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Courses and Conferences

EMBL Courses and Conferences are a major European platform for sharing and expanding research, knowledge and contacts through face-to-face and virtual interaction

FAQs: Corona and COVID-19 information for on-site events at EMBL Heidelberg

Do I need still to bring anything with me on the first day to access the event?
  • In short – no! There is no longer any requirement to prove that you are vaccinated or to show any negative Covid-19 test certification.
  • You may wish to bring masks and a supply of self-tests.
Do I need to show a negative test on arrival for the event?

No – proof of a negative test is no longer required on entry to courses or conferences. It is however recommended that you self-test before travelling to Heidelberg. For training courses: You are asked to then take responsibility for self-testing at your hotel / home daily, using rapid antigen test kits provided by EMBL on arrival. This is because of the close, prolonged contact in the smaller labs and classrooms.

For all events, please be sure to self-test if you experience symptoms.

Do I need to wear a mask anywhere onsite?

Masks are no longer mandatory anywhere at EMBL. Medical masks or FFP2 masks are however still recommended in the labs, classrooms and other close contact sessions for training courses.

Do I need to register to enter Germany from another country?

You only need to register if you are arriving from an ‘area with variants of concern’. As at 18 January 2023, nowhere was considered an area with variants of concern by Germany. The list of such risk areas, should new ones arise, is on the Robert Koch Institute website.

An additional category of ‘areas of emerging variants of concern’ was recently introduced and applied to mainland China, with special requirements for anyone travelling to Germany from there. If coming from China it is advisable to check the latest information.

If you do need to register, do this at the travel portal (www.einreiseanmeldung.de) before entering the country. You must carry the confirmation with you, but you do not need to quarantine as long as you upload your proof of vaccination or recovery when registering. You can find additional information on the obligation to register and exemptions in the FAQs on Digital Registration on Entry, the obligation to furnish proof and quarantine on entry.

What happens if I test positive for COVID-19 during my stay in Heidelberg for a course or conference?


If you test positive whilst your course or conference is still running, you must withdraw from the event and cannot return unless you subsequently test negative. The EMBL Course and Conference Office team can help and advise you on everything from the current regulations in Germany to accessing medical advice and further tests as needed. There is no requirement to quarantine in Germany any longer if you test positive, instead you are required to wear a mask in outdoor situations where 1.5m distance can’t be kept and also indoors where physical contact to others might occur.

Are there still any local Covid-19 restrictions to be aware of in Germany (e.g. masks on public transport, visits to medical institutions)?

Since February 2023, masks are legally required only in medical institutions or practices. Most other government requirements have been removed.

Where can I find more information?

Information on the COVID measures and travel restrictions in place in European countries can be found on the following websites: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/coronavirus/2317268 and https://reopen.europa.eu/en. These websites also contain information on what personal information and documents you will need to have with you to travel.

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