Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!)

Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!) - Unrecognizable woman with suitcase walking near airport terminal

I am travelling at the end of this month from the UK to Namibia via Frankfurt, and returning 10 days later. The layover in Frankfurt on the way back to the UK is 10hrs so we want to go into the city and explore. Is this possible during covid and would we need additional covid tests? We are all fully vaccinated (x3 jabs) and from what I can see, Namibia isnt a high risk area but the UK is, but we wont have been in the UK for 10 days so does that mean we are exempt from the quarantine rules?

Thanks in advance!



Best Answer

First things first: you obviously need to be permitted to enter Germany. If you hold UK citizenship, that is not an issue; if you hold Namibian citizenship you need a visa, for other citizenships you would need to check.

The Covid prevention rules are volatile and could change at any time, so it is imperative that you check they still apply when you are actually travelling. As things currently stand:

  • the UK is classified as a high-risk area;
  • Namibia is not classified as a risk area.

This can be checked on the RKI's list in German and in English.

In addition to the designated risk areas, entry rules are also volatile and may change on short notice. Currently, the situation is as follows:

  • Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative test result (antigen tests suffice). This may also apply to those whose second jab was more than three months ago and who do not have a booster jab or have a cured certificate.
  • Travellers from high-risk areas or virus variant areas (who visited these areas in the preceeding 10 days) must fill in a digital entry registration form prior to entry. Unvaccinated travellers must also remain in quarantine for 10 days (can be shortened to 5 days with negative tests).
  • Children under 6 years of age must quarantine for 5 days (high-risk) or 14 days (virus variant) upon entry.
  • All travellers from virus variant areas must quarantine for 14 days and cannot shorten that time by testing negative.

This is summed up in the following picture by the Federal Government (in German):

Covid restrictions upon entry to Germany as of 8th February 2022

Details and an FAQ can also be found in English on the web pages of the Federal Government.

Therefore, under the current rules you can enter Germany as triple-vaccinated adults during your ten hour layover.




Pictures about "Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!)"

Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!) - Cheerful female manager checking time on wristwatch standing with bags near bus station
Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!) - Happy female traveler walking on airport street with luggage
Can I leave Frankfurt airport during a 10hr layover between Namibia and the UK (during covid!) - Happy ethnic male in formal suit standing in modern hallway while holding suitcase in hand and talking on mobile phone



Can I leave the airport in Frankfurt layover?

When you have a Frankfurt airport layover of more than 5 hours, you can confidently step out of the airport (subject to holding an appropriate visa, if required) and have a look around the city.

Can you leave the airport during an international layover Germany?

The vast majority of foreign travellers benefit from the \u201ctransit privilege\u201d - if during a stopover at a German airport, you do not leave the International Airport Area and if the destination is not in a Schengen country, you do not need a transit visa.

Can I leave the airport during a layover?

Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.

Is it safe to travel through Frankfurt airport?

This confirms that Frankfurt Airport continuously adapts the extensive protection and hygiene measures to the challenges of the ongoing Covid19-situation and that traveling from FRA is safe.



7-hour layover at the Frankfurt Airport | Travel Day AUS - FRA - MAN




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring, Gustavo Fring