DON’T MISS
IamExpat FairIamExpat Job BoardIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
German news & articles
Explained: Germany's new "two-test strategy" for travellers from risk areas
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Explained: Germany's new "two-test strategy" for travellers from risk areas

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Germany scraps all COVID entry rules for non-EU passengersGermany scraps all COVID entry rules for non-EU passengers
What to do if your digital COVID certificate expires before your holidayWhat to do if your digital COVID certificate expires before your holiday
June 2022: 10 changes affecting expats in GermanyJune 2022: 10 changes affecting expats in Germany
Germany to suspend 3G entry rules for travel from June 1Germany to suspend 3G entry rules for travel from June 1
3G travel entry rule extended until end of May in Germany3G travel entry rule extended until end of May in Germany
Germany removes all countries from COVID high risk travel listGermany removes all countries from COVID high risk travel list
Germany to relax international travel rules from March 4Germany to relax international travel rules from March 4
What's changing with the EU's new travel rules for COVID certificates?What's changing with the EU's new travel rules for COVID certificates?
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usImpressumSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat FairWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Jan 8, 2021
Abi Carter

Editor in chief at IamExpat Media

Abi studied German and History at the University of Manchester and has since lived in Berlin, Hamburg and Utrecht, working since 2017 as a writer, editor and content marketeer. Although she's happily taken on some German and Dutch quirks, she keeps a stash of Yorkshire Tea on hand, because nowhere does a brew quite like home.Read more

As well as opting to extend the coronavirus lockdown until the end of January, the federal and state governments this week adopted new rules for travellers returning from international risk areas. In future, the “two-test strategy” will apply, as well as a mandatory quarantine lasting at least five days. Here’s an overview of what’s changing. 

New entry rules for Germany: Compulsory testing and quarantine

An old rule is coming back into effect: Angela Merkel and the heads of the federal states have agreed that all travellers from risk areas abroad should once again be tested for COVID-19 upon their arrival in Germany. 

Since the beginning of November, travellers from coronavirus risk areas (as designated by the Robert Koch Institute) have been required to go into quarantine upon arrival in Germany. This quarantine initially lasts 10 days, but it can be shortened after five days with a negative coronavirus test. Since mid-December, travellers have been asked to pay for this test themselves.

Before this quarantine requirement was introduced, Germany had been pursuing a policy of mandatory testing for all arrivals from risk areas. This meant that travellers had to get themselves tested for coronavirus within 48 hours of arrival. The policy was ultimately scrapped in November due to concerns about the tests failing to detect infections picked up directly before departure or en route to Germany.

What is the “two-test strategy”?

These two different strategies will now be combined in the “two test strategy”. This means that, from January 11 onwards, anyone travelling to Germany from a coronavirus risk area must get themselves tested upon entry. The test can be done 48 hours before or immediately after their arrival in Germany. 

All travellers must then also go into mandatory quarantine - which can be ended on the fifth day at the earliest with another negative coronavirus test. So think of it as the “test-quarantine-test” strategy.

Currently, the only exception to this is in North Rhine-Westphalia, where arrivals can choose between a 10-day quarantine, or undergoing a corona test 48 hours before or immediately after their entry. A rapid coronavirus test is deemed sufficient.

All arrivals must still complete a digital registration before entering Germany. This can be done via an online portal. 

Travel should be avoided “without good reason”

The federal government also plans to issue special rules on the obligation to test those returning from so-called “special risk areas” where new strains of coronavirus have been detected in high numbers. This means that passengers travelling from countries like the UK.

With the new testing requirement, the federal and state governments want to emphasise once again that travel to risk areas - which currently includes almost all of Germany’s neighbouring countries - should be avoided “without good reason.”

By Abi Carter