Questions and answers on the conditions of entry into Austria, valid from 19 December 2020

To combat the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection has established by ordinance new regulations on entry into the territory of Austria.

Below are answers to frequently asked questions about this topic:

What should be considered in general when entering Austria?

In principle, every person arriving from 19 December 2020 must enter and remain in quarantine for 10 days. Testing, at your own expense, is allowed at the earliest after five days of isolation. In case of a negative result, you can get out of quarantine. There are also categories of people exempted, depending on the country from which they arrive in Austria, the reason for traveling or the profession.

What are the countries from which you can travel to Austria without the obligation to enter quarantine?

The exceptions apply to people who come from a few countries where the epidemiological risk is still low and who do not have to take a negative test. These are the following states: Australia, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Uruguay, the Vatican and, in the EU, Finland and Ireland. Those arriving from one of these countries must prove that they have been in the territory of that State without interruption for the last ten days before entering Austria.

What regulations apply to commuters and family travelers to Austria?

People who commute regularly (pendler) are allowed unrestricted entry, except for those who provide home care. You can also drive without restrictions in remote areas of Mittelberg (Kleinwalsertal), Vomp-Hinterriss or Jungholz. People who come at least once a month for family purposes or to visit their life partner can enter without a test. Unrestricted access may also be permitted for unforeseeable or non-postponable reasons, such as serious illness, death, burial, birth and care of persons in need of emergency support. These exceptional reasons shall be subject to verification and official analysis. This means that they must be explained to the authorities in a credible manner and proved by any kind of documents or documents.

What should be considered in business travel?

Another relevant exception is for people who enter Austria in the interest of work, but are not commuters. The big difference from other groups, such as commuters or travelers from safe countries, is that a medical certificate (in German or English) must be presented at the entrance confirming the existence of a PCR or negative antigen test, no older than 72 hours from the time of harvest.

In its absence, it is quarantined, and immediately after the test, PCR or antigen, in Austria, if the result is negative, it can be removed from quarantine.

The ordinance also includes persons working in the field of permanent home care, those traveling for humanitarian reasons or those summoned to court, diplomats and attendants of persons coming for medical services, to whom the same rules apply, namely the presentation of a certificate. confirming the existence of a PCR or negative antigen test, not older than 72 hours from the time of collection.

Is transit through Austria allowed?

YES. Documents proving entry into the country of destination may be required at the border: documents of domicile, residence, right of residence, employment contract or any other proof of the need to enter, for example a certificate of compulsory medical treatment. necessary, studies, etc.

Is it allowed to enter Austria without restrictions just to spend Christmas or New Year?

NOT. Under the new ordinance, unrestricted entry into Austria is possible only for persons coming from the above-mentioned countries, for commuters or for visiting the family (partner). In all other cases, a 10-day quarantine is applied, which can be removed by testing after 5 days.

What happens to people in quarantine in Austria but who want to leave the country?

Anyone who is in quarantine but wishes to leave Austria can do so, provided that the risk of infection is minimized.

The answers were provided by Embassy of Romania in Austria / Embassy of Romania in Austria!