Impact of the coronavirus pandemic on travel and stays abroad

Last update: 7 December 2021

As a rule, work-related travel is permitted. Current information and warnings issued at short notice by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Federal Foreign Office (e.g., flight restrictions) must be observed when booking travel services or before you begin your travels. We explicitly request that you avoid work-related travel to high-risk regions. Work-related travel to regions where a variant of the virus has emerged is not permitted.

See the RKI’s current list of these areas. If you are traveling abroad, inform yourself about coronavirus-related regulations in the country or host institution in question. When returning from a high-risk area, you must comply with coronavirus reentry regulations.

If you need to quarantine when you return, you need to continue working at home throughout. Before commencing duties, teaching staff traveling to high-risk areas for the sake of work must ensure they have a substitute for courses and examinations during the quarantine period.

Last update: 9 June 2021

Students who are planning to study abroad or are already staying abroad should keep themselves informed of the situation at their destination and/or in their host country. Register with Elefand, the Federal Foreign Office’s electronic record of Germans abroad. Be aware, however, that the Federal Republic of Germany is not considering any further repatriation campaigns. Before they travel, international students should contact their local registration office for foreigners.

As a rule, students are strongly discouraged from studying in countries for which the Federal Foreign Office has issued a warning and/or that the Robert Koch Institute has designated as a high-risk area.

Erasmus+ students can find further information on planned or active mobility projects in the Department of International Affairs FAQ.

Last update: 16 December 2021

The 3G rule and the protective and hygiene measures set forth in the hygiene plan apply to courses with practical components such as excursions.

We recommend collecting participants’ contact information. This may be collected digitally using Intake or in paper form. If contact details are gathered, the following information must be collected: date, time, full name, address, and telephone number.

Last update: 6 October 2021

Staff and students returning from high-risk areas must observe quarantine rules pursuant to the coronavirus entry regulations and, if applicable, any additional country-specific quarantine obligations. Before entering University premises, staff and students must inform themselves about the requirements established by the City of Hamburg and conduct themselves accordingly.

Due to the unusually high risk of contagion, supervisors are entitled to ask employees whether they have spent any period of time abroad and when. The president and the deans are entitled to ask professors about periods spent abroad.

In case of travel warnings, any consequences arising from private travel abroad (e.g., self-quarantine at home) are the responsibility of the employee. This means that if working from home is not possible due to self-quarantine measures, vacation days or accumulated overtime must be taken to cover the working hours not completed. Those who are self-quarantined at home must contact HR and their supervisor immediately. Professors must inform the relevant office of the dean and HR.

The regulations set forth in these instructions refer to international high-risk areas. There are currently no further restrictions with regard to trips to or returnees from other areas in Germany that exceed the critical incidence rate established by the Robert Koch Institute. Staff and students will be informed immediately if the development of the pandemic requires any changes to or a reevaluation of this position.

Last update: 6 October 2021

Visits by guests or delegations may take place in compliance with the protective and hygiene measures set forth in the Hygiene plan. Hosts must inform their visiting scholars before and throughout their stay of the current coronavirus regulations, and visiting scholars must comply accordingly.

Last update: 23 August 2021

People entering Germany from abroad must inform themselves about the current requirements regarding testing, providing proof of a negative test, vaccination, or recovery, and quarantining in their federal state. Anyone returning from a high-risk region or a region of a variant of concern must report their return in advance and enter quarantine. Find the up-to-date regulations on testing; providing proof of a negative test, vaccination, or recovery; and quarantining on the Federal Foreign Office website.

See the RKI’s current list of high-risk areas. See the Federal Ministry of Health website for more information.

For students in regions of a variant of concern, travel to Germany has been possible since 1 August 2021 with a conditional or unconditional acceptance letter from Universität Hamburg. This also applies if, for example, a language course, internship, or Studienkolleg precedes the student’s studies.

Last update: 13 December 2021

People entering Germany from abroad must inform themselves about the current requirements regarding testing, providing proof of a negative test, vaccination, or recovery, and quarantining in their federal state. Anyone returning from a high-risk region or a region of a variant of concern must report their return in advance and enter quarantine. Find the up-to-date regulations on testing; providing proof of a negative test, vaccination, or recovery; and quarantining on the Federal Foreign Office website.

See the RKI’s current list of high-risk areas. See the Federal Ministry of Health website for more information.

Find all information about the 2G and 3G requirements for in-person studies at Universität Hamburg and the Campus Pass in the University’s coronavirus FAQ.

For students in regions of a variant of concern, travel to Germany has been possible since 1 August 2021 with a conditional or unconditional acceptance letter from Universität Hamburg. This also applies if, for example, a language course, internship, or Studienkolleg precedes the student’s studies.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many student jobs have disappeared. International students especially should check whether they can finance their studies in Hamburg even without a part-time job. Contact the Campus Center if you have more questions. In urgent cases, contact the advising service for international students directly(international-student-support"AT"uni-hamburg.de).

Last update: 13 December 2021

To extend your residence permit before it expires, submit all required supporting documents via the City of Hamburg’s residence permit online service.

Your permit remains valid until the registration office makes a decision on your application (presumption of law pursuant to Section 81 subsection 4 of the Act on the Residence, Economic Activity and Integration of Foreigners in the Federal Territory [Residence Act]). Probationary certificates in paper form are now being issued again. If you leave the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany without a valid residence permit or probationary certificate, you may not simply return.

Please check any recent changes online.

Contact the Campus Center if you have more questions. In urgent cases, email the advising service for international students(international.student.support.uhh"AT"uni-hamburg.de) directly.

Last update: 23 August 2021

In principle, it is possible to begin in-person studies at a later date. Ask your academic office about delayed entry to the country, and arrange an individual study plan. Many courses will take place digitally in Winter Semester 2021/22.

International students at Universität Hamburg who have not entered the country can use the University’s digital library services via VPN or with an “e-only status.” You can use the library system even if you do not yet have a residence permit. See the FAQs on the State and University Library Carl von Ossietzky (“Stabi”) pages or the student council (“AStA”) pages for international students (in German).