Entry regulations
United States of America
Find all entry regulations for flights to the United States of America in the following table*.
Prior to Travel
Under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, stays for tourist or business purposes are permitted without a visa, provided travellers have an electronic passport and a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA), as well as a valid airline ticket for onward or return travel. There is a fee (U.S. $21) to apply for the Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA), which entitles the holder to any number of entries and a maximum stay of 90 days within a two-year period. The application should be submitted at least 72 hours before the start of the trip. The actual length of stay permitted is determined individually by border officials.
If the ESTA is rejected or if the purpose of the trip is different from those mentioned above, a visa must be applied for in any case.
Entry for transit is possible without a visa if travellers have a biometric passport and a valid electronic travel authorization (ESTA), as well as a valid airline ticket for onward or return travel.
In case of employment in the USA please contact the US Embassy and Consulates in Germany.
There are no known restrictions
There are no known restrictions
In case of entry without a visa, the residence permit cannot be extended. Extension of stay with a visa must be applied for at the immigration office.
The Federal Foreign Office points out that in view of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, there are still risks associated with international travel, especially for people without full vaccination protection as well as vulnerable groups. Regulations on entry or international transport connections can change quickly with the pandemic situation.
The so-called '3G rule' has been suspended for entry into Germany, i.e. entrants no longer have to prove that they have either been vaccinated, recovered, or tested. This regulation has been extended until 7 April 2023. As regards air travel, masks must generally be worn on all flights if mask-wearing is compulsory in either the country of departure or the country of destination. The implementation is enforced by the operating airline and may therefore vary. Travellers are advised to carry at least one mask with them at all times. For information on mask mandates, please see the respective category.
Prior to Entry
The land borders with Mexico and Canada are open to fully vaccinated international travellers. Entry by land from Canada to the United States is only possible for fully vaccinated travellers with a valid ESTA.
Travellers who have been in Uganda in the past 21 days must undergo Ebola health checks at five US airports.
According to Germany's Federal Foreign Office information, airlines are required to collect a completed entry form from all passengers (also minors) travelling to the United States. However, this can also be completed online, printed out and signed in advance of travel. The form is available on the CDC website in several languages.
There are no known restrictions
Fully vaccinated travellers are permitted to transit through the United States; however, travellers from the Schengen area must register via the ESTA portal.
Information on quarantine regulations, testing requirements and possible exceptions for transit travellers that have been vaccinated can be found in the respective categories (if available).
Children and minors are not generally exempt in case testing requirements apply.
Vaccinated travellers are recommended to take a COVID test within 3-5 days of entry, unvaccinated individuals are required to do so.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated are required to self-isolate for at least 7 days (except for minors under 18) and to take another test within 3 to 5 days of arrival.
Vaccinated traveller are advised to take another test 3-5 days after arriving.
There are no known restrictions
Travellers wishing to enter the United States are required to be fully vaccinated. This rule will remain in place until at least 11 May 2023, according to official sources. Further details are provided on the CDC's website.
In most cases, travellers are considered fully vaccinated if they have completed the primary vaccination series, i.e. having received two doses of an authorized two-dose-vaccine or one dose of an authorized single-dose vaccine.
Only the relevant embassies, consulates and national authorities can provide binding information on which vaccines are accepted for entering a country.
Should unvaccinated travellers stay longer than 60 days within the US, they are required to receive a vaccination.
The vaccination must have been completed 14 days before entry.
There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry for completely immunized persons. The vaccination must have been completed 14 days before entry.
Travellers wishing to enter the United States are required to be fully vaccinated. This rule will remain in place until at least 11 May 2023, according to official sources. Further details are provided on the CDC's website.
In most cases, travellers are considered fully vaccinated if they have completed the primary vaccination series, i.e. having received two doses of an authorized two-dose-vaccine or one dose of an authorized single-dose vaccine.
Only the relevant embassies, consulates and national authorities can provide binding information on which vaccines are accepted for entering a country.
Should unvaccinated travellers stay longer than 60 days within the US, they are required to receive a vaccination.
There are no known restrictions
There is no compulsory testing for entering the country for incompletely vaccinated persons.
Unvaccinated travellers (including children from the age of 2 years) must have a COVID-19 test taken within 3 to 5 days after arrival. Only persons who have an official exemption are exempt from the 7-day quarantine. A negative test result does not exempt from quarantine.
Not fully vaccinated children under the age of 18 are also exempt from quarantine.
There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry for those who have recovered.
Recovered persons may enter the country only if they have received a complete vaccination.
On Site
Restrictions are eased for those vaccinated or having tested negative.
In the different states of the USA, there may be requirements for proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in various areas. This may affect restaurants, recreational facilities, or hotels.
Current value: 217. Previous week: 236
Data source: Our World in Data / European Center for Disease Control. The data is only available at country level and is updated daily.
Travellers should check with their state health departments and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for current measures.
There are currently no lockdown restrictions in the United States.
Hawaii was the last state in the US to eliminate the indoor mask requirement in March 2022. Currently, there are no longer any contact restrictions in the US.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
No restrictions apply.
If travellers test positive while in the USA, they will be required to quarantine in a hotel or in a private residence. The quarantine period varies in every state, however, for asymptomatic COVID-19 infections a minimum quarantine of 5 days is to be expected.
Departure
Entry/return to Germany
For travellers entering from a risk-free area, there is no obligation to register online before returning to Germany. The exact regulations are available on the Ministry of Health‘s information sheet.
There are no known restrictions
There is no obligation to test before entering Germany.
Since May 2022, no proof of a negative test, a vaccination or recovery is required, in order to enter Germany.
Further information on the new entry regulation can be found at the Federal Government's website.
There is no obligation to test after entering Germany.
According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.
There is no testing or quarantine requirement for completely immunized persons on entry/return. The vaccination must have been completed 2 days before entry.
Vaccinated persons are exempt from national quarantine and testing obligations. (Caution: In Germany, only the vaccines by BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, and Novavax have been approved so far.) Further information is available from the Federal Government.
According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.
There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry/return for incompletely vaccinated persons.
According to the Robert Koch-Institute, it is a risk-free area. There is no quarantine obligation after entry into or return to Germany.
There is no testing or quarantine requirement on entry/return for those who have recovered.
Recovered persons are exempt from quarantine and testing obligations nationwide, area of active circulation of highly contagious virus variants. Those who have recovered need proof of a positive PCR test (or other nucleic acid detection) at least 28 days and no more than 3 months ago. Recovered persons must not have any symptoms of a possible COVID-19 infection. Further information is available from the Federal Government.
*All information is without guarantee and is based exclusively on information provided by external sources, e.g. the German Foreign Office. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of this information. Please inform yourself about the applicable entry requirements before your flight.