Austria's Covid Red List Status Explained

As of January 2025, Austria has been added to the red list for COVID-19 in Romania, Lithuania, and the UK. This means travellers from Austria will be required to self-isolate upon arrival and may need to present a negative COVID-19 test or proof of vaccination. Previously, Austria had placed Turkey on its own red list, requiring travellers from Turkey to quarantine upon entry.

Is Austria on the red list for COVID-19?

Austria's red list for COVID-19

Austria has had a varied response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with changing restrictions and quarantine requirements. In May 2021, Austria added the UK to its red list, banning all direct flights to the country due to the rise of cases of the Indian variant in the UK. Only Austrian citizens and residents were allowed to enter Austria from the UK from June 1, 2021.

Austria has also featured on other countries' red lists during the pandemic. In March 2023, it was reported that Austria was facing an outbreak of new COVID-19 cases, including the South African strain, which raised concerns in the UK. The Swaz district in the Austrian lander of Tyrol received extra vaccines as it was heavily affected by the variant.

Austria has also appeared on Romania's red list for COVID-19. In September 2023, Romania's National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU) approved a new list of countries with epidemiological risk, and Austria was moved to the red travel list. This list took effect on September 26, 2023.

In addition, Latvia included Austria on its red list in August 2024, classifying it as a "serious threat to public health." This classification resulted in mandatory quarantine for travellers returning from Austria.

Austria has implemented its own red list during the pandemic as well. In July 2021, Austria removed Turkey from its red list of countries with travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Brazil, South Africa, India, and the UK remained on the list due to the spread of new coronavirus variants.

Travel restrictions to Austria

As of November 2024, Austria has lifted entry restrictions for European countries with a stable COVID-19 situation. Visitors from the following countries may enter Austria without presenting a medical certificate:

• Andorra
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Germany
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Greece
• Ireland
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Monaco
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• San Marino
• Switzerland
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain (the Canary Islands only)
• Czech Republic
• Hungary
• Vatican
• United Kingdom
• Cyprus

Individuals who have spent time in other countries in addition to one listed above must either present a negative test result or quarantine at home for 10 days.

Third-country nationals cannot currently enter Austria for non-essential purposes. Exemptions to the ban apply to individuals belonging to certain international organisations, healthcare providers, and seasonal workers in the agricultural, forestry and tourism sectors. People in these countries can enter Austria with a negative PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours before departure.

As of December 2024, most visitors from the United Kingdom, regardless of vaccination status, can enter Austria without restrictions. Visitors from the UK are not required to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test or antigen result, nor are they required to quarantine upon entering Austria.

Austria removed Turkey from its red list of countries with travel restrictions imposed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Travellers from the EU and other "low-risk" countries will be permitted to enter Austria without being forced to quarantine if they are either vaccinated or have a negative test result. Brazil, South Africa, India, and the UK still remain on the red list due to the spread of new coronavirus variants.

As of September 2025, Austria is on Romania's red list of countries with epidemiological risk.

Austria's COVID-19 vaccination requirements

As of May 16, 2022, Austria lifted all COVID-related entry requirements for individuals travelling to the country. This means that travellers are no longer required to show proof of vaccination or recovery, complete a pre-clearance form, or undergo testing or mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

Prior to this, Austria had implemented varying levels of restrictions throughout the pandemic. In November 2021, the Austrian government imposed a 20-day lockdown in response to a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases, coinciding with the start of the ski season. During this time, Austria made it a legal requirement for its citizens to be vaccinated by February 1, 2022, becoming the first country in the EU to do so.

In March 2022, Austria updated its entry requirements, allowing travellers to enter the country if they could provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from COVID-19, or a negative COVID-19 test. For proof of vaccination, travellers needed to have received a single or two-dose vaccine, with the last dose administered between 14 and 270 days prior to travel. Booster doses were valid for 270 days. Proof of recovery was valid for 180 days and was required in the form of a medical certificate issued by government authorities. For negative COVID-19 tests, travellers could provide PCR test results within 72 hours of travel or rapid antigen tests within 24 hours of travel.

Austria has also featured on the red lists of several countries throughout the pandemic, including Romania, Latvia, Croatia, and the UK. These red lists often resulted in travel restrictions or mandatory quarantines for individuals travelling from Austria to these countries.

Austria's COVID-19 testing requirements

As of May 16, 2024, Austria lifted all COVID-related entry requirements for individuals travelling to the country. This means that travellers are not required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, recovery, a pre-clearance form, or a negative test result. They will also not need to undergo mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

However, Austria does have an "emergency brake" policy, meaning that in the case of a new virus variant, the country can reapply entry requirements.

Previously, travellers from the EU and other "low-risk" countries were permitted to enter Austria without quarantining if they were either vaccinated or had a negative test result.

Austria's COVID-19 quarantine rules

Austria has implemented a series of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Here are the quarantine rules for Austria:

Quarantine Rules for Positive COVID-19 Cases

If you test positive for COVID-19, you must self-isolate and stay at home for at least five days. If you are seriously ill, you may need to quarantine for longer than ten days, even with a negative PCR test. During quarantine, you must keep a minimum distance of two metres from anyone you share a household with and not receive any visitors.

Quarantine Rules for Close Contacts

If you are identified as a close contact of a positive case, you must quarantine for five days. Close contacts include those who share a household with someone who tested positive or had close contact (less than a two-metre distance for more than 15 minutes) with the infected person. You are not considered a close contact if you have received a full course of vaccination and a booster shot or proof of recovery.

Quarantine Rules for Travellers

Travellers entering Austria from countries with a high epidemiological risk must self-isolate for ten days. This period can be shortened if they test negative after five days. They must also fill out a pre-travel clearance form and provide proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative test result.

Quarantine Exemption for Cross-Border Commuters

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

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