Information for travelling to Germany
Date: February 23, 2021
Information for travelling to Germany
Before you travel
Please read through our website “Regulations for entering and living in Germany” for detailed information about immigration regulations, visas, and residence permits for Germany.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel to Germany is currently limited and strictly regulated. There are also rules regarding digital registration before entering Germany, COVID-19 testing both before and after you arrive as well as strict quarantine rules that all travelers must obey. To find the limitations and regulations that are applicable to your situation, please read carefully through the following websites:
Corona FAQ website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior
Baden-Württemberg FAQs on entry, quarantine and testing (scroll down for information in English)
Digital registration before entering Germany (set language to English at the top)
Requirements for international corona tests
Please check these websites for any changes when planning your trip and before travelling.
The Graduate Academy cannot make any recommendations at this time about travelling to Germany. We also cannot exert any influence on your behalf during the visa application process or with border officials when entering Germany.
If necessary, please inquire at the appropriate German foreign mission (embassy or consulate) about applying for an entry visa as early as possible. Many German foreign missions have restricted opening hours and are offering only limited appointments to issue visas. Additionally, in some countries, the requirements for obtaining a visa have changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Therefore, the wait times to receive your visa can, in many cases, be longer than normal.
The Graduate Academy cannot issue certificates confirming the necessity of your presence in Germany for your doctoral studies. You can ask your doctoral supervisor or the coordinator of your doctoral program about obtaining such a certificate.
When you enter Germany
Most travelers to Germany are currently required to quarantine after arrival. The concrete length of quarantine, testing options and other rules will depend on the country or region from which you are travelling to Germany. There is detailed information about these rules on the websites listed above as well as on the website of the
Federal Ministry of Health - Information for travellers
Please be aware that failing to adhere to any of these regulations regarding quarantine, testing etc. will be treated as a misdemeanor and can be penalized with a monetary fine of up to 25,000 Euro.
If you experience symptoms related to COVID-19 or think you might be infected
If for any reason you think you might be infected by the COVID-19 virus at any time, you should call the telephone hotline for the Rhein-Neckar metropolitan region, which is also responsible for Heidelberg. The hotline number is 06221 522-1881 and it is available Monday–Friday from 8 am to 4 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. On the weekends you can also call the off-hours medical care service (Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) at 116 117. If you have a medical emergency, you can call the medical emergency number 112. Please make sure to indicate that you suspect a COVID-19 infection so that the medical specialists can react accordingly.
The city of Heidelberg also provides a helpful info sheet on COVID-19 and the local services here:
City of Heidelberg Corona Infosheet
Rules surrounding social distancing and mask wearing in Baden-Württemberg
A distance of 1.5 meters from other people must be maintained in public spaces and generally, it is strongly recommended to maintain this distance in any situation in which there is little or no protection against infection. The number of people who are permitted to gather indoors and outdoors, in private and in public spaces is also limited.
A surgical or FFP2 mask covering the mouth and nose must be worn in public transportation, in all public buildings and spaces and outside when social distancing cannot be maintained. Children below the age of 6 years and people with a medical reason for not wearing a mask are exempted from this regulation.
Because the regulations regarding mask wearing and social gatherings change regularly as the pandemic develops, you must take responsibility for staying informed and up-to-date. Detailed information can be found on the city websites of Heidelberg and Mannheim:
City of Heidelberg – Corona Information
City of Mannheim – Corona Information
Information from the Heidelberg University pertaining to COVID-19
Heidelberg University provides information about courses, research and COVID-19-related regulations on the following website:
Coronavirus: FAQs about student affairs and teaching
Information about the corona virus
