Lexi Webster
Austria has closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia in a bid to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. This highly infectious disease poses no danger to humans but affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. In 2020, Austria reopened its borders to Italy and lifted quarantine requirements for travellers from over 20 other European countries. In 2021, Austria's borders were fully open to 51 countries and partially open to none. As of December 2021, Austria has mandated that all tourists and business travellers be vaccinated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 16, 2020 |
| Countries Austria is opening its borders to | Italy, Greece, Croatia, and 20+ other European countries |
| Countries Austria is not opening its borders to | Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal |
| Requirements for entry | No need for proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or a certificate of recovery. |
| Border procedures | Cars and pedestrians must cross over an epidemic mat to disinfect before entering the country. |
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What You'll Learn
- Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak
- Austria's borders were open for essential travel only during a lockdown period lasting until 17 January 2022
- Austria made vaccinations a mandatory entry requirement for tourists and business travellers as of 20 December 2021
- Austria lifted border restrictions with Italy and over 20 other European countries on 16 June 2020
- Austria's borders are fully open to 51 countries and partially open to none as of 26 June 2021
Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia due to a foot-and-mouth outbreak
In early April 2025, Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease and stop it from entering the country. The disease, which poses no danger to humans, affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, such as swine, sheep, and goats. Infected animals experience fever and mouth blisters.
The decision to close the border crossings came after Hungary and Slovakia both declared emergency situations due to outbreaks of the highly infectious disease. In Hungary, the outbreak occurred at a dairy farm in Kisbajcs, close to the Slovakian border, putting 1,372 animals at risk. This was the first outbreak in the country in 50 years. Slovakia's outbreak was confirmed on several farms close to the Hungarian border, an important region for the country's livestock production.
To contain the outbreak, Hungary deployed soldiers and launched disinfection measures in the area bordering Slovakia and Austria. Slovakia declared an emergency situation after the disease was found on three farms. In addition, the EU Veterinary Emergency Team was deployed to Slovakia.
Austria implemented rigorous checks at the remaining open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia. Cars and pedestrians were required to cross over epidemic mats, and police searched vehicles for meat products. Austrian hunters were also urged to keep an eye out for symptoms in potentially infected wildlife. The border closures were scheduled to last until May 20, 2025.
In June 2025, Austria lifted travel restrictions and opened its borders to several countries, including Italy and most European countries in the EU, EFTA, and EEA. However, restrictions remained in place for Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal due to higher infection rates in these countries.
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Austria's borders were open for essential travel only during a lockdown period lasting until 17 January 2022
Austria's borders were open only for essential travel during a lockdown period that lasted until 17 January 2022. During this time, the country implemented stricter travel rules, with vaccinations becoming mandatory for tourists and business travellers entering Austria. Those arriving from China were exempt from showing proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or a certificate of recovery.
Prior to the lockdown, Austria had opened its borders to tourists from the EU, the Schengen Zone, and the UK. However, some of its western neighbours maintained their entry requirements. Austrian Airlines offered flights to Vienna from 130 destinations worldwide, with about one-third of these located in Central Europe.
In June 2021, Austria's borders were fully open to 51 countries and partially open to 32 countries. This marked a significant easing of restrictions that had been imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The country lifted border restrictions for all neighbouring countries except Italy due to its high number of COVID-19 infections and deaths.
On 16 June 2020, Austria reopened its borders to Italy and lifted the quarantine requirement for travellers from over 20 other European countries. This decision aimed to ease tensions with Italy, which had criticised Austria's "individualist" approach to border restrictions. From 16 June onwards, Austria lifted controls on travel from more than two dozen countries, including popular holiday destinations such as Greece and Croatia.
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Austria made vaccinations a mandatory entry requirement for tourists and business travellers as of 20 December 2021
Austria has been adjusting its border restrictions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 22, 2021, the country entered a national lockdown, banning tourists from entry until at least December 13. Initially, the lockdown was planned to last for 10 days, but it could have been extended for up to 20 days. During this time, people in Austria were required to stay at home, only leaving for essential reasons, and all tourist facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, cultural institutions, and leisure centres, were closed.
Following this initial lockdown period, Austria implemented stricter travel rules, including mandatory vaccinations for entry, starting from December 20, 2021. This meant that only fully vaccinated persons or those who had recovered from COVID-19 were allowed entry into the country, with some exceptions for individuals with contraindications to vaccination and Ukrainian citizens with valid residence permits. Additionally, all travellers from outside the European Union were required to provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival. These measures were part of Austria's efforts to combat the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the national lockdown, Austria had already taken steps towards reopening its borders. On May 19, 2021, the country relaxed its travel restrictions, and by June 26, 2021, Austria's borders were fully open for 51 countries and partially open for 32 countries. However, the UK was not included in the list of countries for which quarantine requirements were lifted. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober cited Britain's higher infection rates as a reason for maintaining restrictions.
As of May 29, 2022, Austria's borders were open, but only for essential travel during a lockdown period that was expected to last until at least January 17, 2022. While Austria had opened its borders to neighbouring states, some western neighbours still had not relaxed their entry requirements.
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Austria lifted border restrictions with Italy and over 20 other European countries on 16 June 2020
Austria announced on 10 June 2020 that it would reopen its border with Italy from 16 June, lifting coronavirus-related restrictions on arrivals from over 20 other European countries. This came three months after Austria closed its borders with Italy to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Austria's Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg said in a press conference:
> Yes, we are opening the border. Yes, travelling to Italy, to Greece, to Croatia, for example, will be possible.
Austria's decision to reopen its borders came after Italy resumed all domestic and international flights in the final phase of its coronavirus lockdown ease. Italy, which was one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic in Europe, aimed to boost its collapsed tourism industry.
However, Austria's lifting of border restrictions did not apply to Britain, Sweden, Spain, and Portugal, due to their higher infection rates. Austria also continued to advise against travel to Lombardy, Italy's hardest-hit region.
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Austria's borders are fully open to 51 countries and partially open to none as of 26 June 2021
On Saturday, June 26, 2021, Austria's borders were fully open to 51 countries and partially open to none. This meant that Austria's borders were open to tourists from the EU, the Schengen zone, and the UK. However, flights from the UK were not permitted to land in Austria. Austria's borders were open for essential travel only during a lockdown period that lasted until at least January 17.
Austria had relaxed travel restrictions from May 19, 2021, and ended its lockdown on December 20, 2021. From December 20, 2021, Austria made vaccinations mandatory for tourists and business travelers.
Austria's western neighbors had not relaxed their entry requirements, even though Austria had opened its borders to neighboring states. Vienna could be reached from 130 destinations worldwide through Austrian Airlines, with about one-third of these destinations located in Central and Western Europe.
Austria had planned to open its borders to all EU, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and EEA (European Economic Area) countries with four exceptions: Sweden, Great Britain, Spain, and Portugal. Health Minister Rudolf Anschober cited higher infection rates in Britain and Sweden as a reason for keeping restrictions in place.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria closed 24 border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia in April 2025 to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
As of December 2021, Austria has made vaccinations a mandatory entry requirement for tourists and business travellers.
Yes, Austria closed its borders during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it lifted restrictions for Italy and over 20 other European countries on June 16, 2020.
Yes, as of June 26, 2021, Austria's borders are fully open for 51 countries and partially open for 0 countries.
As of January 2022, Austria's borders are open for essential travel only during a lockdown period lasting until at least January 17. A health certificate is no longer required for arrivals from the EU (except for the UK), but vaccinations are mandatory for tourists and business travellers.
