Multilingual ÖIF info service
For information regarding COVID, the ÖIF staff are available for you! Click here for more information on the multilingual info service.
Coronavirus safety measures in 17 languages

The website is continuously updated and expanded with new information.
Information updated: 19.04.2022
Information on the coronavirus vaccination

All those who live in Austria may receive a free vaccine in Austria to protect them against coronavirus. Registration for the coronavirus vaccine must be carried out via the vaccination platform of the federal states at www.oesterreich-impft.at/jetzt-impfen.

As part of the online consultation “Coronavirus chat: lockdown and vaccination”, the ÖIF provides information on the measures currently in place as well as on the vaccination to protect against coronavirus. For people with insufficient knowledge of German, the consultation sessions will be interpreted. Participation is free of charge and does not require registration. All dates can be found at www.integrationsfonds.at/onlinekurse.

The ÖIF staff are available for you via telephone from Monday to Thursday from 10:00 – 14:00 as well as on Friday from 09:00 – 13:00 at +43 1/715 10 51 - 263 for all your questions regarding coronavirus!

More detailed information on coronavirus and the coronavirus vaccination is available on the webpage of the Ministry for Social Affairs under Informationen zur Corona-Schutzimpfung in Österreich (sozialministerium.at) (information on the coronavirus vaccination in Austria, German language) as well as under Coronavirus (sozialministerium.at).
Click here for online advice on all aspects of COVID-19.
COVID-19 measures
The measures apply provisionally until 08 July 2022. This document provides an overview of the applicable measures. For more information, please refer to: www.oesterreich.gv.at, Coronavirus - Aktuelle Maßnahmen (sozialministerium.at).
Please note the special regulations for the Austrian Provinces → Map Coronavirus Traffic Light | Coronavirus Traffic Light
Please note the special regulations for Vienna as specified under → “Regional measures for Vienna”.
COVID-19 Protective Measures
TESTED
- Negative result of an antigen test from an authorised facility (“Österreich testet”); valid 24 hours from test
- Antigen test for own use (“home test”) that has been recorded in digital form: valid for 24 hours from sample
- PCR test: valid 72 hours from test
The following are not deemed to be proof of testing:
- antibody test
- self-test at home
- Exemption from the test obligation.
Testing cannot be reasonably expected for health reasons or due to a disability (e.g. in the case of dementia)
RECOVERED
- Medical certificate of recovery from infection: valid for 6 months from date of issue
- Quarantine notice: valid for 6 months from date of issue
VACCINATED
- Second vaccination: valid for 6 months
- Recovery (positive PCR test or antibodies) and one vaccination doses: valid for 6 months
- Booster shot (3 vaccine doses or recovery and 2 vaccine doses): Valid for 1 year
- Obligation to present proof of 3G (tested, vaccinated, recovered) for children aged 12 and over
- Exemptions from the requirement to provide proof of 3G:
- persons who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons
- pregnant women
The forms of proof must be presented in German or English.
PLEASE NOTE: The falsification and use of falsified COVID test certificates, certificates of recovery and proofs of vaccination are criminal offences in Austria. Possible consequences: Fine and/or imprisonment
Choose only official test centres for your COVID tests!
- In the following areas and establishments, it is obligatory to wear an FFP2 mask in closed spaces:
- Public transport, school transport and taxis - throughout the entire journey, at stops and waiting areas,
- Public pharmacies, establishments for the sale of medical products and chemists’,
- Food stores (including farmers selling directly to customers), agricultural stores and establishments for the sale of animal feed,
- Establishments for persons with disabilities,
- Services of the Public Employment Service, legal services and emergency services,
- Banks and post offices i.e. postal service providers,
- Tobacconists’ and newspaper stands,
- Waste disposal establishments,
- Car and bicycle workshops, petrol stations and car wash facilities,
- Hygiene and cleaning services,
- Establishments for the sale of safety and emergency products,
- Administrative authorities and administrative courts during office hours,
- Establishments for the practice of religion.
- Operators and employees of these establishments must wear an FFP2 mask for all direct contact with customers, unless protective measures are in place (e.g. plexiglass walls)
- In addition, for all other establishments and places, it is recommended to wear an FFP2 mask in closed spaces.
Information on the Obligation to Wear a Mask
- Children under the age of 6 do not have to wear a mask.
- Face masks for children from 6 to 14 years of age. FFP2 masks compulsory for children from 14.
- Exemptions from the obligation to wear an FFP2 mask:
- health-related or disability-specific reasons (then mouth-and-nose protection or other closely fitting mechanical protection device; if this cannot be reasonably expected, face shield) – medical confirmation is required
- Therapeutic educational reasons
- While providing a service in close physical proximity (if required without a mask)
- While providing or receiving speech therapy
- While eating and drinking
- During sports and in damp areas (e.g. showers, indoor swimming pools)
- Pregnant women (face mask instead)
- People who are deaf or hearing impaired, in communication with others
- In the following areas and establishments, it is obligatory to wear an FFP2 mask in closed spaces:
- The 3G rule does not apply in the workplace, except for employees in the health sector → Attention: Special regulations in Vienna → “Regional measures in Vienna”
- FFP2 masks are obligatory for
- Employees in the health sector, Employees with customer contact in establishments in which masks are obligatory, unless protective measures are in place (e.g. plexiglass walls)
- In justified cases, stricter requirements by employers are possible.
- Staff (also applies for mobile care and assistance): proof of 3G and FFP2 mask for direct contact with residents, unless protective measures are in place (e.g. plexiglass walls)
- Visitors: proof of 3G and FFP2 mask in indoor areas
- Residents of old people’s homes, care homes and homes for the disabled: proof of 3G or other organisational precautions (e.g. quarantine measures) before new admission, FFP2 mask in common areas
- Patients at medical facilities and sanatoria: FFP2 mask
- In other places where healthcare and nursing services are provided: Patients, visitors, accompanying persons and staff must wear an FFP2 mask, unless protective measures are in place (e.g. plexiglass walls)
NECESSARY INTEGRATION MEASURES OF THE AUSTRIAN INTEGRATION FUND (ÖIF):
- Participation is only possible with 3G proof and an FFP2 mask!
GATHERINGS
- For events with more than 500 people:
- Develop and implement COVID-19 prevention concept
- Appoint COVID-19 officers
- This does not apply for:
- Funerals
- Assemblies according to the Act on Assemblies and Processions (demonstrations) – an FFP2 mask must be worn even outdoors
- Professional meetings that cannot be delayed
- Meetings of committees of political, legal parties or committees related to Industrial Constitution Law that cannot be delayed
- Attending theatres, concert halls and arenas, cinemas with a vehicle
- for events in private residences
Regional measures
REGIONAL MEASURES FOR VIENNA
- The following applies in the health sector:
- Negative PCR test for visitors in old people’s homes, care homes, hospitals and health spas
- this applies to children aged 6 and older
- this does not apply to people who have recovered after 15.1.2022, for a period of 2 months following the end of the infection
- Hospitals and health spas: three visitors per patient per day or four visitors for patients who require assistance
- Proof of 2.5G plus 2x weekly negative PCR test for employees in old people’s homes, care homes, hospitals and health spas
- Negative PCR test for visitors in old people’s homes, care homes, hospitals and health spas
- PCR test: valid for 48 hours
- For elementary education institutes (kindergartens, childcare facilities), the following applies:
- FFP2 masks are obligatory for external persons (e.g. parents)
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations as of February 2022
Attention: The obligation to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is being suspended for the time being.
Compulsory vaccination means that all persons in Austria are obligated to get themselves vaccinated against coronavirus if they are not yet vaccinated and the authority so specifies. Fines are possible in the event of non-compliance. The following provisions have been in force since 5 February 2022: Further information is available at Information on compulsory vaccination against coronavirus in Austria (sozialministerium.at).
- In effect from 5 February 2022 until 31 January 2024 – fines to be issued as of 16 March 2022
- Applies for all persons aged 18 and over who live in Austria.
The exceptions to this are:- Persons under the age of 18
- Women who are pregnant
- Persons who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons
- Persons who have not formed any or have only formed an insufficient number of antibodies despite vaccinations (e.g. in the event of allergies to the coronavirus vaccines)
- Persons who have recovered from a coronavirus infection in the last 180 days
- Reasons that justify an exception must be confirmed by a doctor.
- Compulsory vaccination incorporates all recommended coronavirus vaccinations; these are currently:
- Initial vaccination
- Second vaccination
- Third vaccination
- Vaccines recognised to meet the requirements of compulsory vaccination are:
- BioNTech-Pfizer - Comirnaty
- Moderna Biotech - Spikevax
- AstraZeneca - Vaxzevria
- Johnson & Johnson - Covid-19 Vaccine Janssen
- Novavax - Nuvaxovid
- 2 Chinese vaccines:
- Sinopharm - Vero Cell
- Sinovac - CoronaVac
- 3 Indian vaccines:
- Bharat Biotech - COVAXIN
- Serum Institute of India - COVOVAX and Covishield
- People who received two vaccinations abroad, but none of the vaccines listed above, are considered to have received only the first dose of vaccination.
- In the event of a coronavirus infection between the vaccinations, a vaccination must be given at the latest 180 days from the sample (positive PCR test).
- If this requirement is not complied with, a fine is possible (up to 600 euros or up to 3,600 euros in the case of proceedings in court)
Procedure:
- The federal government will determine specific days on which it will identify people who need to be vaccinated against COVID.
- If it is not possible to ascertain whether a person fulfils the vaccination obligation, they will be contacted by the authorities.
- People will be asked to get vaccinated by a fixed deadline at the latest or to have their reasons for exemption registered in the vaccination register by a doctor.
- If this request is not complied with by the deadline, the authorities may issue a fine (see above).