Information in connection with COVID-19 [as of January 15th, 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 can be submitted until December 31^st, 2020, by mail or email at the competent residence authority in Austria.

Please note that your application is received by the competent residence authority in due time before your current residence title expires.

It is recommended to send your application as a registered letter or with a confirmation of received or read e-mail.

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.

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

Only PCR tests and antigen test 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.

Please note that you have to present the PCR test or the antigen test in this specific form (medical certificate).

Before you enter Austria you need to register online (pre travel clearance) first.

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.

An online registration is not necessary only in certain cases (e.g. commuters).

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 (only in German).

If you can demonstrate that you have been in:

Finland, Greece, Iceland, Norway or the Vatican

for the past 10 days, you can enter Austria without a PCR test and do not have to undergo a quarantine.

In case you cannot demonstrate this (e.g. residence registration, hotel booking), you will have to undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days. On the 5^th day after entry to Austria a PCR test or antigen test can be done in order to finish the quarantine sooner.

The entry for professional purposes with a medical certificate only, which confirms a negative PCR test or antigen test, is possible. The test should not be older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria.
In case you do not have a PCR test or antigen test or the test is older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria, you will have to undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days. If you provide a negative PCR test during the quarantine time, the quarantine can be finished sooner.

If you can demonstrate that you have been in one of those countries or in Finland, Greece, Iceland, Norway or the Vatican for the past 10 days, you can enter Austria without a PCR test and do not have to undergo a quarantine.

In case you cannot demonstrate this (e.g. residence registration, hotel booking), you cannot enter Austria, unless you fall within an exemption.

An Exemption is made to:

• nationals from an EU or EEA member country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom 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, Switzerland or in the United Kingdom as well as (third country* nationals) persons, who live with them together in the same household
• persons with a valid visa D or 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 undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days. On the 5^th day after entry to Austria a PCR test or antigen test can be done in order to finish the quarantine sooner.

The entry for professional purposes with a medical certificate only, which confirms a negative PCR test or antigen test, is possible. The test should not be older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria.
In case you do not have a negative PCR test or antigen test or the test is older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria, you will have to undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days.
If you provide a negative PCR test during the quarantine time, the quarantine can be finished sooner.

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

In principle, the entry to Austria is not permitted.

An exemption is made to:

• nationals from an EU or EEA member country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom 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, Switzerland or in the United Kingdom as well as (third country* nationals) persons, who live with them together in the same household
• persons with a valid visa D or 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 undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days. On the 5^th day after entry to Austria a PCR test or antigen test can be done in order to finish the quarantine sooner.

The entry for professional purposes with a medical certificate only, which confirms a negative PCR test or antigen test, is possible. The test should not be older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria.
In case you do not have a negative PCR test or antigen test or the test is older than 72 hours at the moment of entry to Austria, you will have to undergo a self-monitored quarantine of 10 days.
If you provide a negative PCR test during the quarantine time, the quarantine can be finished sooner.

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

If you commute to Austria to your study place an a regular basis, you do not need a medical certificate and do not have to undergo a quarantine.

Proof for regular entry and re-entry for that purpose has to be demonstrated in case of official inspection.