How does Schengen border controls work at the USAF's Ramstein Air Base?

Upvote:-3

Since it is a US Air Force base, it got me curious about how do the, legally required, border controls to be cleared into the Schengen Area work there.

It is not regulated by Schengen Area entry conditions, but by the conditions of the NATO Status of Forces Agreement

These agreements affect status, entry and departure from the host nation, military training within host nation territory, jurisdiction, law enforcement, taxation, import and export laws, driving privileges, employment, mail, schooling, housing and much more.

Sources:

Upvote:6

I only have information on how this is handled in Bavaria, but I would very much assume that the same or very similar procedures are followed in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate where Ramstein is located.

The NATO regulations cover travel for direct members of the force, civilian employees working for the force and their dependents (close relatives like spouses and children). This group of people is exempt from regular immigration checks and visa requirements. So far so good.

Then to what you asked about: If persons not covered by this exemption are travelling on a plane directly in or out of a foreign airbase, German guidelines require the airbase to inform the German police in advance and they will come and perform a regular immigration check of these persons. The regulations foresee that the immigration check is to be performed outside the airbase, as German officials are usually not allowed to enter. This procedure is again very similar to how private extra-schengen flights are handled to and from airports with no commercial traffic or permanently staffed immigration control. Such flights must also be announced in advance and the border police will come to perform the required procedures.

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