Landing ban for flights from the United Kingdom to Austria lifted

The landing ban for aircraft from the United Kingdom to Austria has been lifted. Direct flights between the UK and Austria resumed on 22 March 2021.

Entry requirements for Austria

With the amendment to the entry regulations of the Federal Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection coming into force on 10 February 2021, entry from the United Kingdom has been prohibited!

The following people are excluded from the entry ban, if they can present a medical certificate (Annex D) or a test result in German or English, that confirms a negative molecular or rapid antigen test which is not older than 72 hours (from 11.3. rapid antigen tests must not be older than 48 h!). People who are unable to produce a negative test upon entry must take a test in Austria within 24 hours. A 10-day quarantine is still mandatory, although it is possible to take a PCR or antigen test after 5 full days and release oneself from quarantine, if the result is negative. It is also required to complete the Pre Travel Clearance form within 72 hours before arrival in Austria:

• Austrian citizens, EU/EEA citizens, Swiss citizens and people who live with them in the same household,
• people with residence or habitual abode in EU/EEA countries or Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican or Switzerland and people who live with them in the same household,
• holders of a visa D issued by Austria,
• people who are entitled to stay in Austria, on the basis of a residence permit, a residence title or documentation of the right of residence under the Settlement and Residence Act, Federal Law Gazette I No. 100/2005, or the Asylum Act 2005, Federal Law Gazette I No. 100/2005,
• people who have a confirmation of the application, pursuant to Art. 18 Para. 1 of the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community, OJ L No. 29 of 31.01.2020 S 7 (Withdrawal Agreement),
• members of the staff of diplomatic missions or consular posts and people who live with them in the same household,
• employees of international organizations and people who live with them in the same household,
• people who are employed by a domestic regional authority or a domestic public corporation and whose place of employment is abroad or whose service is carried out abroad, provided that the activity of this corporation abroad is in the interest of the Republic of Austria,
• people who enter Austria to begin or continue studying or doing research,
• people who enter to attend school.

These travellers are also exempt from the entry ban and the quarantine regulations, but not from the obligation to present a medical certificate or test result as described above and to fill out the PTC form:

• humanitarian workers,
• business travellers,
• an accompanying person of Austrian citizens, who need to enter because of medical treatments, people who are subject to mandatory insurance in Austria, or people who hold a treatment confirmation from an Austrian hospital for absolutely necessary medical treatments.
• people who enter the country for the purpose of performing a mandatory court or official duty, such as summoning to court hearings,
• holders of a photo ID according to § 95 of the Aliens Police Act 2005, Federal Law Gazette I No. 100/2005

Furthermore, the following travellers are exempt from the entry ban and the quarantine regulations, but not from the obligation to present a medical certificate or test result as described above. The PTC form only needs to be filled out, if there have been data changes:

• people who enter as part of regular commuting for business purposes, to attend school/university or for family purposes or to visit their partner.

Entry without restriction is permitted to the following people:

• people who need to enter because of absolutely necessary medical treatments in Austria or to return to Austria after using such services abroad, if they are residents in Austria,
• people who enter for unforeseeable, urgent reasons that are particularly worthy of consideration in the family circle, such as serious illnesses, deaths, funerals, births and the care of people in need of support in emergencies,
• people who enter in the imperative interest of the Republic of Austria,
• people who are traveling through Austria without a stopover to reach their destination (transit travellers).

Reasons for exceptions must be made credible in the event of an official review. The embassy can therefore not provide any detailed information on the evidence, confirmations, etc. to be submitted and also can give no advice on how exceptions can best be made credible.

It is also possible to leave the country before the end of the quarantine, if it is ensured that the risk of infection is minimized as much as possible.

Additional or legally binding information on these entry requirements can only be provided by the responsible Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection: +43 1 71 100 86 22 86 or buergerservice(at)sozialministerium.at.

Please also note that since 8 March 2021 a completed and signed form must be presented before leaving the UK, to prove your reason for travel is permitted. 

Disclaimer: The Austrian Embassy in London points out that it does not accept any liability for the completeness of this information. No liability can be accepted for any damage that may occur.

Information for travelling to Austria from 1 January 2021

If you are a British tourist, you will not need a visa for short trips to Austria. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

However, you may need to renew your British passport in time if you’re travelling from 1 January 2021. On the day you travel, you’ll need your passport to both:

• have at least 3 months left from the date you intend to leave the EU. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended, that your passport is valid for at least 6 more months when entering Austria. This would in many cases save you from having to proof the date of your intended leave of the EU.
  
  
• be less than 10 years old (even if it has six months or more left).