State visits

type: Article , Topic: Flag Displays

During a state visit by a foreign head of state, flags are displayed at the buildings to be visited and along the route travelled by the guest.

Banner-format flags of the EU, Malawi, the Federation and Berlin at Platz des 18. März in Berlin Banner-format flags of the EU, Malawi, the Federation and Berlin at Platz des 18. März in Berlin (Larger version opens in new window) Source: Protokoll Inland Flags in banner format

On the instructions of the Federal Foreign Office, the European flag, the flag of the guest's home country and the federal flag are to be displayed at the arrival airport and along certain streets between the airport and the centre of Berlin.

Specific parts of the route to be flagged

Protocol route in front of the Federal Chancellery with the flags of the EU, Malawi and the Federation Protocol route in front of the Federal Chancellery with the flags of the EU, Malawi and the Federation (Larger version opens in new window) Source: Protokoll Inland EU, Malawi and federal flags

Flags are to be displayed in particular at the following sites: Ernst-Reuter-Platz (36 flags), Grosser Stern (24 flags), Bellevue Palace (30 flags), between the Federal Chancellery and the Reichstag building (26 flags), on the western side of the Brandenburg Gate (8 flags in banner format) and along the boulevard Unter den Linden (33 flags).

Airports

EU, Greek and federal institutions flags at the parking position of a government aircraft at Berlin’s Tegel Airport EU, Greek and federal institutions flags at the parking position of a government aircraft at Berlin’s Tegel Airport (Larger version opens in new window) Source: BMI Government aircraft at Berlin’s Tegel Airport

At an airport, if flags are to be hoisted on only some of the available flagpoles, then they should be hoisted on flagpoles next to each other, not leaving any empty flagpoles between them. This applies above all to displays of the European and federal (institutions) flag, which are intended to express the close relationship between the two.

At airports, flags should be displayed if possible at the flagpoles closest to where the guest’s aircraft is to be parked, so that the guest will be able to see the flags when arriving and departing.

Other visits

There are usually no more than four official state visits with full protocol honours per year. For official, working or other types of visits, flags are displayed only at the buildings to be visited by the guest.

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