Vacation despite Corona: The most important Covid regulations at a glance

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The vacation season is here despite the coronavirus pandemic. With July 1 marking the launch of the EU-wide Green Passport, whose digital Covid certificates are recognized in all 27 EU countries as well as Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, travel – at least within Europe – is about to get easier ahead of the approaching summer vacations. Many countries, like Austria, have recently relaxed their entry restrictions. Nevertheless, there are still different requirements for entry in the states.

Here’s an overview of popular vacation destinations and the rules that apply when entering and returning.

Germany
Entry has been possible since June 13 for Austrians without digital entry notification, testing requirements or quarantine requirements. However, air travelers who have a German airport as their destination must still have negative proof of testing or proof of recovery or proof of vaccination before departure.

Return to Austria: 3-G proof requirement, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, but in any case within 24 hours after entry.

France
When entering France by air, land or sea, it is mandatory to present proof of vaccination (proof of vaccination is valid from two weeks after the second dose of vaccine or from four weeks after the single dose of Johnson&Johnson vaccine) or negative PCR/antigen test results (not older than 72 hours) and an affidavit stating that one is symptom-free and has not knowingly had contact with a person with covid disease in the 14 days prior to departure. The same applies to Corsica.

Return journey to Austria: 3-G detection requirement, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, but in any case within 24 hours of entry.

Greece
Entry is generally permitted for Austrian travelers. Prerequisites are registration via a PLF form at least 24 hours before entry. After registration, entrants receive a QR code sent by e-mail, which is checked upon entry and should also be carried in printed form. Quarantine is not required if the entrants have a vaccination certificate, a negative PCR or rapid test (max. 72 or 48 hours old) or are recovered. Partial vaccination is not sufficient; vacationers must have been fully vaccinated for at least 14 days. A certificate of isolation is also accepted.

Return to Austria: 3-G proof required, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Italy
Entry from Austria or other EU and Schengen member countries is generally permitted. However, one must register for the trip in advance by means of a so-called digital passenger localization form (dPLF). In addition, upon arrival, immigrants must register with the responsible local health authority (ASL). Furthermore, a 3-G proof is required, which is recognized by means of a green passport in digital or paper form. A negative covid test (maximum 48 hours old) can be presented (PCR and antigen tests from official sources are permitted). A complete vaccination must have taken place at least 14 days ago, and a confirmation of recovery (proof of infection up to six months ago) is also accepted.

As of 1.7.2021, these entry requirements are to be adapted to the regulations that have been standardized throughout the EU with the entry into force of the “EU Green Passport”.

Croatia
Travelers from Austria can currently enter the country without restrictions. Registration under Enter Croatia is recommended, as it allows for faster border clearance. The registration form should be printed out and attached to the windshield of the passenger car. It is also not necessary to show a vaccination certificate, convalescence certificate or test for entry.

Return journey to Austria: 3-G proof is required, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, a registration has to be made and a test has to be carried out immediately, in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Malta
Malta allows the entry of Austrians with PCR tests that are not older than 72 hours, also valid is a vaccination certificate. All travelers five years and older are subject to this requirement.

Netherlands
Travelers from Austria can enter the Netherlands with the digital EU-Corona certificate without testing or quarantine. However, if entering by air, a health declaration must be completed.

Return journey to Austria: 3-G proof requirement, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, but in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Norway
Entry for vaccinated (complete vaccination) and recovered (validity six months) is possible without testing and quarantine. In addition, travel registration is required no earlier than 72 hours before and testing is required upon entry. This also applies to travelers from “green” countries, which currently includes Austria. Children under the age of 18 who do not have a green passport must enter quarantine. This can be terminated with a negative PCR test.

Return to Austria: 3-G requirement, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, but in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Portugal
Entry into Portugal (mainland, Azores and Madeira) is permitted. There are no facilitations for vaccinated and recovered to mainland Portugal. Thus, a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours is mandatory, or a rapid antigen test (max. 48 hours). For Madeira and the Azores, the testing requirement is waived for convalescents. Pre-registration is also required.

Return journey to Austria: 3-G proof obligation, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, a registration has to be made and a test has to be carried out immediately, in any case within 24 hours after entry. But beware: Since Portugal has now been declared a virus variant area by Germany, you should change your travel route if you are returning via Germany.

Sweden
There is a ban on entry for foreign citizens who cannot present a vaccination certificate, a negative test result or proof of recovery. The covid test must not be older than 48 hours. A second test five days after arrival is recommended. Travelers under the age of 18 are exempt from the above requirements.

Switzerland
Entry into Switzerland is allowed without quarantine. If you are neither vaccinated nor recovered, you must present a PCR or antigen test when traveling by air. In addition, an entry form must always be completed when entering by air. Vaccinated persons are fully immunized persons, recovered persons are persons six months from the 11th day after confirmation of infection.

Return to Austria: 3-G proof required, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, registration must be carried out and a test must be carried out immediately, but in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Spain
When entering from Austria, online registration is required. In addition, a vaccination certificate or a negative Covid 19 test (PCR test or antigen test), a recovery certificate or a Digital Covid Certificate of the EU must be presented. In the case of the vaccination certificate, the date of the second vaccination must be at least 14 days ago. The coronal test must not be older than 48 hours. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from testing.

However, after the infection of about a thousand students with the corona virus during school graduation trips in Mallorca, the regional government of the Balearic Islands has decided to tighten the rules of entry for large groups. In future, participants in organized group trips (20 or more people) will have to present a negative PCR test or provide proof of full vaccination protection.

Cyprus
Entry is permitted without restriction for vaccinated persons. Prerequisite is an electronic registration, maximum 48 hours before departure. Unvaccinated persons must also have resided continuously in Austria for two weeks prior to entry into Cyprus. Randomly ordered tests are possible upon arrival in Cyprus.

Return to Austria: 3-G proof required, no registration or quarantine. If no proof is available, a registration has to be made and a test has to be carried out immediately, in any case within 24 hours after entry.

Great Britain
Entry into Great Britain is permitted, but subject to certain conditions. Pre-registration is required, as well as a negative PCR or antigen test and a ten-day quarantine period (release is possible from the fifth day). In the four parts of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland there may be additional regulations, such as additional testing on the second and eighth quarantine day.

The entry back to Austria is also subject to obstacles. A negative PCR test is required here, and an additional ten-day (home) quarantine (free testing possible from day five) is also necessary.

Maldives
Entry is possible, a visa can also be issued directly upon entry. Prerequisite is a PCR test, which is not older than 96 hours. In addition, random checks are made by means of PCR testing upon arrival and a temperature measurement is also carried out.

Accommodation and return flight must be booked in advance, also a registration (Traveller Health Declaratin) at the earliest 24 hours before the arrival time is necessary. If no exemption is applied for, the entire vacation must be spent in a resort.

When entering Austria, the following rules apply: Entry registration (pre-travel clearance) is mandatory. If one enters with a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, no quarantine is required. If one travels without, one must enter ten days of quarantine, although one may take a day off after the fifth day.

Dutch Overseas Territories
Travel to Dutch overseas territories in the Caribbean is possible. The 3-G rule is only partially applicable for travelers from Austria when traveling to Curacao, Aruba, Sint Maarten and Bonaire. Currently, only negative PCR tests or, for Curaçao, antigen tests are accepted. Vaccination and convalescence certificates are not sufficient, and the requirements may also differ depending on the island.

When entering Austria, the following rules apply: Entry registration (pre-travel clearance) is mandatory. If one enters with a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, no quarantine is required. If one travels without, one must enter ten days of quarantine, although one can take a day off after the fifth day.

United Arab Emirates
It is possible to enter the country, but the regulations differ depending on the emirate. In any case, a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old is a prerequisite. On arrival at Abu Dhabi airport, unlike in Dubai, a new Covid-19 test is carried out. As Austria is now on the “Green List”, quarantine-free entry into the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is now also possible.

The following rules apply to entry into Austria: An entry registration (pre-travel clearance) is mandatory. If one enters with a valid vaccination or recovery certificate, no quarantine is required. If one travels without, one must enter ten days of quarantine, although one can take a day off after the fifth day.

USA
Entry into the U.S. is limited to a certain group of individuals (such as family members of U.S. citizens, green card holders, diplomats, or individuals who qualify for a national interest exception) and is possible under certain conditions. Most non-U.S. citizens or travelers who have been in Austria for at least 14 days prior to their arrival are still subject to an entry ban.

All travelers who are allowed to enter must present a negative PCR or antigen test no older than 72 hours.

Return to Austria if you have stayed in the low-risk vacation country for at least ten days: 3-G detection requirement, no registration or quarantine.