Traveling To Austria During The Coronavirus Pandemic: Is It Safe?

As of May 19, 2024, Austria has eased its COVID-19 restrictions, allowing travel from EU/Schengen countries and epidemiologically safe third countries. However, Austria's overall coronavirus tally stands at over 16,400 cases, and the country has experienced weeks-long lockdowns and border closures. The country's response to the pandemic has included limiting people's movement, closing non-essential businesses, and imposing quarantine requirements for travellers from certain countries. The UK government previously advised against all non-essential travel to Austria, but this restriction has since been lifted. Travellers should be aware of the potential for changing advice and the need to comply with any screening measures put in place by the authorities.

Border restrictions

As of May 19, 2024, Austria's authorities have announced plans to ease their COVID-19 preventive measures, including border restrictions, to help the country recover from the pandemic. However, entry requirements will be in place to prevent a surge in COVID-19 infections.

Before May 19, Austria remains under lockdown, permitting only essential travel. Arrivals from most countries are required to self-isolate for ten days and show a negative COVID-19 test result. Additionally, all travellers must register digitally in advance to obtain a "pre-travel clearance" form. Travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, South Korea, and Singapore are exempt from these rules as these territories are considered safe.

From May 19 onwards, entry rules will be based on the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) maps regarding the COVID-19 situation in other countries. Citizens of countries in the green and orange categories will not face entry restrictions, while those from red-listed countries must present a negative COVID-19 test result and prove they have recovered from the disease. Citizens of countries in the dark red category will have to follow the same rules and also quarantine upon arrival.

Previously, in March 2020, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all non-essential travel abroad to tackle the spread of the coronavirus. This included travel between Austria and the UK, Netherlands, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, France, Switzerland, and Italy. The FCO's restrictions were set to last for 30 days but could be extended.

Travel advice for UK travellers

As of March 2020, the UK government has advised against all non-essential travel abroad to tackle the spread of coronavirus. This includes travel to Austria, which has been affected by the virus. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) put restrictions in place on 17 March 2020, to last for an initial period of 30 days, although this may be extended.

If you are a UK traveller currently in Austria, the FCO advises that you follow the instructions of local authorities. Extensive restrictions are in place throughout Austria, affecting all areas of everyday life. From 23:59 on 16 March 2020, there will be no direct air links between Austria and the UK, Netherlands, Ukraine and Russia. As of midnight on 16 March 2020, there will be no direct air or rail connections from Austria to Spain, France, and Switzerland. There are no direct flights or trains between Austria and Italy.

If you are planning to travel to Austria in the next few days, your flights will remain unaffected, but you are advised to keep up to date with the latest travel advice as it is subject to change at short notice. You can contact your airline to enquire about changing your flight if you are concerned, but they are unlikely to offer refunds or free changes. Tour operators are only required to give a refund on holiday packages if the Foreign Office changes its travel advice for a region and advises against travel to that area.

From 16 March 2020, restaurants, bars and cafes across Austria will only be open until 3 pm, and will be closed from 17 March 2020. All shops, except supermarkets, banks, pharmacies, and postal services, will be closed from 17 March 2020. Ski resorts and accommodation in the ski resorts in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg provinces will close on 15 and 16 March 2020, respectively. In Tyrol, the villages of Ischgl, Galtuer, See, and Kappl in the Patznaun Valley, and St Anton am Arlberg are under quarantine for 14 days, but tourists will be allowed to leave. In Carinthia, Heiligenblut is under quarantine until 29 March 2020.

If you are a UK traveller arriving from Austria, you will not need to self-quarantine.

Quarantine requirements

As of March 2020, the Austrian government has been limiting people's movement so that only those performing essential tasks should be leaving their homes. The government has also imposed a ban on all direct air links between the UK and Austria, as well as rail links to surrounding nations.

As of September 2020, travellers from 30 European countries, mostly from the EU and/or the EEA, can enter Austria without complying with health measures such as showing a negative molecular biological test for SARS-CoV-2 or starting a 14-day home quarantine. These countries include: Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the Vatican.

Travellers from the above countries who have been to these countries or Austria in the last 10 days without exception can enter Austria freely with a medical certificate, test result, vaccination certificate or recovery certificate. If the traveller is unable to present any of these documents, they must take a COVID-19 PCR/LAMP/TMA/antigen test within 24 hours of arrival at their own cost and present the negative result at a control.

For travellers from countries not mentioned above, the following requirements apply:

• Present a vaccination certificate, recovery certificate, negative COVID-19 PCR/LAMP/TMA/antigen test result, or take a PCR/LAMP/TMA/antigen test within 24 hours of entry.
• Undergo a 10-day quarantine immediately on arrival.
• Take a COVID-19 PCR/LAMP/TMA/antigen test during this time, at their own expense.
• Present a negative result at a control. If the result is negative, the quarantine is deemed to have ended.

Exemptions

The following categories of travellers are exempt from the quarantine requirements:

• Austrian citizens, EU/EEA citizens and people who live with them in the same household.
• Swiss citizens as well as persons who live with them in the same household.
• People with residence or habitual abode in EU/EEA countries or Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican or Switzerland and people who live with them in the same household.
• Persons who are entitled to stay in Austria on the basis of a residence permit, residence title or documentation of the right of residence.
• Members of the staff of diplomatic missions or consular posts and persons who live with them in the same household.
• Employees of international organisations and people who live with them in the same household.
• Persons who are employed by a domestic regional authority or a domestic corporation under public law and whose place of employment is abroad or whose service is performed abroad, insofar as the activity of this corporation abroad is in the interests of the Republic of Austria.
• An accompanying person during entry for medical reasons.
• People who enter the country for the purpose of performing a mandatory judicial or official obligation, such as summoning to court hearings.

Travellers from Brazil, India and South Africa may be allowed entry to Austria under the following conditions:

• Present a medical certificate for a negative PCR/LAMP/TMA test result on request.
• Undergo a 10-day quarantine immediately on arrival.
• Take a PCR/LAMP/TMA test for SARS-CoV-2 on the fifth day after entry and present a negative result at a control. If the result is negative, the quarantine is deemed to have ended.

The following categories of travellers are exempt from the above requirements:

• Austrian citizens, EU/EEA citizens and people who live with them in the same household.
• Swiss citizens as well as persons who live with them in the same household.
• People with residence or habitual abode in EU/EEA countries or Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican or Switzerland and people who live with them in the same household.
• Persons who are entitled to stay in Austria on the basis of a residence permit, residence title or documentation of the right of residence.
• Members of the staff of diplomatic missions or consular posts and persons who live with them in the same household.
• Employees of international organisations and people who live with them in the same household.
• Persons who are employed by a domestic regional authority or a domestic corporation under public law and whose place of employment is abroad or whose service is performed abroad, insofar as the activity of this corporation abroad is in the interests of the Republic of Austria.
• Persons who enter to begin or continue their studies or for research.
• Persons who come to participate in school operations.

Austria's COVID-19 statistics

Austria's first cases of COVID-19 were reported in February 2020, when an Italian couple staying at the Grand Europa Hotel in Innsbruck tested positive. The hotel was placed under quarantine, but the virus continued to spread across the country.

By March 2020, there were over 1,500 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Austria, with the virus having initially broken out in a popular Alpine region. The Austrian government responded by announcing a range of restrictions on travel and events, including the cancellation of all direct flights and trains between Austria and Italy.

As of August 2022, Austria has reported a total of 4,815,286 COVID-19 cases, with 19,257 deaths. The recovery rate is high, with 4,717,829 people having recovered from the virus, which equates to 98% of total cases.

In terms of daily new cases and deaths, as of August 2022, there are 78,200 currently infected patients, with 78,118 (100%) in a mild condition and 82 (0%) in a serious or critical condition. The number of closed cases, as of the same date, is 4,737,086.

Travel insurance

The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly advises all Austrian travellers to take out travel insurance, whether travelling domestically or internationally. Travel insurance is not mandatory, but it is an indispensable tool to protect you against financial losses that can arise from a variety of factors. These include the need to cancel a trip, require medical treatment abroad, or replace lost or stolen baggage and personal effects.

The U.S. Department of State recommends international travel insurance with coverage for COVID-related trip cancellation and medical benefits, including medical evacuation (medevac) coverage. Medicare and Medicaid do not cover overseas medical costs, and many U.S. health insurance policies only provide minimal coverage abroad.

AXA Schengen Travel Insurance is one option for those requiring travel insurance. It meets the requirements of the E.U. and covers medical expenses up to €100,000 in Austria and many other European countries. It also offers a refund in the case of visa refusal.

Europäische Reiseversicherung is another travel insurance provider. It offers annual protection, road trips, or vacations in Austria. It includes COVID coverage, cancellation costs, luggage protection, and emergency help with EuropAssistance.

Frequently asked questions