Corona – Update, April 21, 2020
Due to the measures that the German government has taken to combat the corona virus, many expats, like everyone else, face the problem of complying with regulations and deadlines. PROGEDO is your first friend abroad – therefore we regularly inform our customers about current events in Germany in connection with Covid-19.
Entry and quarantine regulations for Germany
Last Corona – Updates:
- Our best immigration authorities
- Impact on labor migration processes since new EU directive
- Sharp rise in housing shortage in German cities
- Information about visa applications for Russian citizens
- Current situation for Ukrainian nationals in Germany and Schengen area
The Federal Government has extended the existing entry requirements until May 3, 2020. Additoinally, since Friday, April 10, those who are entering Germany have to go into a mandatory quarantine of two weeks. This applies to both Germans and foreigners. However, there are exceptions for certain groups of people and activities if there are no symptoms of Covid 19:
- Activities in the fields of transport, health care, public security and order, diplomacy, law, representation of people, government, administration, EU and international organizations
- employees and crews of airplanes, ships, trains, buses, who were abroad as part of their work
- commuters and business travelers
- armed forces, law enforcement officers
- travelers
- seasonal workers
Further information can be found, here:
- https://www.bmi.bund.de/SharedDocs/faqs/DE/themen/bevoelkerungsschutz/coronavirus/coronavirus-faqs.html
- https://www.germany.info/us-de/service/corona/2313816#content_1
- https://www.germany.info/us-de/covid19/2321562
Expired Schengen-Visa
Due to an issued ordinance, all holders of a C visa (Schengen visa) or D visa (national visa) who are currently in Germany are exempt from the requirement of a residence permit until June 30, 2020. You are therefore legally resident in the federal territory until June 30, 2020 and can, if possible, leave without restrictions during this period. However, re-entry is only possible with a valid visa or residence permit.
In addition, foreigners with a D visa who are exempt from the requirement of a residence permit under this regulation are allowed to pursue gainful employment until June 30, 2020. This applies only if this was previously permitted to them.
The ordinance can be found here:
Further information about the differences between the types of visas can be found here:
And here you can find information about employment, that does not count as employment in the sense oft he foreigener’s law:
Drivers license regulations for third country nationals
By general decree, the period for using a foreign driver’s licens is now extended to 12 months throughout Germany.
Usually the following is the case: holders of an EU driving license or that of another contracting state of the EEA (Lichtenstein, Norway, Iceland) are allowed to drive in Germany for an unlimited period of time. They can drive with the vehicles listed in this driving license. For all other foreign driver’s licenses, the following applies: The holder of a foreign driver’s license is generally allowed to drive with his foreign driver’s license in Germany for 6 months after the first registration with the registration office.
In view of the current situation, once the general decree, which will be announced by each federal state of Germany individually, comes into force, the following rule applies: foreign license holders may still drive motor vehicles in Germany to the extent of their authorization, 12 months after registration in Germany. The exceptional extension of the statutory period to twelve months is possible until April 1, 2021 at the longest.
After the 12-month period has expired, the holder of a foreign driver’s license loses the right to drive motor vehicles in Germany. A violation of this regulation is not an administrative offense, but a criminal offense (driving without a license) in accordance with § 21 of the Road Traffic Act (StVG).
Experience has shown that it takes some time to implement those rules everywhere, since the implementation of the regulation is a decision of the federal states of Germany. Therefore, those who are currently affected should, for safety’s sake, reinsure themselves with the driving license offices responsible for them, especially in the months of April and May 2020. It is recommended to carry a copy of the regulation with you while driving a vehicle, so that you can avoid discussions by showing this document in a traffic control.
Another blogpost, in which we inform more about the effects of the Corona-virus for visas and employment, including recommended actions for employees, can be found here.
We are of course available at any time with help and advice, please contact us here.
