noticed symptoms of COVID-19. What should I do?
Contact your general practitioner, the medical helpline at 116 117, or the competent public health office by phone. In this case, the public health office may order another test and extend the quarantine.
My test result was positive. How long do I have to remain in quarantine?
The laboratory is required to inform the competent public health office of a positive test result. During quarantine, follow the instructions of the public health office. In this case, quarantine may last up to 14 days. Remember that the public health office may order a repeat test or extend the quarantine.
After entering Germany from a high-risk area, I did not take a test or report my arrival to the public health office. Could I be fined?
Violating regulations concerning testing and quarantine requirements may result in an administrative fine of up to EUR 25,000.
I will be travelling through Germany in transit (e.g. by car from the Netherlands to Poland, or landing at a German airport from Spain and continuing by bus to Poland). Do I have to take a test?
No. In all federal states, people travelling in transit are exempt from testing requirements and the related quarantine. Transit travel should take place without unnecessary stops. When travelling by plane, indicate on the passenger locator card that you are in transit.
Where can I obtain additional information about mandatory testing and quarantine?
Detailed information about quarantine regulations and conditions (including interpretations of specific state regulations) can be obtained from the competent public health office.
More information is available at gov.pl