Lexi Webster
Austria has closed its borders in the past to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to limit the influx of refugees. In 2020, Austria closed its border with Italy to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In 2015, Austria closed its borders after 12,000 refugees entered the country from Hungary in 48 hours. While Austria has not locked down its borders entirely, it has implemented stricter border controls to manage the number of refugees entering the country. Border municipalities have also taken measures to prevent traffic buildup by blocking popular border crossings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 3rd April 2025 |
| Reason | To prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country |
| Border Crossings Closed | Two smaller crossings at the border with Slovakia and 21 at the border with Hungary |
| Border Controls | Strengthened |
| Border with Italy | Controls implemented during the Coronavirus outbreak |
| Border Crossings Blocked | Between Ágfalva and Schattendorf |
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What You'll Learn
Austria-Hungary border closed to prevent foot-and-mouth disease
Austria has temporarily closed its border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia in an attempt to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. This decision was made by the Austrian Interior Ministry in April 2025, following the first outbreak of the disease in Hungary in 50 years. The highly infectious disease, which poses no danger to humans, affects cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals, causing fever and mouth blisters.
To prevent the disease from entering Austria, the country decided to close two smaller crossings at its border with Slovakia and 21 crossings at its border with Hungary. These closures were determined in consultation with health authorities, interest groups, and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Tourism, and Regions. The Austrian Interior Ministry stated that security and checks at the border crossings would be carried out by provincial police directorates.
In addition to the border closures, Austria implemented rigorous checks at the remaining open border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia. Cars were required to cross over epidemic rugs to disinfect their tires, and pedestrians were also subject to these measures. Police searched vehicles for meat products and focused their resources on the border during this emergency. These measures were designed to strengthen Austria's efforts to prevent the disease from spreading into its territory.
The decision to close the border crossings and implement strict health measures was a proactive step taken by Austria to protect its livestock industry and prevent potential trade restrictions that could result from an outbreak. The closures and heightened controls impacted traffic and caused trucks to queue on the roads leading to the border crossings. These actions reflect Austria's commitment to safeguarding its agricultural sector and the health of its livestock population.
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Border controls to limit refugee influx
Austria has been considering stricter border controls to limit the influx of refugees. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has expressed that national border controls are not a sinister problem but a potential "driver for a European solution" to the refugee crisis. He believes that if countries start setting limits on refugees and closing their borders, it could have a positive domino effect, reducing immigration numbers.
In 2015, Austria's neighbour, Germany, reinstated controls at the Austrian border due to the overwhelming number of refugees entering the country. All trains between Austria and Bavaria were stopped, and only EU citizens or those with valid documents were allowed to pass through. This caused chaotic scenes on the Austrian-German border as refugees attempted to enter Germany by any means. The decision also led to discussions about sending troops to reinforce security at the road and rail borders.
Austria itself has not locked down its borders entirely but has strengthened its border controls. In 2024, Austrian municipalities started blocking popular border crossings to prevent traffic buildup, causing a parking build-up near the border. In 2025, Austria closed dozens of border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, implementing rigorous checks and searches for meat products at the remaining open border crossings.
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Roads closed to reduce cross-border commuter traffic
Austria has taken steps to reduce cross-border commuter traffic by closing roads and blocking border crossings. This action has been taken to prevent traffic congestion in Austrian municipalities and reduce the number of daily commuters entering the country for work.
One notable example is the partial blockade of the border crossing between Ágfalva and Schattendorf. The Austrian municipality of Schattendorf implemented a mandatory 160-euro sticker purchase for drivers to cross the border. However, technical issues prevented even those with the sticker from crossing. As a result, a build-up of parked cars formed near the border, leading to some commuters opting to walk or cycle to work in Schattendorf.
The closure of roads and blocking of border crossings have been met with legal challenges. An international law office launched a compensation lawsuit against the Schattendorf municipality, arguing that the measures imposed a significant burden on Hungarians crossing the border.
Austria's efforts to reduce cross-border commuter traffic come as no surprise, given the country's history of taking proactive measures to manage its borders. For instance, in April 2025, Austria announced the closure of multiple border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
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Border patrols to continue for a few months
Border patrols and restrictions in Austria are likely to continue for the foreseeable future, with several factors influencing this decision. Firstly, Austria has recently taken steps to control the spread of infectious diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, by closing smaller border crossings with neighboring countries. This measure, implemented in 2025, was aimed at preventing the disease from entering Austria and protecting its livestock industry.
Secondly, Austria has been facing challenges due to an influx of refugees, which has led to the consideration of stricter border controls in the past. In 2015, Austria temporarily closed its borders after 12,000 refugees entered from Hungary within 48 hours, demonstrating the country's willingness to implement emergency measures when faced with a significant influx.
Additionally, Austria has introduced measures to manage cross-border traffic and congestion, particularly near popular border crossings. Some municipalities have implemented mandatory purchases of stickers worth 160 euros to allow drivers to cross, causing technical issues and resulting in a buildup of parked cars near the border. These measures have led to lawsuits, indicating the complexity and ongoing nature of border management issues.
While Austria has not completely locked down its borders, it has strengthened its border controls, similar to other European countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Germany. Immigration experts predict that internal border patrols will continue for a few months, and the European Council has set a deadline to resolve the refugee crisis. The impact of these border controls on the European economy and the freedom of movement for employees remains a critical consideration for policymakers.
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Controls on the border with Italy to slow COVID-19
In 2020, European Union leaders approved a plan to close its external borders for 30 days to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This was the EU's most significant emergency measure at the time. The decision was made after German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a press statement regarding the spread of COVID-19. The ban was on non-essential travel to the bloc and did not apply to the movement of goods.
Austria shares a border with Italy, which was one of the countries on lockdown at the time. To slow the spread of COVID-19, Austria tightened its border controls. In addition, on the Austrian side, municipalities have tried to prevent traffic build-up by blocking popular border crossings to prevent cars from crossing.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Italian government officials announced that graduating medical students would skip their qualifying tests and start working 8 to 9 months earlier than expected. This was due to hospitals in northern Italy being overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and facilities elsewhere in the country feeling pressure from rising activity outside the main hotspots.
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Frequently asked questions
Austria has closed its borders in the past to limit the influx of refugees and to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. In 2020, Austria closed its borders to arrivals from Italy during the coronavirus pandemic. In 2015, Austria closed its borders after 12,000 refugees entered the country from Hungary in 48 hours. In 2024, roads in Austria were closed due to increased cross-border commuters. Most recently, in 2025, Austria closed some of its border crossings with Hungary and Slovakia to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country.
Austria closed its borders to arrivals from Italy during the coronavirus pandemic to slow the spread of the virus. People arriving from Italy were denied entry unless they could show a doctor's note certifying they were healthy.
Austria closed 21 border crossings with Hungary and two with Slovakia to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering the country.
Austria decided to close its borders to limit the influx of refugees into the country.
Yes, in 2024, roads in Austria were closed due to increased cross-border commuters. Municipalities implemented measures such as blocking popular border crossings and requiring the purchase of expensive stickers to prevent traffic buildup in their streets.
