CDC cards and Germany

The CDC rules for months have been that "before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel. There is also an option for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days."

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html

I don't know why you think you won't need to test in Germany for the return flight, because you absolutely do need to test...unless things change in April.

Thanks Emily, that’s helpful information about our return flight to the US. I just reread the CDC guidelines and apparently misread something in my research.

Anyone with information about entering Germany?

Hi everyone,

I’m thinking about flying to Germany in May or so. I’m unsure of the vaccination or test requirements to enter Germany and also to re-enter the United States as American citizen. I checked the website link that someone put for the CDC but that their latest update is January 2022 which says you do require a test within one day before you board the plane to return back to United States. But it seems there should be a later update than January since we’re almost toward the end of March. Also how do you find out if this requirement still holds since to have a test that’s ready one day before seems like it would be difficult. Want to follow the rules but I have to make sure how to do that.

I flew to Frankfurt, arriving yesterday. I just had to show my CDC card to verify I’m vaxxed and boosted at the airport in San Francisco when I checked in for my flight. Since being in Germany I have had to show my CDC card when going to restaurants, even when eating outdoors, and in stores, museums, and all forms of transportation. In other words expect to wear a mask and show proof of vaccination and you’ll be fine.

Thank you for posting your recent experience, Andrea.

You don't need a test to fly to Germany from the US but you do need a test with your passport number written on it to return to the US, tell the people at the testing station that you are traveling and need this when getting tested. Luckily there are testing stations everywhere in Germany so this shouldn't be a problem.

CDC cards work in some parts of Germany, although in my state a EU-compliant QR code was required even for foreigners - not sure if that's still true. You can use your CDC card to get a QR code (which can then be scanned into an app) at any German pharmacy in theory (again, different states operate slightly differently). I'd see if your CDC card is sufficient for restaurants and entertainment and if not, try an Apotheke to get a code. But for entering the country a cdc card alone is sufficient.

There is no testing requirement update later than January 2022 because the last time anything changed with regards to return testing was December 2021, when the omicron wave started and the testing window was reduced from three days to one day. There's been a requirement to produce a negative test to enter the US for at least a year.
I just returned from London with a proctored test kit by City Health. I did the test early in the morning of the day before my flight. The whole thing took 20 minutes from creating an account and waiting for a test proctor, to receiving a PDF confirming my negative results in my email. It could not have been easier.
Travel industry groups have been asking the White House to remove the return testing requirement but so far there is no sign that they will. They are revisiting the federal mask mandate again in April; if they remove the federal mask mandate surely they will remove the testing requirement.

@Sarah - I can confirm that my negative test results from France in October do NOT have my passport ## on them, only my DOB. I (sadly) returned with no issue.