General information

06/01/2022

With effect from 04.01.2022 the Federal Republic of Germany no longer lists South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini as areas of variants of concern. This implies that most of the travel restrictions have been lifted.
The three countries are now being designated as high risk countries. Some entry restrictions remain in place. For more information, please click here.

29/11/2021

In a move to prevent the introduction of SARS-CoV2-variants, the German Government has imposed a general ban on travel and entry from countries with widespread occurrence of such virus variants (referred to as areas of variants of concern).

With effect from 28th November 2021 South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho (among others) were listed as such areas of variants of concern.

Based on the Ordinance on protection against risks of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus posed by persons entering the country (Coronavirus-Einreiseverordnung – CoronaEinreiseV), transport companies, e.g. air carriers and railway companies, may not transport any persons from these countries to Germany. Entry for such travellers into Germany is not allowed under Art. 14 (1) / Art. 6 (1) lit e of the Schengen Borders Code.

There are only a few, strictly defined exceptions to the travel ban:

German citizens

Citizens of the EU-countries and Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Iceland who have their permanent residence in Germany. Third country nationals with permanent residence and lawful residence in Germany.

Members of the immediate family of the a.m. persons under 1-3 (spouses, registered civil partners, minor children and parents of minor children. Partners in an existing relationship with one of the a.m. persons under 1-3 sharing a joint household*. It is furthermore required that a compelling reason** for entering Germany exists and that both partners intend to enter Germany together.

Travellers who are only transferring from one flight to another without entering Germany (see below “Airport Transit”). Cargo transport staff and other staff needed for the transport of goods (including mail, freight and empty carriers, as well as returning aircraft, ships and crews).

Medical staff (physicians, nurses and caregivers including persons undergoing measures regarding the recognition of corresponding foreign professional qualifications ) and escort staff needed for air ambulance and organ transplant flights.

Persons traveling on urgent humanitarian reasons

Urgent humanitarian reasons include the following:

• Death of an immediate relative in Germany (spouse, registered civil partner, own child or parent);
• Birth of own child;
• Two close relatives in the absence of any other adult entitled to care and custody of a minor child;
• Persons in need of medical treatment if serious harm to their health would otherwise result (confirmed by medical certificate) and one escort;
• People travelling by order of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations (UN) or a UN organisation, or in connection with Euratom safeguards.

Members of a foreign diplomatic or consular mission whose appointment and arrival has been announced to the Federal Foreign Office, and members of their immediate family (spouses, civil partners, children under 18) or partners accompanying them people who have been accredited by the relevant organising committee for the preparation, participation in, implementation and follow-up of international sporting Events.

Fully vaccinated travellers in the Federal Republic of Germany´s national interest (e.g. skilled workers, students, researchers, scientists, people in professional training, skilled business travellers for the purpose of negotiating, concluding or supervising contracts).

*no 5: sharing the same household and proof of existing relationship: Please provide proof of a joint household in South Africa by appropriate documents: lease or proof of house/apartment ownership in both names, utility bills (electricity, cell phone provider etc.) or bank statements for at least three consecutive months for both partners showing the same address. To prove the existing relationship, please submit the filled out declaration , signed by both partners.

**no 5: Compelling reason for entering Germany The existence of a compelling reason for entry within the scope of a visa application is usually given in the case of births, weddings, deaths/funerals or special exceptional cases e.g. serious illness of a 1st or 2nd Degree relative who therefore requires assistance.

For guidance on whether your specific circumstances allow you to apply for a German visa and for more information on the additional documentation that you might be required to provide, please consult the following website: https://southafrica.diplo.de/sa-en/sa-consular/-/2473370.

21/09/2021

With effect from 19 September 2021 the Federal Republic of Germany no longer lists South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini as countries with a significantly elevated risk of infection (high risk area).

Nevertheless, EU-wide travel restrictions remain in place when entering Germany from South Africa, Lesotho or Eswatini.

Who is exempted from the entry restrictions?

• German citizens or members of their immediate family (spouses, children under 18, parents of children under 18);
• EU citizens and citizens of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland and the members of their immediate family (spouses, children under 18, parents of children under 18);
• Citizens of non-EU countries who have a current long-term residence permit from an EU or Schengen country and their immediate family members, as long as they comply with passport and visa regulations;
• Fully vaccinated people (please see “What rules apply for fully vaccinated people?”) as long as they comply with passport and visa regulations;
• People with important reasons to travel, such as:
  
  • Urgent needs for travel (please see: “What constitutes an urgent need for travel?”);
  • Certain business travellers, trade fair visitors and exhibitors, participants of congresses etc. (please see: “Which skilled and highly qualified foreign workers are permitted to enter Germany from a non-European foreign country?”);
  • Unmarried partners under certain circumstandes (please see the section “Under what circumstances are unmarried partners permitted to enter Germany for short-term visits from third countries which are not on the safe list, and what special provisions apply?” in Section IV of the FAQ-list on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Infrastructure.
• Residents of a country who are allowed unrestricted entry into Germany (please see the list of countries here).

01/08/2021

The German government decided the 30^th of July 2021 the following: With effect from 1^st of August 2021 South Africa as well as Lesotho and Eswatini are no longer listed as virus variant area but only as high risk area.

That means that the general travel ban is lifted, however, some travel restrictions remain in place, detailed information are on the German website.

Our appointment table remain open for you to book a time slot for your appointment.

Am I eligible to apply for a German visa?

For guidance on whether your specific circumstances allow you to apply for a German visa and for more information on the additional documentation that you might be required to provide, please consult the following website: https://southafrica.diplo.de/sa-en/sa-consular/-/2473370.

Stricts safeties measures to protect our visa customers and our employees are actually in place:

• Anyone wishing to enter our centre will be required to provide a body temperature reading at the entrance;
• All people entering our centre will have to wear a facemask;
• We are applying strict social distancing measures inside our centre.
• Please note that our opening days have changed. More information is available on our Address & Opening Hours page.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

05/02/2021

TLScontact is taking additional precautionary measures regarding the spread of the coronavirus. In order to further limit social contacts, TLScontact is introducing a mandatory express courier return service starting from 14^th of February 2021.
Once your passport is returned by the Diplomatic Mission to our visa application centre, we will send it by express courier to your designated address.

Following the discovery of new cases of coronavirus in Europe, we are taking all the necessary measures to ensure maximum safety of our visa customers and our staff. Our centres remain open, but we ask you to respect any guidance provided on-site during your visa appointment. Please also refer to the advice provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on how to limit your exposure to the virus. Visit WHO website for more information.