COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Austria (28 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents can enter, including those living in the same household (i.e. holders of a “Meldezettel”).

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Entry is prohibited for third-country nationals when arriving from any country other than the Schengen Area or Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the Vatican.

• Tourism and leisure travel is prohibited.

• Entry is allowed for travellers in the following categories:

• EU nationals, EEA nationals, and those living in the same household. Citizens of Switzerland, Andora, Monaco, and San Marino and their household members are allowed entry.

• Diplomats, employees of international organizations, humanitarian forces, and travellers with special permission by the government and their household members.

• Passengers travelling on business.

• Passengers visiting their life partner.

• Travellers to Austria for studies or to do research at an Austrian university or college.

• Other categories of travellers as approved by the Austrian government.

• All travellers must obtain pre-travel clearance.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Travellers may transit through Austria. A PCR test certificate is not required if the traveller is not stopping over in Austria and has an onward reservation.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No with exceptions

• Health screening measures are in place at all the entry points, including airports.

• Passengers who arrive without a negative PCR or an antigen test certificate must be tested within 24 hours of entry. Children less than 10 years of age are exempt from the testing requirements.

Is a test certificate accepted?

• Yes

• Test certificates obtained outside of Austria are accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes with exceptions

• People entering Austria from any country except Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the Vatican must provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued no more than 72 hours prior to arrival or an antigen test that was taken within 48 hours before arrival. Both PCR and antigen tests are admissible. Travellers who fail to present a test certificate are required to undergo a test and obtain a negative certificate within 24 hours of entering Austria.

• Children under 10 years do not need a negative COVID-19 test certificate.

• Regular cross-border commuters need a negative PCR or an antigen test no older than 7 days.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes with exceptions

• A 10-day self-quarantine is mandatory for any traveller who is arriving from, or has visited in the last 10 days, a country that is considered to be a risk area. Currently, all countries worldwide are considered risk areas, except Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the Vatican. Exemptions from this restriction include business travel, travel due to unexpected personal emergencies, such as funerals, and transit journeys without a stopover.

• Regular cross-border commuters are exempt from the quarantine requirement. They do, however, need a negative PCR or antigen test no older than 7 days. They also need to register for pre-travel clearance once a week.

• Any traveller who has been in a high-risk country for 10 days prior to travel and who travels through a designated safe country en route to Austria must still enter a 10-day quarantine.

• A PCR or antigen test may be performed on or after day 5 of the isolation period. If the test result is negative, the quarantine can end. However, persons from third countries are not allowed to end their quarantine by taking another PCR test earlier. Arrivals from third countries must present the confirmation of accommodation for the isolation and must cover all expenses related to the isolation measure.

• Business travellers may not need to quarantine. They must present a negative PCR test or antigen test certificate issued 72 hours before entering Austria.

• Based on the above restrictions, all incoming travellers will be subjected to zero days of quarantine in the best-case scenario and 10 days of quarantine in the worst-case scenario.

Vaccination required?

• No

• A vaccination for COVID-19 is not required for entry into the country.

Is insurance required?

• No

• Proof of insurance coverage for COVID-19 expenses is not required to enter the country.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• The contact tracing app, “Stop Corona”, is recommended.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Incoming passengers must complete an entry declaration form.

• All passengers need to present a “Declaration of Quarantine” form before arriving.

• Passengers must present a completed pre-travel clearance form upon arrival. The clearance form can be obtained here.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• International and domestic flights are operating with reduced capacity.

• Flights from Brazil and South Africa remain banned until 02 May 2021. This does not apply to humanitarian, medevac, and repatriation flights.

Border restrictions

• Significant

• Austria is closed for tourism.

• Arrivals from safe countries are allowed entry without restrictions. The only countries currently considered safe are Australia, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the Vatican.

Curfew restrictions

• Significant

• A nationwide lockdown is in place until further notice. Measures can be found here.

• A nightly curfew is in effect from 20:00 to 06:00 (local time).

• The Austrian government has announced stricter rules and a stay-at-home order in the provinces of Vienna, Lower Austria until 2 May. Measures can be found here.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Physical distancing norms should be strictly followed.

• People are required to keep a minimum distance of 2 meters (6.5 ft) from people from other households.

• Indoor gatherings are limited to 6 people, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 12 people.

Internal travel restrictions

• Significant

• Local, regional, and long-distance transport are operating throughout Austria.

• A negative COVID-19 test result must be presented to exit Tyrol until 5 May. This applies to residents and visitors who stayed in the region for more than 24 hours; residents of Jungholz, Riss Valley, and Eben am Achensee are exempted from testing requirements. The test must be an antigen test no older than 48 hours, or a PCR test no older than 72 hours.

• Travellers are required to present a negative antigen test no older than 48 hours, a PCR test no older than 72 hours, or a certificate confirming a prior COVID-19 infection within the last six months in Lower Austria, leaving Scheibbs, Wiener Neustadt, Wiener Neustadt-Land, and Neunkirchen.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes

• Non-essential shops are open with an FFP2 mask requirement for all customers.

• Non-essential shops are closed and a 24/7 stay-at-home order is in effect in the provinces of Vienna, Lower Austria.

Accommodations open?

• No with exceptions

• Hotels are allowed to operate for business travellers only. Hotels are closed to leisure travellers/tourists.

Restaurants open?

• No with exceptions

• Restaurants and bars can only offer takeout/delivery services. Dining inside restaurants, bars and cafes is not permitted (except in the province of Vorarlberg).

Bars and cafes open?

• No with exceptions

• All bars and cafes are closed, except for takeout and delivery services.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• No with exceptions

• Austria is closed for tourism.

• Ski areas will be allowed to operate for day skiers and locals only.

• Cable cars are operating.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Museums and zoos are open, but with an FFP2 mask requirement for all visitors.

• Culture and leisure facilities such as theatres, cinemas, gyms, pools, and amusement parks are closed. Certain exemptions apply in the province of Vorarlberg.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Personal care services may reopen. A negative COVID-19 test will be required for customers.

Places of worship open?

• No

• Places of worship are not open.

Events allowed?

• No with exceptions

• All events, such as plays or concerts, have been cancelled. Funerals may have up to 50 mourners with strict social distancing measures. Weddings are allowed at the registry office only.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• FFP2 masks are required on public transport and in other public spaces. Children under 6 years of age are not required to wear masks.

Other

• Educational institutions remain closed and have switched to distance learning mode. However, schools are allowed to provide daycare for those parents who are unable to work from home.

• Essential businesses, car repair shops, gas stations, newsagents, pharmacies, post offices, and supermarkets, are allowed to operate between 6:00 and 18:00 (local time).

• Theatres, cinemas, gyms, pools, amusement parks, and most other cultures and leisure and sports venues remain closed.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Airlines may have their own requirements for testing, masking, and distancing. It is recommended that travellers carry a supply of face masks since the requirement can vary by location. It is recommended that travellers practice social distancing and maintain a 6-foot distance other individuals and avoid crowded areas. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.