After being stranded in their home country for several weeks, hundreds of Germany-bound Indian students have now got relief. The German government has announced that it will again open doors to Indian travelers, particularly those who are fully vaccinated or have recently recovered from COVID-19.
The country will allow entry of those fully vaccinated with Covishield (a version of Oxford–AstraZeneca’s vaccine produced in India). Notably, Germany executed a travel ban disallowing incoming arrivals from India from April 2021, when the second wave of the pandemic was at its peak in India.
Germany’s health ministry said in a statement that “travelers having spent time in a high-incidence area can give proof of recovery or vaccination” by submitting the necessary information on the designated travel portal. They must also get tested before starting their journey and must present a negative test result to their airline.
The quarantine period after staying in a basic risk area or a high-incidence area is 10 days and that in an area of variants of concern is 14 days. However, the quarantine duration can be reduced to five days if one is tested negative.
This development comes weeks before the start of the new session in German colleges and universities when a number of Indian students have been eagerly awaiting the opening of borders and resumption of travel restrictions.
Many students had reached out to the German Embassy and the country’s ambassador to India, urging the officials to allow them to travel to Germany.
The ambassador, Walter J. Lindner, reassured the students, stating that the restart of visa services will be gradual because of the COVID-19 implications. He urged the students and travelers to be patient as “all applications cannot be processed immediately.”
All students, those with a valid visa and who have secured admission or have to resume their education in German institutions, including PhDs, master’s and bachelor’s, are covered under the new policy. Around 25,000 Indians study in Germany and restrictions have affected them severely.
Those planning to travel need to register on www.einreiseanmeldung.de before entering the country.
