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• Valid proof of vaccination / recovery or a negative antigen (24 h) or PCR (48 h) test ready when coming to the event venue. 
• FFP2 mask

Only FFP2 masks are allowed for indoors use and must be worn during the whole event (except while eating or drinking during the breaks).

1. Your proof of vaccination must show that you are fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. To be considered fully vaccinated, you need to have received one or more of the vaccines specified on the website of the Paul Ehrlich Institute. Furthermore, it is necessary that

• either the vaccine/s you received were administered in the number of doses required for full protection, as specified on the website of the Paul Ehrlich Institute above, and 14 days have elapsed since the last required dose of the vaccine was administered,
• or, if you have recovered from a SARS-CoV-2 infection, you have received one dose of vaccine. In this case, in order to prove you are fully protected, you must show proof that you were infected with COVID-19 prior to being vaccinated. For this purpose, you need to show a positive result of a PCR test. 

2. Your proof of vaccination must include the following information:

• your personal details (at least your given name and family name and date of birth, and the number of the passport or other official photo-ID document to be presented at passport control) 
• the date/s of vaccination and number of vaccination doses
• the name/s of the vaccine/s
• the name of the disease against which you were vaccinated
• distinctive features which show the identity of the person or institution responsible for administering the vaccination or issuing the certificate (e.g. an official logo or name of the issuer).

3. Your proof of vaccination must be written in German, English, French, Italian or Spanish.

Proof is accepted in paper or digital form, provided it meets the criteria listed under points 1, 2 and 3. Photographs of paper documents do not count as valid digital proof for the purposes of checks by the transport company or by the police authorities conducting border controls. Digital documentation needs to have been issued electronically by the authorised issuer and transmitted electronically to the authorised holder.

Please note that these are general requirements pursuant to the Coronavirus-Einreiseverordnung. For a digital COVID certificate in line with the EU Regulation on the EU Digital COVID Certificate, additional requirements may have to be met. Further information can be found on the Coronavirus: Frequently Asked Questions website of the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community

Regardless if you are coming from an EU country please check, please check the Paul Ehrlich Institute website for recognised vaccines to see if your vaccination status is considered valid in Germany. You will find information such as which vaccines (and combinations) are approved, the number of doses required for a complete vaccination protection and the length of time that must pass after vaccination.

The test to prove the previous infection must have been carried out by laboratory diagnostics using nucleic acid detection (PCR, PoC-PCR or other methods of nucleic acid amplification technology). At least 28 days ( but no more than 90 days) must have passed since getting a positive test. Information on recovery can be found (in German) on the Robert Koch Institute website.

A negative rapid antigen test not older than 24 h or PCR test not older than 48 h is required to access the event.

We advise all participants to take a COVID-19 test before the event even if they are fully vaccinated. It is not possible to get a certified COVID-19 test while on site at EMBL. However Professional testing stations are readily accessible at many convenient locations throughout Heidelberg.

These testing stations offer lateral flow antigen tests that are free of charge, and on a ‘walk-up’ basis for all, including visitors. Results and certificates are sent by email, within approximately 20 minutes.

Please note, some testing stations offer PCR tests as well, however these require a fee which is to be paid by the participant. 

As of 1 February 2022, the validity of vaccination certificates in Germany is 270 days (roughly 9 months), if no booster vaccination has been administered after a completed basic immunisation.

The validity of proof of recovery in Germany is 90 days (roughly 3 months). At least 28 days must have passed since getting a positive test. 

You only need to register if you are arriving from a high-risk area. As at 12 April 2022, nowhere was considered a high-risk area by Germany. The current list of high-risk areas is on the Robert Koch Institute website.

If you do need to register, do this at the travel portal (www.einreiseanmeldung.de) before entering the country. You must carry the confirmation with you, but you do not need to quarantine as long as you upload your proof of vaccination or recovery when registering. You can find additional information on the obligation to register and exemptions in the FAQs on Digital Registration on Entry, the obligation to furnish proof and quarantine on entry.

Participants travelling from a non-EU country, who therefore have no access to a European Union Digital Covid Certificate (EUDCC), will be granted access to events upon providing the same written proof they used to enter Germany, which should be a verifiable proof of vaccination / recovery that meets the validity requirements in Germany (please see previous questions).

Please see the list of non-EU countries (and territories) that have joined the EU Digital COVID Certificate system. 

Please note that Baden-Württemberg state accepts only a digitally verifiable proof for the 2G rule such as a QR code. The primary means of verifying COVID vaccination status in Germany is through the “EU Digital Covid Certificate”. This can be obtained from the local pharmacies by showing them your vaccination papers together with an ID document. The pharmacy will give you the printouts which you can then enter into a mobile application ( Corona-Warn-App).

Local restrictions change depending on the current pandemic situation. At the moment, the measures have significantly eased, however, mask wearing is obligatory in public transportation and (although rarely) you might see signs with admittance rules that will mention 2G or 3G.

• 2G rule means that only vaccinated or recovered people are allowed to enter

• 3G rule includes fully vaccinated, recovered or tested

A negative rapid antigen test not older than 24 h or PCR test not older than 48 h is required as a test. Please bring your CovidPass and ID wherever you go and make sure to have enough FFP2 masks. Additionally please find here the current local Public transportation requirements (in German).

Information on the COVID measures and travel restrictions in place in European countries can be found on the following websites: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268 and https://reopen.europa.eu/en. These websites also contain information on what personal information and documents you will need to have with you to travel.