In general travel to Germany is possible again from most of the countries that are not considered virus variant areas. As of August 21, 2021 there are no virus variant areas defined, so basically Germany lifted the travel ban completely for couples!

There are actually two scenarios:

1.) You are vaccinated with a vaccine that is approved in EU =⇒ you can enter like a tourist, without couples exception documents/proof of relationship

2.) You are not vaccinated at all or vaccinated with another vaccine =⇒ you can enter with the couples exception/proof of relationship

Details on approved vaccines see below.

Actual entry requirements of Germany need to be followed and depend on the classification of the country of origin. To determine the country/countries of origin, the last 10 days before entering Germany count.

There are three classification categories:

• Virus variant area
• High risk area
• Others

Current classification of countries can be found here (you need to scroll down to find the list): https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Risikogebiete_neu.html;jsessionid=CF59133D75A1731E1D7B833B3D70BAB4.internet121

Independent from the country of origin a negative Covid test result (1), vaccination certificate (2) or proof of recovery (3) have to be carried. Additionally from virus variant areas and high risk areas the digital travel registration needs to be completed: https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de/

(currently there are no countries on the variant list! Status: 21.08.2021) Entry from virus variant areas is only possible for married couples and unmarried couples with proof of a shared household in Germany, resp. with proof of a shared household in any other country plus an urgent need (4) to enter Germany.

Documentation Married partners therefore have to carry the marriage certificate to be able to check-in. Unmarried couples have to carry a proof of a shared household, e.g. a rental contract or registration of an address (Meldebescheinigung). Also other declarations are possible (e.g. self-declaration signed by both partners).

Tips/recommendations if you cannot present a rental contract or a registration and are not married to your partner but want to visit him/her anyway (success cannot be guaranteed, however it already worked for several couples e.g. from Brazil):

Prepare the following documents:

• Invitation letter (self made or use template below)
• Relationship declaration (https://www.bundespolizei.de/Web/DE/04Aktuelles/01Meldungen/2020/03/200317_faq_down2.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=1)
• Proof that you met in person before (e.g. passport stamps, hotel booking, flight tickets, photos)
• Passport copies of both partners
• Declaration of a shared house (self made or use template below)
• Optional (but helpful): Rental sublease (self made or use template below)
• Optional (for Brazilians): “Declaração de residencia” for both partners at the same address in Brazil, registered and stamped at the registration office (cartorio); this usually can be done without the german partner being present

Templates can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JUMaKO0XuHlYDMFaKCZ1xH54haBbEY_D?usp=sharing

Necessity and duration of quarantine depend of the country of origin and on your vaccination/recovery status.

Virus variant area: 14 days, no shortening possible for vaccinated/recovered people

High risk area: No necessity for vaccinated or recovered people, for all others 10 days. The 10 days can be shortened after 5 days with a negative test result (rapid antigen test is accepted).

Others: No quarantine necessary.

(1) Negative Covid test result: Accepted tests in general are PCR test and rapid antigen test (PoC).

Time frame:

Coming from virus variant areas: PCR test (sampling) not older than 72h at the time of entering Germany. Rapid antigen test not older than 24h at the time of entering Germany.

Coming from high risk and other countries: PCR test (sampling) not older than 72h at the time of entering Germany. Rapid antigen test not older than 48h at the time of entering Germany.

(2)Vaccination certificate: Germany only acknowledges Covid vaccines which are currently approved by the EMA (European Medicine Agency). At least 14 days have to pass after receiving the second dose (in case of Janssen the first and only dose). Currently approved are the following vaccines:

• Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca)
• Comirnaty (BionTech/Pfizer)
• COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna (Moderna)
• Janssen-Cilag / Johnson&Johnson

(3) Proof of recovery: Considered as “recovered” are people who can present proof of an infection with a PCR test in the last 6 months.

(4) Urgent needs:

• healthcare workers, health researchers and geriatric care workers,
• skilled and highly qualified foreign workers whose employment is necessary from an economic perspective and whose work cannot be postponed or performed abroad
• freight transport and other transport personnel,
• seasonal workers in agriculture,
• seafarers in transit to a ship’s port of departure or to an airport in order to return to a non-EU country,
• foreign students whose course of study is not fully possible from abroad as well as trainees and nationals of non-EU countries who are entering Germany to obtain qualifications if their training or qualification programme is not fully possible from abroad,
• persons immigrating to Germany to join their families, and persons visiting Germany for urgent family reasons
• persons in need of international protection or protection for other humanitarian reasons, including urgent medical reasons
• diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions
• ethnic German resettlers,
• passengers in transit.