Austria: Authorities to tighten domestic COVID-19 restrictions from Nov. 22 /update 49

Austria to tighten domestic COVID-19 restrictions from Nov. 22; international entry restrictions remain the same.

Event

Authorities will tighten domestic restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19 amid rising infection rates. From Nov. 22, nonessential stores will close, and employers will be required to ask employees to work from home. Regardless of vaccination status, individuals will only be permitted to leave their homes for essential purposes such as buying groceries, or traveling to work, school, or for medical appointments. Restrictions will be reassessed on Dec. 2 and could be extended until Dec. 12. Officials have indicated that COVID-19 vaccinations will be mandatory from Feb. 1 2022.

Under current restrictions, only individuals without a certificate of vaccination or recovery are restricted from leaving their accommodation. Certificates of vaccination or recovery are required to enter catering establishments, private cultural and entertainments venues, close-contact services, sports and leisure facilities, and events of more than 25 people. Vaccination certificates are valid for 12 months from the second dose; this will be reduced to nine months from Dec. 6; a booster vaccine is required to extend validity beyond this. Certificates of recovery are valid for 180 days. Individuals who have received one dose of the vaccine and possess a negative result from a recent PCR are exempt until Dec. 6. This measure is provisionally in place until Nov. 24.

FFP2 masks are mandatory for all businesses and services which do not require proof of vaccination or recovery, including public transport, retail, and public cultural venues such as museums and libraries. Local authorities have the power to introduce tougher measures if they see fit; tighter measures are in place in some areas as a result.

International Entry Restrictions
As of Nov. 19, Austria classifies the following as COVID-19 low-risk locations: EU and EEA-associated countries, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Uruguay, and Vietnam. Travelers from low-risk countries are permitted entry if they can present a certificate of full vaccination against or recovery from COVID-19, a negative PCR test taken in the 72 hours before entry, or a negative antigen test taken in the 48 hours before entry. Travelers unable to meet these requirements must pre-register with authorities and take a test on arrival.

Nonessential travel is permitted from all other countries. Travelers must present proof of full vaccination or recovery from COVID-19; otherwise, they must pre-register with authorities, present a negative COVID-19 test taken in the 72 hours before arrival for PCR tests and 48 hours before arrival for antigen tests, and isolate for 10 days on arrival. Isolation can be ended early following a negative test on day five.

For the required Pre-Travel Clearance form and details on exceptions, click here.

Local authorities could amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Abide by national health and safety measures. Reconfirm all travel arrangements. Consider delaying traveling if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny and delays. Liaise with trusted contacts for further updates and guidance. Maintain contact with your diplomatic representation. Ensure contingency plans account for further disruptive measures or extensions of current restrictions.