Post-entry criteria for Indian applicants traveling on a Schengen visa to Germany

As many countries have strived in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, others are still struggling to contain the spread of the virus. Despite controlling the outbreak of the virus in the early phase, India is now overwhelmed by the disease, which continues to hospitalize thousands of individuals on daily basis. As a measure to curb the spread of the pandemic, India is categorized as a virus-variant area, meaning that it hosts its unique strain of COVID-19. The extent of the danger the Indian variant poses to the global society is yet to be identified. Thus, the world has put entry restrictions on travelers coming from India, the Schengen visa countries are no exception.

While there are some nations such as the middle-eastern countries who don’t have any restriction to admit travelers from India. 3rd world countries such as the Schengen states have a tightened entry policies for arriving passengers due to the advent of COVID-19.

Here we’ll be outlining the present scenario of traveling to Europe with a Schengen visa from India and how you can visit Germany amidst the epidemic.

Which countries will tighten travel restrictions for arrivals from India?

The U.S has already imposed a strict law on the arrival and departure of travelers from around the world. Some of the Schengen allied nations have either suspended or limited the entry and exit of travelers from India.

India is presently categorized as a virus-variant area which means the strain of Covid (the B.1.617) in the Indian habitat is a threat to any society. The World Health Organization has termed India under this zone to neutralize the infiltration of the virus, which has managed to make its way to the United Kingdom and some other countries as well. The UK is currently placed in at-risk countries due to the existence of the India variant there. Therefore, the presence of the B.1.617 variant results in the traveler is subject to more restrictions pre-and post-arrival.

Already there are severe obligations imposed on traveling to and for around the world, and the current restrictions on requirements targeting passengers from India make it impossible to travel. With the advent of vaccines being successful in the Indian plethora, we could see a gradual change in the shifting restriction in the allied Schengen visa areas in the coming times.

Prerequisites to visit Germany on a Schengen visa

As of 26th April 2021, India stands under the category of “areas of variant concern list” on the “high incidence list” for global migration. We are still under an obligation to travel to Germany or any other Schengen countries.

Being listed under an area of variant concern defines India as a place where a particular variant of the virus is dominant (and therefore at risk of being spread to Germany, where it is not currently dominant). Travelers from this area are booked for strict pre-and-post entry obligations than those arriving from a country that is of lower risk.

Indian travelers or travelers from other areas of variant concern are probed to satisfy general COVID-19 entry conditions, and in addition, must submit the below specific requirement to be exempted:

Provide negative (status) proof of the Covid-19 test immediately upon arrival.

Even if you are vaccinated against the coronavirus, you must stay in quarantine for a specific period post-arrival even after submitting a proof of negative Covid-19 test.

All the above criteria are equally imposed even if you’re not directly coming from India or have spent a little to less time in India, you will still be subject to providing proof of Covid test and stay in quarantine post entry.

Please be informed, even if you are not traveling to Germany, Schengen countries, on the whole, have a prerequisite you have to follow. Do check for their post-entry requirements regardless of the place from where you’re travel from. As discussed, travelers from India (even if you’ve just stayed for a day in India) are entitled to additional scrutiny in their Schengen visa application, irrespective of what EU country you seek to enter.