What are the issues affecting travelers in Austria? Read the latest travel warnings and alerts.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions in Austria – updated 17 August 2021
Requirements for travel to Austria
Travelers who have exclusively been to the United States or another “country or territory with low epidemiological risk” (listed in Annex 1 of the COVID-19 Entry Regulation) in the past 10 days may enter Austria without quarantine or pre-travel-registration if they provide upon entry a certificate of vaccination, a certificate of recovery, or a negative COVID-19 test result (see below for specific requirements).
If none of those certificates or test results can be provided upon entry, the person seeking entry must take a COVID-19 test at their own expense immediately (max. 24 hours) after arrival. In this case travelers are required to register in advance using the pre-travel clearance form.
US citizens are strongly encouraged to take direct flights between the United States and Austria to avoid third-country restrictions.
Requirements for vaccination/recovery certificates or COVID-19 tests
Please note that only certificates and test results issued in English or German by a medical professional or public authority will be accepted.
Vaccination Certificate (e.g. “CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Card” or Medical Certificate):
- Inoculation with BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson&Johnson/Janssen, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, or Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines.
- Start of validity: at the day of full immunization = receipt of 2 doses of BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, Astra Zeneca, Sinopharm or Sinovac. The exception is Johnson & Johnson, which requires only one dose for full effect. Persons, who have only received the first dose of those vaccines will have to present either negative PCR or rapid/antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 with the sample taken no earlier than 72 hours (PCR) or 48 hours (rapid/antigen) prior to entering Austria.
- End of validity: 270 days after the second/only inoculation
Certificate of Recovery (or Medical Certificate):
- Confirmation of the patient’s recovery from COVID-19 in the past 180 days issued by a medical professional or public authority,
- OR a positive test for COVID-19 antibodies not older than 90 days
COVID-19 Test Result (or Medical Certificate):
- PCR or rapid/antigen test for SARS-CoV-2
- Sample taken no earlier than 72 hours (PCR test) or 48 hours (rapid/antigen test) prior to entering Austria
- Test results must include: full name and date of birth of the tested person; date and time of the sampling; test result; bar-/QR-code or stamp and signature of testing facility
Travelers who have been to an “area of variants of concern” (any country or territory listed in Annex 2) in the past 10 days are not allowed to enter Austria.
The entry ban does not apply for the following groups of persons or to the following travel purposes:
- Austrian citizens, EU/EEA citizens, and Swiss citizens and all persons living in the same household
- Persons with a residence in Austria, the EU/EEA, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican or Switzerland, and all persons living in the same household
- Other exemptions can be found here
Any person who seeks to enter Austria claiming one of the above mentioned exceptions must:
- complete the pre-travel registration form (no earlier than 72 hours before entry),
- present upon entry a negative molecular-biological COVID-19 test (PCR test only, no rapid/antigen test) taken no earlier than 72 hours before the time of entry, AND
- observe a 10-day home-quarantine at their residence or at an appropriate accommodation at their own cost. More info here.
Travelers arriving from countries of territories not listed in Annex 1 or Annex 2, or who have been in such a country/territory within the past 10 days before entering Austria, must
- complete the pre-travel registration form (no earlier than 72 hours before entry),
- present upon entry a certificate of vaccination/recovery (see requirements above), or a negative molecular-biological COVID-19 test (taken no earlier than 72 hours (PCR test) or 48 hours (rapid/antigen test) before entry),
- AND must observe a mandatory 10-day quarantine at their residence or at an appropriate accommodation at their own cost. The residence/hotel may not be left for the quarantine period. Quarantine may be terminated upon presentation of a negative COVID-19 test taken no earlier than five days after entry.
Fully vaccinated (14 days after the last dose) persons are exempt from mandatory registration and quarantine. Some other exemptions apply.
Restrictions in Austria
There are a number of COVID-19 safety measures in place throughout Austria. Masks covering the mouth and nose are required on all public transportation. The provincial government of Tirol has re-introduced mask and crowd size restrictions due to spiking COVID cases, and mandatory testing for non-vaccinated persons when traveling out of high COVID areas. Violations of these measures are punishable by fines of 90 Euros per incident.
Wondering how your travel insurance might be affected by the COVID-19 outbreak? Find answers to some of our common questions about COVID-19.
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