Austria’s 3-week nationwide lockdown is coming to an end step-by-step, starting from December 12, 2021. As the infection rate has eased, the country will allow regionally staggered openings.
Travel to Austria for touristic purposes will be possible again for vaccinated and recovered people.
Entry from most European and some other countries is still possible without quarantine if you can show proof of full vaccination, past infection or a PCR test.
Required Documents for Entering Austria
Everyone entering Austria has to show any one of these three documents:
- PCR Test
Upon arrival, you need to show a PCR test no older than 72 hours, which has to be issued by a medical authority. This includes children from the age of 12. Antigen tests are no longer valid for entering Austria.
Please note: During your stay in Austria, the 2-G-rule is in effect. This means, that only proof of vaccination/past infection is accepted for entering any type of accommodation, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, leisure centres, gyms, cultural institutions (cinemas, theatres, etc.), to use cable cars/ski lifts and for body-related services (such as hairdressers). A Covid-19 test is not sufficient.
- Vaccine Certificate
The following vaccines (including mix-and-match vaccines) are recognised for ENTERING Austria: BioNtech/Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Covishield, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Sinovac, and Sinopharm. You are considered fully vaccinated:
- if you have received both doses of AstraZeneca, Covishield, BioNtech/Pfizer, Moderna, Sinopharm, or Sinovac; OR
- if you have received your one Johnson & Johnson dose at least 22 days before arrival; OR
- if you have had COVID and have received one vaccination dose (proof of past infection required).
The vaccine certificate is valid for 270 days after the 2nd dose for 2-dose vaccines. For people with a past infection + one vaccination, it is valid for 270 days after that one dose. If you have had a third/additional/booster vaccination, it is valid for 270 days from the third jab. For vaccines that require only one dose, it is valid from the 22nd day for 270 days from the date of vaccination. There must be at least 120 days between the second and third jab, and at least 14 days between the first and the second jab.
Please note that Covishield, Sinopharm and Sinovac are only accepted to enter Austria. Covishield, Sinopharm and Sinovac are not accepted for entering any type of accommodation, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, leisure centres, gyms, cultural institutions, on cable cars/ski lifts and for body-related services.
- Proof of Past Infection
You can enter Austria for 180 days after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. A certificate of recovery, a medical confirmation (a PCR test) or a notice about the obligation to quarantine are considered as proof. Proof of neutralising antibodies is no longer valid for entry into Austria.
What proof is accepted?
Proof of a PCR test, vaccination, or past infection can be a doctor’s certificate, an official test result, a vaccination certificate/vaccination card/vaccine passport (including a pdf from an electronic vaccine passport, either on your phone or as a hard copy), or an official/medical certificate proving a past infection, either in German or English. If your original certificate is not in English or German, please use this official health certificate in German or English as proof.
If you are unable to show any of these documents, you are required to take a PCR within 24 hours of arriving in Austria (please note that you WILL need to show proof of full vaccination/past infection when checking into a hotel). However, in this case, you will need to register digitally before travelling to obtain pre-travel clearance, and are required to show proof of it at the border (either digitally or as a hard copy).
When you need the pre-travel clearance
You only need to show the pre-travel clearance if you are travelling from a country that is not on the list of safe countries (see below). In that case, a PCR-test is required (but no proof of full vaccination/past infection). No pre-travel clearance is needed when entering Austria from a safe country, or from all other countries, when you can show proof of full vaccination/past infection.
List of Safe Countries/Regions (No Quarantine Requirement)
Landing ban and entry restrictions for virus variant areas
A landing ban for flights and an entry ban is currently in effect for the following virus variant areas:
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
Travellers from all other countries not included in the lists above
- Entering Austria is possible.
- All travellers need to show either proof of full vaccination OR proof of past infection OR a negative PCR test.
- Travellers who can show proof of full vaccination or past infection do not need to register for pre-travel clearance and do not need to self-isolate.
- Travellers who show a negative PCR test (not a vaccine certificate or proof of a past infection) need to register digitally in advance to obtain pre-travel clearance. Find more information on the pre-travel clearance and find the form you need to fill in before travelling.
- Travellers who show a negative PCR test (not a vaccine certificate or proof of a past infection) also need to self-isolate for 10 days (can take test after 5 days to end quarantine early).
- Children up to the age of 17 are able to enter Austria with no need to quarantine if accompanied by fully vaccinated or recovered adults, but from the ages of 12 to 17 they also have to show proof of a negative PCR test/past infection/vaccination.
Opening dates of all types of accommodation and restaurants/cafés/inns in the Austrian provinces:
- from 12 December: Tirol, Vorarlberg, Burgenland
- from 17 December: Salzburg, Styria, Carinthia, Lower Austria
- from 20 December: Vienna
In Upper Austria, the lockdown will end on 17 December.
After the lockdown, the “2-G” rule applies again
After the end of the current lockdown, the “2-G” rule (proof of full vaccination/past infection) will be in effect again in Austria, as well as FFP2 mask requirements in many areas. To keep locals and visitors safe, the following measures will be in place:
- For hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, leisure centres, gyms, cultural institutions (cinemas, theatres etc.), Christmas markets, ski lifts/cable cars and body-related services (such as hairdressers) proof of full vaccination/recovery is mandatory (children under the age of 12 are exempt).
- COVID tests (both PCR and antigen) are not valid as “entry tests”.
- FFP2 masks are required in all public areas in enclosed spaces. In restaurants/cafés/inns, you have to wear an FFP2 mask when you are not seated at your table. In all types of accommodation, FFP2 masks are mandatory in public enclosed spaces.
- Restaurants/cafés/inns have to close at 11 pm. Bars and clubs remain closed for the time being. Après-ski is not possible.
- 2-dose-vaccinations are valid for 270 days after the second dose. After that a booster jab is required. Attention: The 1-dose vaccine by Johnson & Johnson is only valid until 3 January 2022, afterwards a booster jab is needed for proof of full vaccination.
- Children under 12 years are currently exempt from entry rules; for minors between 12 and 15 years, a solution is being worked on (Exemption: In Vienna, children from the age of 6 require an entry test).
Partial lifting of restrictions in Vienna
In Vienna, the following measures are currently in force in addition to the nationwide regulations:
- Children from the age of 6 require an entry test.
- For children aged 6-11, a PCR-test no older than 72h or an antigen test no older than 48h is valid as an entry test.
- For children aged 12-15, a PCR-test no older than 48h is valid as an entry test, if they are not vaccinated/recovered.
Overnight stays in Viennese hotels are currently permitted for professional reasons only. Everyone will be able to stay overnight in Vienna’s hotels again from December 20.
Restaurants will also reopen on 20 December. Bars and clubs will remain closed.
Requirements for an overnight stay in a Viennese hotel:
- Upon arrival at the hotel, a vaccination confirmation, or proof of survived Covid-19 infection is required.
- The following rules apply to people who have been vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the EMA or with a vaccine that has gone through the EUL (Emergency Use Listing) procedure of the WHO:
- The proof of vaccination for fully vaccinated people is valid for 270 days from the date of the second vaccination.
- Vaccines that are given as a single dose (e.g. Johnson & Johnson) are valid from the 22nd day after the vaccination for a total of 270 days from the date of vaccination. From January 3, 2022, people who have been vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will require a second dose in order to receive a Green Pass.
- The vaccination is valid for 360 days from the date of the vaccination for recovered people who have been vaccinated once.
- The third vaccination (or the second vaccination for those who have had one shot or who have recovered from Covid) is valid for 270 days.
Rules for children:
- Children under the age of 6 years are exempt from proof requirements.
- Children from 6 to 12 years must show proof of vaccination, recovery or a negative test where access is regulated by restrictions.
- For children from 6 to 12 years of age, PCR tests are valid for 72 and antigen tests for 48 hours. The fully glued “Ninja Pass” is valid over the weekend.
- School-age children from twelve to 15 years of age must provide proof of vaccination, recovery or having taken a PCR test. PCR tests are valid for 48 hours.
- Each PCR school test applies individually.
- Antigen self-tests are no longer accepted as entry tests
- A nose-mouth protection obligation applies to children from the 6th birthday. An FFP2 mask obligation applies from the age of 14 years.
- Children under 6 years of age do not have to wear a mask.
Only people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid are allowed to stay overnight in hotels throughout Austria. Moreover, an FFP2 mask must be worn in all indoor areas.
Exceptions (in which case vaccinated, recovered or tested applies):
- People who are already staying in accommodation at the time this rule comes into effect may stay for the duration of accommodation agreed in advance with the host.
- Care and assistance for people in need of support.
- Professional reasons that cannot be postponed.
- Satisfying an urgent need for accommodation.
Please note that neither PCR nor gargle tests are valid for admission to hotels, restaurants, cultural events, etc. Only people who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from Covid are allowed in these areas.
Tests are no longer valid for admission to restaurants, events, hotels, etc. For more details can be found at the Vienna Tourist Board.
