Travel From The Uk To Austria: What You Need To Know

Austria has put in place a comprehensive entry protocol since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Under the protocol, people who have been in certain countries over the past ten days may be restricted from entering Austria or may need to complete a negative coronavirus test and/or quarantine. Travellers from the United Kingdom are now required to quarantine for ten days upon arrival in Austria, with some exceptions.

Do UK citizens need a visa to enter Austria?

UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Austria for a short holiday of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This rule is valid until at least the end of 2023 and applies to short-term business trips and longer-term postings of workers for up to 90 days. However, for stays longer than 90 days, UK citizens will need to meet the Austrian government's entry requirements and may need to apply for a visa or work permit.

At Austrian border control, UK citizens may need to show:

• Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home.
• Proof of travel insurance.
• A return or onward ticket.
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay.

It is important to note that your passport must meet certain requirements for entry into Austria. It must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen area, although 6 months validity is strongly recommended. Additionally, your passport must be less than 10 years old, even if it has more than 6 months left. If these conditions are not met, you may be denied entry to the EU and Austria.

From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will require an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation. The ETIAS will be valid for 3 years or until passport expiry (whichever comes first) and can be used for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. It will cost EUR 7 for individuals between the ages of 18 and 70, while those under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee.

What are the entry requirements for Austria?

British citizens do not need a visa to enter Austria for holidays or short-term business trips (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). However, you must have a valid passport. Your passport must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least 3 months' validity remaining (although 6 months is strongly recommended to avoid having to prove your departure date)
• Be less than 10 years old, even if it has more than 6 months left

If your passport does not meet these requirements, you may not be able to travel to the EU, including Austria.

At Austrian border control, you may need to:

• Show proof of your accommodation, e.g. a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home
• Show proof of travel insurance
• Show a return or onward ticket
• Prove that you have enough money for your stay

From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will require an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation.

If you are staying in Austria for longer than 90 days, you must meet the Austrian government's entry requirements and may need a visa or work permit. Check which type you need with the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Austrian Embassy in the UK.

If you are travelling to Austria with a pet, your pet will need:

• A microchip
• A valid rabies vaccination
• An animal health certificate (unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland)

What are the entry requirements for children?

As of May 2022, Austria has dropped all COVID-19 entry requirements. This means that children arriving in Austria do not need to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19. However, there are still some important entry requirements for children that should be noted:

• Each child needs their own identification document (passport or identity card). Entries for children in a parent's passport are no longer valid.
• The child's passport must have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date of arrival in Austria. If the passport was renewed before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is valid for more than 10 years.
• The passport must have an 'expiry date' of at least 3 months after the planned departure date from the Schengen area. Although 6 months of validity is strongly recommended to avoid needing to prove the departure date.
• If the child is a UK national, they do not need a visa for holidays in Austria (up to 90 days in a 180-day period). For longer stays, a visa or permit may be required.
• If transiting through Germany to Austria, children under 12 years of age are exempt from testing or providing proof of vaccination or recovery.

What is the Holiday Ninja Pass?

The Holiday Ninja Pass is a travel pass for those looking to holiday in Austria. The pass was introduced to make the journey to Austria more relaxed and care-free.

The Holiday Ninja Pass is a 2G pass, meaning that it is a proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19. The pass is available to both residents and holidaymakers in Austria. The Holiday Ninja Pass is valid for 5 days, during which time the holder must have a valid negative COVID-19 test result. The test can be an antigen test, valid for 48 hours, or a PCR test, valid for 72 hours. The pass is then valid for two additional "bonus days", days 6 and 7, without the need for a further test.

The Holiday Ninja Pass is valid from the first negative test result and holders must carry an official paper or digital copy of the test result, as well as a valid photo ID.

It is important to note that from Spring 2025, travellers from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will require an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter Austria.

What are the quarantine rules for Austria?

As of December 19th, 2020, Austria imposed a mandatory quarantine for all arrivals in the country, including Austrian citizens, residents, and non-Austrians. The quarantine period was initially set at ten days, with the option to leave after five days if a negative Coronavirus test result was presented. However, the Austrian government has since tightened these restrictions, and the quarantine period is now ten days without exception.

Who is exempt from the quarantine rules?

Cross-border commuters are exempt from the quarantine rules but must register with the authorities and show a negative PCR test result once a week.

Before arriving in Austria, all travellers are required to complete a 'Declaration of Quarantine' form, which can be found online in English. This form asks for information such as name, date of birth, and nationality. It also provides details about the quarantine requirement and exceptions to the rules. It is important to keep this form on you at all times when entering Austria, as authorities may perform random checks at border crossings and elsewhere in the country.

Frequently asked questions