Oct 18, 2022
7 min read
Have you ever dreamt of seeing the Alps in Vienna and Salsburg? Well, your dreams can officially turn into reality. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has currently dimmed down, travel restrictions worldwide are in the progress of being removed.
Although entry restrictions are being removed, there is some important information that you must be aware of before enjoying international travel. Therefore, we'll explain everything you need to know when traveling to Austria from the US. This post will include important travel information such as visa requirements, required documents, and the COVID-19 requirements when traveling to Austria from the US.
Here's what you'll need to know:
Before you start making your travel plans, it is important to determine if you need a visa to enter Austria. Although certain nationals are not required to apply for a visa when traveling to Europe or the Schengen Area, you might need one if you are a US Green Card Holder.
This section will explain if US citizens and US Green Card Holders need a visa to enter Austria.
Luckily, if you are a US citizen, you can travel to Austria without a visa. US citizens enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen Area. You can travel to Austria for a short term, but keep in mind that you must ensure to follow the 90/180-day rule. Please check out our 90/180-day rule guide for additional information.
If you are a US Green Card Holder, you might not enjoy visa-free travel to Austria. The reason for saying that is because it all depends on your country of origin and which passport you hold. Let me use an example to clarify. Perhaps you are a US Green Card Holder with a permanent residence permit, but you are from Angola. In that case, you must apply for an Austria Tourist Visa before traveling to Austria.
Please feel free to check out the list on the Austrian Embassy website of Washington DC on who needs a visa to enter Austria.
Please check out the Austria Travel tourist office for more detailed information.
Although US citizens do not have to apply for the Austrian Schengen Visa, traveling to Austria from the US is still considered international travel. Here is a list of all the travel documents that you must have before traveling to Austria from the US:
As I mentioned earlier, travel restrictions are in the progress of being removed. However, you must always stay updated on the latest COVID-19 restrictions and regulations before traveling to Austria. Please find below all the essential information on the current COVID-19-related requirements.
Currently, there are no COVID-19 entry requirements to Austria. The Austrian government removed the entry restrictions on the 16th of May, 2022. Therefore, citizens traveling from the US are not required to show proof of vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 test. Please keep in mind that the Austrian entry restrictions can change without notice. Therefore, I advise you to keep updated with Austrian's COVID-19 information.
Suppose you are a US citizen and returning to the US. In that case, you do not have to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test, or proof of recovery. This is because the CDC lifted the entry requirements for US citizens returning to the US on the 12th of June, 2022. However, if you are a non-US citizen or non-US immigrant, you must provide the following:
Please ensure to keep updated with the latest COVID-19 information before traveling. The COVID-19 restrictions can change without notice, so please use the following recourses for the most recent travel restrictions and exceptions.
There are no quarantine requirements for US citizens visiting Austria. Furthermore, US citizens are not required to quarantine once arriving in Austria. However, suppose you test positive while visiting Austria. In that case, you will be quarantined for 5-10 days or longer at your own expense. You must remain in quarantine until you have a negative antigen test or are cleared by Austrian health officials. The US Embassy does not offer lodging, medical care, or financial support for quarantine-related expenses.
The US Embassy cannot intervene in Austrian health and immigration officials, health care professionals, airline personnel's quarantine and testing requirements, nor can it grant you permission to leave quarantine early or board an aircraft. Furthermore, the penalties for violating quarantine regulations are high.
If you are a vaccinated traveler, ensure that you have one of the following vaccines that are approved by the EU:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advise persons do not travel without getting vaccinated. In addition, please check out the Austrian travel advisory on the US Department of State website for more information. Also, ensure that you are up to date with Austria's latest COVID-19 requirements.
Maybe you haven't heard, but the European Union will implement the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System) visa waiver in November 2023. Therefore, if you travel to Austria before 2023, you don't need to apply for the ETIAS. However, remember that this will change in November 2023.
Please feel free to check out our ETIAS guide for more information on how you will need to apply for it in the future.
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free program that allows US residents and US nationals traveling or living abroad to register their trip with the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. Here is a list of the benefits when enrolling with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program:
When you arrive at the Icelandic border, you must have your required entry documents.
After presenting your documentation, the Austrian border authorities might ask you to submit additional information. Therefore, I advise that you travel with proof of financial means to support yourself during your stay. If the border patrol requests this, you can provide them with a bank statement or a traveler's check. If you visit a friend, they might want to speak with them. Alternatively, you can request they send you a certified invitational letter before arriving at the border.
Now that you know everything about traveling to Austria from the US, you can officially plan your trip. As a disclaimer, please keep in mind that the entry requirements may change without notice. Stay up to date with Austria's latest COVID-19 resitrictions.
Yes, you can. Please remember that FFP2/KN95 masks remain MANDATORY on public transportation and essential businesses. This includes airplanes, airports, trains, train stations, metro/subway, trams, buses, taxis, Uber, grocery stores, pharmacies, hospitals and doctor offices, post offices, and government buildings – including the US Consulate.
There are COVID-19 test centers in Austria, Vienna, and Innsbruck. Please find the closest test center before departing from Austria to the US.
Austria has a low rate of serious crime. However, please keep in mind that petty crime is increasing on public transport and in tourist areas. This includes:
Hotspots for crime include:
Thieves are active on international trains and buses. To reduce your risk of crime:
As mentioned earlier in this post, you can visit any country in the Schengen Area without a visa. Countries in the Schengen Area include:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.