Information in connection with COVID-19 [as of July 8th, 2021]

Information about acutal opening hours or availability and if it is possible to apply for a visa or a residence title at the moment can be found on the website of the respective Austrian Embassy.

Please contact the competent Austrian embassy by email directly in any case even though the website of the embassy states that they are closed, because the situation can change any time. Nevertheless, for students, scholars and researchers there is still often the possibility to file the application for a visa or a residence permit.

Legalisation of documents can be done at almost every Austrian embassy.

Applications for renewal or change to another residence title have to be filed since July 1^st, 2021, at the competent residence authority in person again.

Applications submitted until June 30^th, 2021, by mail or email at the competent residence authority are considered as submitted in due time.

This information can be found on the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Students, who are entitled to enter Austria visa-free, will have to show a valid admission letter.

The entry conditions depends on the country from which you want to enter Austria.

Please note that not all airlines are aware of this regulation!

Therefore, it is recommended to contact the airline beforehand.
Additonally, a print out of the COVID-19 Entrance Regulation, which contains the exemption for students, can be shown too.

*all countries except for Switzerland and member states of EEA and EU

Only PCR tests and antigen tests are accepted.

A list of laboratories where a PCR test can be done can be found here and here. You can also do this test at the Vienna Airport.

For entry to Austria the following tests are accepted:

• molecular biological test for SARS-CoV-2 (PCR, LAMP); valid for 72 hours since sample extraction
• antigen test for SARS-CoV-2; valid for 48 hours since sample extraction
• antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 for self-testing if it will be collected by a governmental data processing system; valid for 24 hours since sample extraction

Test results should contain the following data:

• name and surename of the tested person
• date of birth of the tested person
• date and time of the sample extraction
• test result
• signature of the person carrying out the test and stamp of the institution carrying out the test or a barcode or a QR code

Before you enter Austria you need to register online (pre travel clearance) first. The registration has to be done 72 hours before entry at the earliest.

The confirmation (in digital or printed out form) you will receive after registration has to be shown upon request by the authority.

In case it is not possible for your to register online, you can use the filled in and printed out pre travel clearance form instead.

Further information about the pre travel clearance system can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.

Depending on the used COVID-19 vaccine the vaccination certificate or the medical certificate, which confirms a vaccination with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, an entry to Austria is possible.

Information about accepted COVID-19 vaccines can be found below.

• 1^st inoculation: on the 22^nd day after the 1^st inoculation. The vaccination certificate should not be older than 90 days starting from the day of the 1^st inoculation.
• 2^nd inoculation: The vaccination certificate should not be older than 270 days starting from the day of the 1^st inoculation. (full immunisation)
• Vaccine, which needs only one inoculation (e.g. Johnson&Johnson): on the 22^nd day after the 1^st inoculation. The vaccination certificate should not be older than 270 days starting from the day of the 1^st inoculation. (full immunisation)
• Recovered and vaccinated Persons: a presented positive PCR test at least 21 days before the vacciniaton or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA-Test, Neutralisationstest) before the vaccination. The vaccination certificate should not be older than 270 days starting from the day of the inoculation. (full immunisation)

A vaccination certificate or a medical certificate, which confirms a COVID-19 vaccination, about the following COVID-19 vaccines are accepted:

• Comirnaty/BNT162b2/Tozinameran (INN) from BioNTech/Pfizer: 2 doses
• ChAdOx1_nCoV-19/ChAdOx1-S/AZD1222/Vaxzevria/ COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca from AstraZeneca, and Covishield from Serum Institute of India: 2 doses
• COVID-19 Vaccine Janssen from Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Pharmaceuticals/Ad26.COV2.S Janssen (US + NL-Sites): 1 dose
• Covid-19 Vaccine Moderna/mRNA-1273 from Moderna: 2 doses
• Sinopharm / BIBP (Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co-Ltd.) SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated (InCoV): 2 doses
• Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated: 2 DosenSinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine (Vero Cell), Inactivated: 2 Dosen

for the entry to Austria.

The entry from a country listed in annex 1 is possible under the following conditions:

1. Presentation of one of the following documents:
   
   • a negative test result or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms a negative test result, and is valid at the moment of entry to Austria.
     Further information about accepted tests and their validity period can be found above.
   • a vaccination certificate or medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the vaccination with an accepted vaccine, and is valid at the moment of entry.
     Further information about accepted vaccines and the validity period of vaccination certificates can be found above.
   • proof of recovery or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the recovery from the COVID-19 desease in the past 180 days, or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA test, neutralisation test), which is not older than 90 days.
   If none of these documents can be shown a test has to be done within 24 hours after entry to Austria and additionally an online registration (pre travel clearance) before entry to Austria.
   Further information about the online registration can be found above.
2. Make it plausible that you have been in a country listed in annex 1 in the past 10 days.

In principle, the entry to Austria from a country listed in annex 2 is not permitted.

However, an entry is still possible if you fall under the regulation for exempted groups of persons.

An exemption is made to:

• nationals from an EU or EEA member country or Switzerland as well as (third country* nationals) persons, who live with them together in the same household
• persons with a residence (or habitual residence) in an EU or EEA member country, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican or Switzerland as well as (third country* nationals) persons, who live with them together in the same household
• British nationals and their (third country* nationals) family members, who hold a confirmation about the application for the residence title "Article 50 TEU"
• persons with a valid residence title from Austria
• persons, who come to Austria for professional purposes
• persons, who come to Austria in order to begin or continue studies or research

Those exempted persons have to consider the the following points:

1. An online registration (pre travel clearance) has to be done before entry to Austria.
   Further information about the online registration can be found above.
2. A medical certificate, which confirms a negative molecular biological test (e.g. PCR-, LAMP-test), or a negative molecular biological test result needs to be shown upon request.
   The test should not be older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria after the sample extraction.
3. Additionally, a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days has to be undergone.
   On the 5^th day after entry to Austria a molecular biological test can be done in order to finish the quarantine sooner if the test result is negative.
   The day of entrance is considered as day "zero".

*all countries except for Switzerland and member states of EEA and EU

Note: The following rules apply only if you have not been in a country listed in annex 2** in the past 10 days otherwise please follow the rules for entry from a countrly listed in annex 2**.

If you enter Austria from an other country (all countries exempt those listed in annex 1* or in annex 2**) or have been in such a country in the past 10 days, the following entry conditions apply:

1. An online registration (pre travel clearance) has to be done before entry to Austria.
   Attention: The online registration is not needed for persons, if
   
   • 14 days have gone by since the 2^nd inoculation OR
   • 14 days have gone by since the inoculation of a recovered person from COVID-19 OR
   • 21 days have gone by since vaccination with a vaccine that needs only one inoculation (e.g. Johnson&Johnson)
   Further information about the online registration can be found above.
2. Presentation of one of the following documents:
   
   • a vaccination certificate or medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the vaccination with an accepted vaccine, and is valid at the moment of entry.
     Further information about accepted vaccines and the validation of vaccination certificates can be found above.
   • proof of recovery or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the recovery from the COVID-19 in the past 180 days, or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA test, neutralisation test), which is not older than 90 days.
   • a negative test result or a medical certifiate (in German or English), which confirms a negative test result, and is valid at the moment of entry to Austria.
     Further information about accepted tests and their validity period can be found above.
3. Additionally, a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days has to be undergone.
   On the 5^th day after entry a PCR or antigen test can be done in order to end the quarantine sooner if the test result is negative.
   The day of entry is seen as day "zero".
   Attention: A quarantine is not needed for persons, if
   
   • 14 days have gone by since the 2^nd inoculation OR
   • 14 days have gone by since the inoculation of a recovered person from COVID-19 OR
   • 21 days have gone by since vaccination with a vaccine that needs only one inoculation (e.g. Johnson&Johnson)

*countries listed in annex 1: EU-/EEA countries, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Macao, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, the Vatican and Vietnam

**countries listed in annex 2: Botswana, Brazil, Eswatini, India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe

The entry for professional purposes from an other country is possible under the following conditions:

1. The professional purpose should be made plausible (e.g. work contract, confirmation of the employer, appointment confirmation for the job interview).
2. Presentation of one of the following documents:
   
   • a vaccination certificate or medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the vaccination with an accepted vaccine, and is valid at the moment of entry.
     Further information about accepted vaccines and the validation of vaccination certificates can be found above.
   • proof of recovery or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the recovery from the COVID-19 desease in the past 180 days, or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA test, neutralisation test), which is not older than 90 days.
   • a negative test result or a medical certificate, which confirms a negative test, and is valid at the moment of entry to Austria.
     Further information about accepted tests and their validity period can be found above.
   In case you cannot provide one of those documents an entry is not permitted.
   
   

*countries listed in annex 1: EU-/EEA countries, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Macao, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, the Vatican and Vietnam

**countries listed in annex 2: Botswana, Brazil, Eswatini, India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe

If you commute to Austria to your study place an a regular basis (at least once a month) and you can make it plausible that you have been in the past 10 days in a country listed in annex 1*, the following conditions have to be observed:

1. Documents (e.g. residence registration, confirmation of enrollment, flight confirmation, stamp in the passport) that make it plausible that you enter Austria on a regular basis.
2. Make it plausible that you have stayed in a country listed in annex 1* in the past 10 days.
3. Presentation of one of the following documents:
   
   • a vaccination certificate or medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the vaccination with an accepted vaccine, and is valid at the moment of entry.
     Further information about accepted vaccines and the validation of vaccination certificates can be found above.
   • proof of recovery or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the recovery from the COVID-19 desease in the past 180 days, or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA test, neutralisation test), which is not older than 90 days.
   • a negative test result or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms a negative test result, and is valid at the moment of entry to Austria.
     Further information about accepted tests can be found above.
   In case none of these documents can be shown or the sample collection has been done prior than 7 days before the entry, a test has to be done within 24 hours after entry to Austria.

*countries listed in annex 1: EU-/EEA countries, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, Monaco, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, the Vatican and Vietnam

If you commute to Austria to your study place an a regular basis (at least once a month) between Austria and any other country (all countries except for those listed in annex 1* or in annex 2**), the following conditions have to be observed:

1. Documents (e.g. residence registration, confirmation of enrollment, flight confirmation, stamp in the passport) that make it plausible that you enter Austria on a regular basis.
2. Presentation of one of the following documents:
   
   • a vaccination certificate or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the vaccination with an accepted vaccine, and is valid at the  moment of entry.
     Further information about accepted vaccines and the validation of vaccination certificates can be found above.
   • proof of recovery or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms the recovery from the COVID-19 desease in the past 180 days, or proof of neutralising antibodies (e.g. ELISA test, neutralisation test), which is not older than 90 days.
   • a negative test result or a medical certificate (in German or English), which confirms a negative test result, and is not older than 72 hours the moment of entry to Austria since sample extraction.
     Further information about accepted tests can be found above.
   In case none of these documents can be shown or the sample collection has been done prior than 72 hours before the entry, an entry to Austria is not permitted.

*countries listed in annex 1: EU-/EEA countries, Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Macao, Moldavia, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Northern Macedonia, Qatar, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, USA, the Vatican and Vietnam

**countries listed in annex 2: Botswana, Brazil, Eswatini, India, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Russia, South Africa, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Zambia, Zimbabwe