Pcr Test Requirements For Austrian Airlines: What You Need To Know

If you are planning to travel to Austria, it is mandatory to get a PCR test done. The test results are usually available within 24 hours. The test is designed to verify the existence of a COVID-19 infection. A PCR test is also required when entering Austria from certain countries. The test results are valid for a maximum of 72 hours.

PCR test requirements for entry into Austria

As of 20 December 2021, Austria has made vaccinations a mandatory entry requirement for tourists and business travellers. All travellers entering Austria need to show proof of full vaccination or recovery, as well as a negative PCR test or proof of a booster shot.

Who Needs a PCR Test

A PCR test is mandatory for travellers who are:

• Fully vaccinated with two doses (or vaccinated with one shot of Johnson & Johnson)
• Recovered and vaccinated with one dose

No PCR test will be required for those who are:

• Fully vaccinated with a booster
• Recovered and fully vaccinated

Quarantine Requirements

Everyone arriving from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Norway need to have the booster and a 48-hour PCR test to be allowed entry into Austria.

EU+ citizens and residents can still enter Austria without a booster dose or a negative PCR test. However, they will need to quarantine for ten days upon arrival. They can be released from quarantine as early as day 5, provided that they can present a negative PCR test.

Pre-Travel Clearance

All passengers, regardless of the country they are coming from, must fill out a pre-travel clearance form at least 72 hours before entering Austria. This is not applicable when entering from safe countries if you have been tested, vaccinated, or have recovered. If you only want to take a test after entering Austria from a safe country, you still have to register in advance. When entering from countries that are not on the list of safe countries, there is no registration requirement for vaccinated persons (complete vaccination and 14 days after the last vaccine dose are required). This exception does not apply to entry from virus variant areas. The registration confirmation must be presented electronically or as a printout.

PCR Test Requirements

You need a PCR test that is not older than 72 hours or an antigen test that is not older than 48 hours. Children aged 12 and over also need a test. The test must be confirmed by an authorised body. Self-tests (not older than 24 hours) are only valid if they are digitally recorded on one of the self-test platforms of the Austrian federal states. Self-tests from private providers and other countries are not valid for entry.

Where to get a PCR test for Austrian Airlines

If you are travelling to Austria, you will need to take a PCR test. This test must be taken no earlier than 72 hours before your arrival in Austria. The test result must be negative.

Austrian Airlines and the Lufthansa Group have partnered with AXA Partners to provide benefits to passengers on Covid-19 tested flights. These benefits include telemedical assistance and compensation in the event of a positive antigen test. If you have a booking on one of these Covid-19-tested flights, AXA Partners will cover the cost of a PCR test if it is ordered by a doctor in the country of travel.

You can take a PCR test at a medical facility or a testing centre. In Austria, PCR tests are carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Results are typically available within 24 hours.

• Amsterdam, J. Drijverweg 5
• Den Haag, Beresteinlaan 4
• Den Bosch, Vughterstraat 175B
• Leiden, Maresingel 5
• Eindhoven, Willemstraat 31
• Amsterdam, Van Speijkstraat 35
• Apeldoorn, Stadskade 472
• Amsterdam, Pontanusstraat 271
• Tilburg, Piusstraat 22
• Den Haag, Parallelweg 83
• Rotterdam, Oosteinde 87
• Rotterdam, Nieuwenoord 275
• Haarlem, Mollerusweg 60 (near IKEA)
• Almere, Markerkant 12 (Unit 1-07)
• Zwolle, Marconistraat 15
• Hiversum, Koninginneweg 129A
• Alkmaar, Kanaalkade 26
• Breda, Ceresstraat 32
• Ede, Bunschoterplein 45
• Utrecht, Aquamarijnlaan 17B

PCR test cost

PCR tests are required for passengers travelling to Austria. The test must be taken within 72 hours before entering Austria and must be presented upon entry.

The cost of PCR tests varies depending on the provider and location. Here is a list of prices for PCR tests from different sources:

• Planjecoronatest.nl offers PCR tests for €119, now temporarily discounted to €89 per test.
• 4U Health offers an at-home COVID-19 spit test kit for $129, which includes prepaid FedEx overnight return shipping to the lab.
• Verywell Health mentions that the federal government started a program in January 2022 that allowed people to order free rapid tests through the United States Postal Service. However, this program was suspended in March 2024.
• A study conducted in India estimated the per-unit cost of providing the COVID-19 RT-PCR test during the early stages of the pandemic to be ₹566 ($7.5) in July 2020. The total annual operating cost and per-unit cost were approximately ₹164.4 million ($2.2 million) and ₹691 ($9.2) respectively.

What is a PCR test?

A PCR test, or polymerase chain reaction test, is a method used to rapidly create millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample. This technique was invented in 1983 by American biochemist Kary Mullis and French biologist Michael Smith, who were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1993 for their work.

PCR tests are widely used for medical research and diagnosis. In the context of COVID-19, PCR tests are considered the "gold standard" due to their high accuracy in detecting even small amounts of the virus. The test involves taking a sample from the nose and throat, which is then sent to a laboratory for analysis. The entire process typically takes two to three days and can be quite costly.

PCR tests are highly sensitive and specific, making them effective in detecting COVID-19 infections. However, they require lab analysis and have a longer turnaround time compared to rapid antigen tests. On the other hand, rapid antigen tests can be done completely at home and provide results within minutes, but they are less accurate, especially for asymptomatic individuals.

When deciding between a PCR and a rapid antigen test, it is important to consider your specific situation and symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms or need a more accurate result, a PCR test is recommended. If you require immediate results or are asymptomatic, a rapid antigen test may be more suitable.

Quarantine requirements when entering Austria

As of May 16, 2022, Austria has lifted its COVID-19-related entry requirements. This means that travelers entering Austria are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery, or a negative COVID-19 test result. However, it is important to note that Austrian authorities imposed stricter quarantine and entry rules in the past to curb the spread of new contagious Coronavirus variants.

Quarantine Requirements for Entering Austria:

• As of March 11, 2021, all travelers entering Austria from countries at risk, including Romania, were required to register online at least 72 hours in advance by completing a "Pre-Travel Clearance (PTC)" form. This could be done either electronically or through a handwritten, signed form in German or English.
• Upon arrival in Austria, travelers had to present the registration confirmation, which could be in electronic or printed form.
• People traveling to Austria, including from Romania, were subject to a mandatory 10-day quarantine period at home or in a suitable location, with the costs covered by their personal budget.
• The quarantine measure could be lifted after the fifth day if a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (PCR or antigen) was presented, performed no earlier than the fifth day after entering Austria.
• From February 10, 2021, all travelers entering Austria had to present a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result (PCR, no older than 72 hours, or antigen, no older than 48 hours). If the test result could not be presented upon entry, it had to be done within 24 hours of arriving in Austria.
• The test certificate had to include specific information such as the tested person's name and surname, date of birth, date and time of sampling, test result, signature of the tester, and a stamp or barcode/QR code from the testing institution.
• Exemptions to the quarantine measure included individuals traveling from Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and the Vatican, who could provide supporting documents stating their presence in these countries in the last 10 days.
• Other exceptions included humanitarian mission staff, diplomatic staff and their families, care and medical staff, seasonal workers in specific sectors, individuals traveling for medical reasons, and those traveling to fulfill legal or administrative duties.

Frequently asked questions