With this GMS Flash Alert we would like to provide an update on the measures taken in Germany, which we reported on earlier in GMS Flash Alert 2020-067 (18 March 2020).  While German diplomatic missions abroad have closed and visa application processing has been suspended, the action being urged in Germany is: ‘stay at home’ and ‘distance socially’.  This also has an impact on local immigration offices in Germany.  

Companies with global presence and individuals operating across borders need to be increasingly aware of the relevant risks associated with travel and new work arrangements consequent to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Furthermore, the operations of the German immigration authorities (diplomatic missions abroad, immigration offices in Germany) have been reduced significantly, so new assignments to Germany or the international hiring of new foreign talent will be delayed; application processes for long-term residence and work permissions are impacted in the same way. 

Following the guidelines of the EU Commission from 16 March 2020¹, Germany has limited entries from non-EU member states to Germany with immediate effect.  The travel ban is supposed to last for 30 days – however, it is not clear, if (a) 30 days are considered as one month or (b) on actual/360-day basis.  Furthermore, it is important to ascertain if 16 March 2020 is included in the calculation or not.²  For example, the German diplomatic missions in India refer to “until April 15, 2020”.³

Currently, crossing the border from a non-EU member state is possible for the following groups of travelers and under the following conditions:

• German nationals returning home,
• EU citizens (as well as British nationals) and citizens of the Schengen Associated States (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland) as well as their family members, according to EU laws,⁴ who are returning home;
• Non-EU/European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, who are long-term residents under the Directive 2003/109/EC⁵ or otherwise are deemed to reside under the terms of another EU Directive⁶ or national law or who hold national visa;
• Non-EU/EEA national travelers with an essential function or need like health-care professionals, health researchers, and elderly-care professionals, frontier workers, transport personnel engaged in haulage of goods and other transport staff to the extent necessary, diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions, passengers in transit or travelling for imperative family reasons, persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons.

The German Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Community (in German: Bundesministerium des Innern, fuer Bau und Heimat) interprets the situation of non-EU/EEA nationals with residence and work permissions or national visa as follows:

• Holders of a valid EU Blue Card (in German: Blaue Karte EU), ICT-Card (in German: ICT Karte), Mobile-ICT-Card (in German: Mobiler-ICT-Karte), Settlement Permit (in German: Niederlassungserlaubnis), EU Long-Term Residence Permit (in German: Erlaubnis zum Daueraufenthalt-EU), Residence Permit (in German: Aufenthaltserlaubnis) or national visa can re-enter Germany and additionally
• have already a domicile or registered residence in Germany.⁷

Non-EU/EEA nationals with a valid national visa or long-term residence and work permission of an EU member state, the U.K. or Associated Schengen member state may also enter Germany for a unavoidable transit to their “home country,” although is it not clear if “home country” means the country of citizenship or residence country.  With regard to the purpose and the approach for holders of a German national visa or residence and work permission, the latter interpretation appears to be more reasonable.  

Germany has limited, with effect as of 18 March 2020, the entry to Germany for EU member states and Schengen Associated States as follows:

• Entries from Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland are subject to police controls and usually are prohibited.  Controls do not only happen at land borders, but also when entering Germany on a plane or ship.⁸

With effect as of 19 March 2020, the land border crossing points at the borders to Austria, Denmark, France, Luxemburg and Switzerland are limited.  The list of the limited border crossing points has been published on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Community.⁹

Entries to Germany from those countries are possible for returning German citizens as well as the following groups of travelers:

• Cross-border travelers for work purposes or to carry out professional contractual services regardless of nationality (including for commuters, seasonal workers, members of the European Parliament, and accredited diplomats).
• Cross-border travel for compelling reasons (such as medical treatment or death of a family member) regardless of nationality.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Community published a guidance document, which confirms that cross-border delivery of services like in a so-called Vander-Elst setting are also encompassed by the “cross-border travelers for work purposes” alternative.  For this, the project contract acts as substitute of the employment contract with a local employer.¹⁰  So far, it had not been clear, if only locally-employed cross-border commuters could made use of the exemption. 

The majority of German diplomatic missions (approximately 3/4) have shut down and offer only emergency services.  A harmonised practice isn’t in place, and it is necessary to check the website of each diplomatic missions to see:

• how long the closure is supposed to last,
• if scheduled appointments will be performed or are cancelled,
• if cancelled appointments are rescheduled by the diplomatic missions proactively, and
• how they can be reached in case of emergency.

An emergency in this context also entails a visa application to be filed in order to travel to Germany as a non-EU/EEA national with an essential function.

More and more German immigration offices are closed for the public entirely or offer just limited slots for visits under enhanced measures to help prevent the staff from getting infected with COVID-19.  Because almost 600 different immigration offices exist, the practice can vary greatly. However, there is a tendency that decisions are made according to written procedures and available long-term residence and work permissions are sent via mail to the personal addresses of applicants. 

On 22 March 2020, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Minister-Presidents of all 16 German Federal States agreed on further measures in light of Stay-At-Home and Social Distancing, which have to be implemented by each Federal State.  Federal States are allowed to apply even more restrictive measures, so foreign nationals need to check the local measures being introduced.

The guidelines were announced during a press conference on 22 March 2020, and are published online.¹¹  The main topics concern the following:

• Residents of Germany (Germans and foreign nationals) are requested to reduce contacts with persons beyond members of their own household to a bare necessary minimum; in public spaces, wherever it is possible, it is required to keep a minimum gap of 1.5 metres between persons who are not members of the household.
• Remaining in a public space is only allowed by oneself, or with only one other person not being a member of the individual’s household, or with family members regardless of the number; going to work, child-care, purchases, to visit the doctor, participate in sessions, essential appointments, and exams, social services, or individual sports and going for a walk is possible.  With regard to going to work, supporting documentation provided by the employer is recommended, like an employer’s confirmation explaining the need to work from the office and not from home.
• Catering trades including restaurants and bars are closed with the exception of delivery services for take-away food; service companies for personal care like hairdressers, cosmetic studios, massage studios, tattoo studios, and related services will be closed.

The above measures will apply for a period of at least two weeks.

This Flash Alert is based on the available information on 23 March 2020 (at: 17:00 CET).  Assignments to Germany and hiring new personnel from abroad will be significantly delayed due to the closure of many diplomatic missions.  Regardless of available appointments, it is recommended that you not travel to Germany during the time of the travel ban.  A high risk exists that the entry will be denied – unless, as described above, the traveler can prove he or she has an essential purpose.

With regard to the measures impacting social life in Germany, companies shall instruct their employees and assignees accordingly.  A violation can become subject to criminal prosecution with a maximum sanction of five years of imprisonment.¹².

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*  Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not provide any labour law or immigration services.  However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters. 

The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Germany.

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