Yes. All in-person attendees, regardless of age, at ICANN78 in Hamburg are required to be fully vaccinated and up to date against COVID-19 which, in most cases, includes booster shot(s).

An attendee is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or 14 days after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson). Remaining up to date on vaccinations after the primary series means receipt of available boosters or additional doses taken at recommended intervals. Mixed vaccines will also be accepted (e.g., one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer).

Instead of being required to visually show proof of vaccination during badge pickup, all in-person participants will be required to attest/declare (at the time of registration) that they will be in compliance with the vaccination requirements outlined above on/before 21 October 2023.

ICANN will accept WHO-approved vaccines. The list of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (as of 30 June 2023) is as follows:

• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen (Jcovden)
• Moderna (Spikevax)
• Novavax (Nuvaxovid)
• Oxford/AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria)
• Pfizer-BioNTech (Comirnaty)
• Sinopharm (Covilo)
• Sinovac (Coronavac)
• CanSino (Convidecia)
• Bharat Biotech (Covaxin)
• Serum Institute of India, Oxford/AstraZeneca formulation (Covishield)
• Serum Institute of India, Novavax formulation (Covovax)

A mix of two of the above vaccines (e.g., one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer vaccines) will also be accepted.

Instead of being required to visually show proof of vaccination during badge pickup, all in-person participants will be required to attest (at the time of registration) that they will be in compliance with the vaccination requirements outlined above on/before 21 October 2023.

All in-person attendees, regardless of age, at ICANN78 in Hamburg are required to be fully vaccinated and up-to-date against COVID-19 which, in most cases, includes booster shot(s).

An attendee is considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose of a two-dose vaccine (e.g., Pfizer or Moderna) or 14 days after a single-dose vaccine (e.g., Johnson & Johnson). Remaining up to date on vaccinations after the primary series means receipt of available boosters or additional doses taken at recommended intervals. Mixed vaccines will also be accepted (e.g., one dose of Moderna and one dose of Pfizer).

Note: Proof of a negative COVID-19 test, proof of antibodies, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 will not be accepted as a substitute for attesting that you are up-to-date with vaccination against COVID-19.

No, proof of a negative COVID-19 test, proof of antibodies, or proof of recovery from COVID-19 will not be accepted as a substitute for attesting that you are up-to-date with vaccination against COVID-19.

Current guidance states that requiring all attendees be up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations is an effective way of reducing the risk of transmission among large groups. Studies of those who have received a full vaccination course, including booster shots, demonstrate that the risk of carrying and transmitting the disease is vastly reduced.

No, we are unable to make any exceptions to the requirement that attendees be fully vaccinated and up to date against COVID-19. ICANN78 delegates are making their decision to attend based in part on an expectation that all who attend are held to the same health and safety requirements. Holding everyone to the same standard is an important part of ICANN’s commitment to its attendees. ICANN is committed to providing the best possible hybrid meeting with a continued focus on ensuring an equal and engaging experience for the virtual participants for ICANN78.

No. There will be no onsite registration facilities this year so you must register in advance.

In-person, advance registration will close on 20 October 2023. After that point in time, only virtual participation will be open for continued registration. Walk-up and late registrations will not be accepted after the in-person advance registration closes. All walk-up and late registered attendees will only have access to virtual participation.

Mask wearing is a personal decision, but in order to protect all our attendees, ICANN org recommends wearing a mask in all indoor public areas and meeting rooms.

However, ICANN reserves the right to shift this policy back to masks being required if the situation prior to the meeting or during the meeting deems it necessary to curb an outbreak or reduce the overall risk to delegates.

Anyone testing positive with COVID-19 is expected to not enter the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) meeting spaces.

The latest local COVID-19 guidance for Hamburg can be found here. ICANN recommends that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and/or who tests positive for COVID-19 self-isolate at home, in a hotel or any other accommodation of their choice with the premise owner’s permission. All costs incurred should be covered by their travel and health insurance or borne by the travelers.

Attendees who test positive for COVID-19 during or up to 5 days after the meeting, should contact ICANN’s Health and Safety Center at the email address that will be provided on the attendee’s badge.

ICANN encourages anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 during ICANN78 to make outreach to those with whom they may have been in close proximity prior to testing positive.

Again, anyone testing positive with COVID-19 is expected to not enter the Congress Center Hamburg (CCH) meeting space. If you are feeling unwell or have illness-related symptoms, please utilize virtual participation from your hotel room. ICANN’s Health & Safety Center (HSC) remains available to all ICANN attendees as a resource.

Electing to attend a meeting in person has always been a personal risk assessment and choice, returning to travel and meetings in the COVID-19 landscape make these personal risk assessments even more important, including acceptance of personal responsibility for taking those risks. ICANN’s health and safety measures ask all attendees to observe precautions intended to reduce the possibility of spread of COVID-19. ICANN provides the Health and Safety Center, which is available for initial assistance with illness.

Yes. ICANN will have an onsite Health and Safety Center at ICANN78 to support attendees who might become ill or hurt. The Health and Safety Center is available to all registered onsite attendees. If you are feeling unwell or have illness-related symptoms, please utilize virtual participation from your hotel room. Attendees who feel unwell during the meeting are encouraged to contact ICANN’s Health and Safety Center at the email address or phone number that will be provided on the attendee’s badge.

ICANN will be providing the Health and Safety Center in the meeting venue, as usual, which will provide diagnostic rapid antigen testing as needed/appropriate. If you are feeling unwell or have illness-related symptoms, please utilize virtual participation from your hotel room. Attendees who feel unwell during the meeting are encouraged to contact ICANN’s Health and Safety Center at the email address or phone number that will be provided on the attendee’s badge.

As a condition of accepting travel funding, you will need to sign the terms of participation, including committing to follow all relevant guidelines, standards and policies, as well as agreeing to abide by ICANN’s health and safety protocols in place for the ICANN78 Annual General Meeting. ICANN will continue to evaluate and expand our health and safety protocols as medical recommendations evolve, and reserves the right to change this up to and including the time during the meeting. We will update you in accordance so you know what to expect when you arrive in Hamburg.

ICANN org has modified several aspects of the arrival process with the return to hybrid meetings. All in-person attendees must be pre-registered by 20 October 2023 and show their registration confirmation email (requires a QR code) and government issued photo identification to receive an ICANN78 attendee badge.

To help reduce the queues, all attendees will be required to present their in-person registration confirmation emails (digital or printed), which will be scanned for entry. We will not provide kiosks to self check-in as previously available at meetings. There will not be any onsite registration available. Accompanying persons and family members will not be permitted into the meeting space unless they are also registered as in-person attendees, and must meet the entry requirements including being fully vaccinated.

ICANN will continue using the 3-color lanyard system (red, yellow, and green) to allow in-person attendees to visually express their comfort level when it comes to socializing with fellow attendees:

RED LANYARDS: NO CONTACT / I’m keeping my physical distance
*Desire extreme physical distancing and precautions.

YELLOW LANYARDS: ELBOWS ONLY / I’m still being cautious
*Desire some caution and respect physical distance with others.

GREEN LANYARDS: HIGH-FIVES & HANDSHAKES / I’m ok with shorter distance
*Fine with more relaxed behaviors followed by frequent hand washing and sanitizing.

Badge Pickup Station hours:

• Friday, 20 October 9:00 – 16:00 (Early Check-in)
• Saturday, 21 October 8:00 – 17:00
• Sunday, 22 October 8:00 – 17:00
• Monday, 23 October 8:00 – 17:00
• Tuesday, 24 October 8:00 – 17:00
• Wednesday, 25 October 8:00 – 17:00
• Thursday, 26 October 8:00 – 13:00

ICANN will conduct entrance scans of all attendee badges upon entry to ICANN78. The primary purpose is to enable email notifications to attendees of potential exposure to a confirmed positive COVID-19 case.

Contact tracing will be implemented with digital badge scanners when entering the ICANN78 meeting space. Ushers will quickly scan a QR code printed on all attendee badges upon entry to the ICANN78 venue.

The printed badge QR code does not contain any personally identifiable information, and is a random generated identifier (ID) for each attendee. This ID can only be linked by ICANN org to a registration record for a COVID-19 notification report, which will allow ICANN to notify all on-site participants of potential exposures to COVID-19. Badge scanning upon entry is mandatory for all in-person attendees. Contact tracing will not be conducted for virtual participants.

We will use your data in accordance with our Privacy Policy and as explained in this FAQ.

As with all international travel, all travelers have a responsibility to understand the entry and exit requirements of their travel and determine if they can meet those requirements before committing to the travel. Travelers may review specific travel requirements by visiting https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map or their local government international traveler websites.

To see travel requirements to enter the Germany based on your location, visit https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map.

Travelers may review specific travel requirements by visiting https://apply.joinsherpa.com/map or their local government international traveler websites.

Other Resources:

• Do I need a visa?
• German visa requirements/exemptions for entry
• Current information for travelers related to COVID-19 requirements for entry into Germany

ICANN will not be providing shuttles or ground transportation from the Hamburg Airport.. However, there are many transportation options available, as noted here.

ICANN will communicate additional information and details directly to Funded Travelers during the onboarding process for ICANN78.

Invitation letters are provided as part of the registration process. Please register here.

Please check back on this page often, especially as we get closer to the event, to learn more about the schedule posting and any event updates.

There are many local COVID-19 Testing centers within the Hamburg area and nearby the Congress Center Hamburg.