Coronavirus pandemic informations for travellers

Guidelines on business travel

For business trips outside Germany, the following provisions apply:

  • The person applying for the business trip must carefully check the current list of risk areas of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) before applying for the business trip.
  • The requesting individual must submit a risk assessment  to Human Resources in advance with the request for travel approval. 
  • Business trips outside of high-risk and virus variant areas according to the classification of the Robert Koch Institute will be approved according to the usual, procedure: A fully completed risk assessment must accompany the business trip application.
  • Persons with full vaccination protection or recovering from Corona may also make a business trip to high-risk areas.
  • Business trips of persons without full vaccination protection and without recovery from Corona to high-risk and virus variant areas are only possible after exceptional approval by the Rectorate.
  • Persons with full vaccination protection or with recovery from Corona may also only undertake a business trip to a virus variant area with an exceptional approval from the Rectorate.

Entry requirements and testing obligations when traveling abroad

Here you will find an overview of entry requirements within the EU as well as important destinations outside the EU sorted alphabetically by country (only in German).

Countries with entry advantages for vaccinated persons

 Here you can find a list of all countries that have eased entry requirements for vaccinated persons (only in German)

FAQs travel health insurance

  • I travel to other European countries. During the current Corona crisis, am I insured through my German statutory health insurance if I fall ill there? Within Europe, you are initially insured via the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (here you will find a list of countries where the European Health Insurance Card is valid). The EHIC can be found on the back of your health insurance card. In the United Kingdom, the EHIC will provide you with benefits until 31 December 2020, so you can receive the care you need in the country you are visiting, for example, when visiting a doctor or in hospital.
  • Does the EHIC also apply in the event of a travel warning? Until 31 August 2020, there are only travel warnings and no bans due to the corona pandemic. You will therefore continue to have the insurance cover you are accustomed to depending on the country you are travelling to.
  • Am I entitled to the same range of benefits as in Germany? The scope and duration of benefits are determined by the legislation of the country you are visiting - as if you were insured in that country. Depending on the country of travel, this may differ from the usual benefits in Germany. Some services, such as return transport to Germany, may not be paid for by the statutory health insurance funds. You can find out which services are subject to additional costs in your country of travel in the information sheets of the German Liaison Office for Health Insurance Abroad. A private supplementary insurance reimburses you for costs incurred and is therefore a useful supplement to statutory insurance cover in other European countries.
  • To what extent does health insurance for travel abroad cover a COVID-19 infection? Health insurance for travel abroad covers the costs not covered by statutory health insurance for medically necessary treatment abroad if you fall ill while travelling abroad. With many insurance policies this also applies to a COVID-19 infection. However, some insurance policies exclude epidemics or pandemics from the insurance coverage. Your insurance conditions specify the scope of coverage. Please clarify this before the start of your trip.
  • Will my health insurance for travel abroad cover medically necessary treatment if the Federal Foreign Office issued a travel advisory for my destination country before I went on the trip? Many insurance policies do not cover such cases. Please contact your insurance provider before going abroad and clarify the conditions.

An overview of the coverages of the most important insurance providers in case of an infection with COVID-19 is available online here (only in German).

FAQs Travel cancellation insurance

  • The Federal Foreign Office issued a travel advisory for my destination country – do I have to cancel my trip? Will my insurance cover the cancellation fees? If a travel advisory has been issued for your destination country, package tours can usually be cancelled without charges. In case of individual travel arrangements, please contact the corresponding providers before cancelling. Often they will offer free rescheduling. A travel advisory in itself, however, is not a covered reason in travel cancellation insurance. 
  • Am I insured if my destination country has issued travel restrictions or entry bans? Travel restrictions or entry bans are no covered reasons in travel cancellation insurance. If you have individually booked your trip, please contact the provider (airline, hotel etc.). Often they will agree on a solution with you.
  • What if I have to go into quarantine before going on my trip? If a quarantine is ordered, this is a measure of the state authority. In such a case, your insurance will not cover the costs for cancelling the trip.
  • What if I fall ill with Corona before the journey begins? If you are unable to start your journey because you have been infected with the corona virus in Germany or a close relative is affected, this should be considered an "unexpectedly serious illness". In this case, the travel cancellation insurance will take effect, provided you present a medical certificate. Some insurers have already confirmed this view, but not all of them. But: Many insurers exclude pandemics as an insured event. 
  • I am afraid of travelling. Which provisions in travel cancellation insurance apply in the coronavirus situation?
    Travel cancellation insurance covers your costs if you have to cancel a trip because of an unexpected and severe illness. Being afraid of travelling is not an insured incident.
  • Will my travel cancellation insurance cover the costs if the authorities do not lockdown my travel destination but do implement major safety measures and restrictions? Insurance coverage applies only to the incidents explicitly listed as insured incidents. This does not include cancelling a trip because of restrictions at the travel destination.
  • Can I cancel my trip if I have to work short time? If your monthly net income is reduced due to working short time (amounting to at least a month’s salary), you can claim travel cancellation insurance. However, the insured incident must already have happened. This means you can only cancel the trip after experiencing the loss of income in your monthly net salary. You must document this fact with a confirmation issued by your employer. 

Mandatory Test and Quarantine


From August 1, 2021, all travelers - regardless of whether they have stayed in a high-risk area or virus variant area or not - are obliged to provide proof of the absence of an infection with the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (vaccination, test, proof of recovery).

The following groups of people do not have to take a test before or immediately after entry:

  • Persons who have proof of vaccination and recovery,
  • Persons who have only traveled through a risk area and have not had a stopover there,
  • Persons who have stayed in a risk area for less than 24 hours as part of border traffic or who enter the Federal Republic of Germany for up to 24 hours,
  • For stays of less than 72 hours: Persons who enter the country due to a visit from first-degree relatives, a spouse, life partner or domestic partner who does not belong to the same household, or due to shared custody or rights of access
  • Cross-border commuters and cross-border commuters if they comply with appropriate protection and hygiene concepts.

Important note: As of Thursday, March 3, 2022, with the entry into force of the "Third Amendment Regulation to the Coronavirus Entry Regulation", currently no states/regions are considered Corona risk areas.

For all travelers returning to Germany from a Corona risk area, stricter entry regulations apply with immediate effect.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has defined only two types of risk areas since August 1:

  1. High-incidence areas with an incidence several times higher than that of Germany, but usually at least 200. Occasionally, regions that fall below this value are also referred to as high-incidence areas because of a high risk of infection and other factors.
  2. Virus variant areas where particularly infectious mutations of coronavirus are prevalent.

Entering from high incidence areas

  • Anyone entering Germany from a high-risk area with a particularly high incidence needs a negative test result when entering the country. 
  • This must be presented at the request of the carrier (e.g. the airline) on departure, to the competent authority on entry or at police checks.
  • Entry from virus variant areas:
  • Entry from virus variant areas is now only possible in exceptional cases: for German nationals and for people who have a right of residence in Germany.
     

Notification to authorities

In principle, there is an obligation to fill out a digital entry notification immediately after entering the country. The travel and contact data provided there will be forwarded to the health authority responsible for the place of stay.

Vaccines recognized in the EU

Here you will find an overview of the vaccines recognized in the EU: Website of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute

Which Corona-Regulations apply in Konstanz?

Since April 3, 2022, the state-wide meassures to contain the corona pandemic have changed in Baden-Württemberg.

Please find detailled information on the current meassures here.

Masks are no longer compulsory and are only required in certain situations e.g.

  • in local public transport and in medical facilities such as hospitals and medical practices.

Impact on teaching and study activities:

  • 3G regulation discontinued: From 3 April, there will no longer be a 3G check (vaccinated, recovered, tested) to access the campus. A specific 3G status is no longer required for access.
    Please note that persons who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 or show typical symptoms (shortness of breath, new-onset cough, fever and loss of smell or taste) are still not allowed to enter the University of Konstanz. Please make sure by testing that there is no corona infection present (for example within the university's SARS-CoV-2 screening. Entering the university to participate in the screening is allowed).
  • Face mask requirement: From 3 April 2022, the legally mandated face mask requirement at the university will no longer apply. Please note: The Ministry of Science (MWK) appeals to all university members in Baden-Württemberg to voluntarily wear face masks indoors. The University supports this appeal. The Rectorate continues to strongly recommend to all university members and staff, as well as to all visitors, to wear an FFP2 mask. In the current pandemic situation, the university considers wearing a mask as an important protection measure. FFP2 masks offer a particularly high level of protection.

The university's hygiene concept has been updated to reflect the new regulations: current version.

Here you can find the actual Corona Ordinance of Baden-Württemberg (German only)

Testing in Konstanz

As of October 11, 2021, there will be no more free citizenship tests in Germany.

Exceptions apply to

  • Schools, hospitals and nursing homes
  • Children and adolescents
  •  Pregnant women and persons who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons
  • Students who have been vaccinated with vaccines other than those specified by the Paul Ehrlich Institute

For these groups of people, the tests will continue to be free of charge.For those with unapproved vaccines, this will apply until Dec. 31, 2021.

Tests can also still be done in test centers, pharmacies and doctors' offices. Here you can find an overview of all testing options: konstanz.de/coronatest

  • As a rule, the tests offered are PoC antigen tests.
  • All testing facilities issue certificates on the test result.
  • Persons with symptoms, contact persons and persons who have received a red warning message via the Corona warning app should contact their GP or the Corona specialist practices directly and do not visit a test centre.

Test Centres

Konstanz Clinic (Luisenstraße 9). 

  • Opening hours: Mo - Fr 7:30am - 8pm
  • You must bring your identity card with you.
  • Please book a time slot

Testcenter Bodenseeforum (Reichenaustr. 21)

  • Opening hours:Mo - Fr: 8am - 7pm; Saturday: 10am - 5pm; Sunday&holiday: 11am - 3pm
  • Tests:  Rapid Antigen Test  and PCR Test
  • Please book a time slot

Corona Rapid Test Centre Constance Berry`s Konstanz (Reichnaustr. 204, 78467 Konstanz)

Antigen Test - The Corona Quick Test
- Test duration: approx. 2 minutes
- Test result: within approx. 15-30 minutes

Antibody test - Have I already had it?
- Test duration: approx. 2 minutes
- Test result: within approx. 15-30 minutes
- Cost: 35 €

Book an appointment