Students (with letter of admission or confirmation of enrolment) and researchers can currently enter Austria. You should have a document confirming your status as student/researcher with you when travelling. 

Depending on the COVID situation in the country of residence, a negative PCR test result and/or home quarantine may be necessary in addition to this.

If you have questions about entry requirements (visa, residence permit...), please contact the Austrian representative authority in your country of residence. You will receive legally valid information by the Austrian embassy/consulate.

^{Last updated: 13 January 2021, 09:00 | Source: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus.html / https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/ii/2020/445/P0/NOR40226916}  

Keep in mind that if you are quarantined, you must not leave your accommodation. We therefore recommend that you bring the following from your country of origin to Graz in addition to the documents and objects that you would take with you anyway:

• Medication that you take regularly (if necessary, observe import regulations - if you have any questions, please contact the Austrian representative authority)
• If possible: clinical thermometer
• Mouth-nose protection
• If possible: hand and surface disinfectant
• Sim card / phone card with international phone plan, if you are arriving from outside the EU

Every person who travels to Austria (there are a few exceptions such as unforeseeable and urgent reasons within the family context) must fill out a pre-travel-clearance form online before entering the country:

• Form in German
• Form in English

You will then receive a PDF document as confirmation via email. Upon entry, you must be able to present this confirmation in digital or printed form, if requested by the authorities. The information provided in this form will be transmitted to the responsible health authority and automatically deleted after 28 days.

There are some exceptions allowing you to enter with a negative PCR or antigen test result: if one of these applies to you, you can upload a medical certificate including your negative test result when filling out the pre-travel-clearance form.

Further details and FAQs can be found on the website of the Ministry of Social Affairs:  https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-steller-Fracht/FAQ--Reisen-und-Tourismus.html 

_{Source:  https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-stellen-Fracht/FAQ--Reisen-und-Tourismus.html} 

_{Latest update:. January 14, 2021, 3 p.m.} 

Your country of origin¹ is Australia, Finland, Greece, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Vatican and you have only stayed in these countries within the last 10 days:

• No home quarantine and no medical certificate required to enter Austria
   
• from January 15^th, 2021: pre-travel-clearance form ( German / English ) must be completed prior to entering Austria
   

Your country of origin¹ is NOT one of the countries listed above, or you have been in a country other than those listed above within the last 10 days:

• from January 15^th, 2021: pre-travel-clearance form ( German / English ) must be completed prior to entering Austria
   
• Mandatory 10-day home quarantine
  • There are some exceptional reasons under which you can enter with a negative PCR or antigen test result and not have to be in home quarantine, see next question.
  • You can take a PCR or antigen test at your own expense 5 days after entry at the earliest to end the quarantine (day of entry = day 0).
     

¹  country of origin = the country in which you live. Proof may be required, e.g. registration of accommodation, booking confirmation, rental agreement

^{Source:  https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-stellen-Fracht/FAQ--Reisen-und-Tourismus.html}

^{Latest update: January 14th, 2021, 4 p.m.}

Exceptions (entry with health certificate* possible):

• humanitarian workers
• people who enter for business purposes
• an accompanying person as part of the entry for medical reasons
• persons who enter the country for the purpose of fulfilling a mandatory judicial or official duty, such as summoning to court hearings
• people with a photo ID according to § 95 FPG 2005 (diplomats accredited in Austria)

There are also groups of people who are allowed to enter (or re-enter) without restrictions, such as commuters who commute to Austria at least once a month. For details, please contact the Federal Ministry for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection .

* To enter Austria, a medical certificate ( download: template medical certificate in  German / English )  with a negative molecular-biological SARS-COV-2 test with a sampling less than 72 hours ago at the time of entry must be presented.

^{Source: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-stellen-Fracht.html 
Last change: January 13, 2021, 09:00}

We recommend careful planning and preparation of the home quarantine, especially with regard to accommodation. As you are not allowed to leave your accommodation for 10 days, everything you need should be available on site upon arrival. Get familiar with the following topics at an early stage to prepare the home quarantine in the best possible way:

• Is the accommodation suitable for quarantine? See WHO regulations for quarantine
   
• Communication :
  • WiFi or internet access that can be used immediately after arrival
  • SIM card or phone
  • Laptop / computer
  • For employees: access to Graz University resources for home office (VPN access, email account etc.)
     
• Facility : Are all necessary items in the accommodation? Also think of bedding, sheets, towels, ...
   
• Food supply: Do you have acquaintances / friends / family in Graz who can take care of you during the quarantine, i.e. grocery shopping?
   
• Medical care: What medication do you need during quarantine and can you bring it with you?
  • Clinical thermometer: if possible, bring a clinical thermometer with you so that you can check your temperature to document it, if necessary.

If your "buddy" (only for exchange students!), neighbors, acquaintances or relatives can not supply your food or necessary medication during quarantine, you can use the following services:

• Team Austria 
  ^{This website is in German only, please use automatic translator function of your webbrowser to navigate.}
  An initiative within the framework of neighborhood aid, organized by the Red Cross and volunteers. On the website you can fill in your contact details and that you are in quarantine, you will then be contacted within 24 hours. 
   
• Veloblitz (delivery costs vary)
  ^{This website is in German only, please use automatic translator function of your webbrowser to navigate.}
  Bicycle courier service in Graz. Charges are made per kilometer traveled, weight of the goods to be transported and a stop charge.
   
• Delivery services:  Lieferando , Mjam or Velofood (delivery costs vary)
  ^{These websites are in German only, please use automatic translator function of your webbrowser to navigate.}
  Contactless delivery partially possible.

Yes, the police or the health department can carry out checks at the specified place of residence. If you fail to comply with the quarantine and thereby endanger others, a severe sentence has to be expected. If you are not at the specified location during a check, fines of up to €1,450 are possible.

In Graz, you can take a swab test (=PCR-test) at the following labs (source: WKO)
Note: this is just a selection of 3 providers, please have a look at the WKO document, which is updated regularly, to see other offers.

Labor Dr. Tiran

• Costs EUR 120
• Results in 12-36h
• Swab test takes place at the following 2 locations: 8020 Graz, Stadlgasse 3 or 8700 Leoben, Roseggerstraße 19
• If you book and pay the appointment online via www.labor-tiran.at you get 10% off. You can also book an appointment by phone: 0316/712176.

MEDIUS Zentrum für Gesundheit

• Costs EUR 120 (+ EUR 15 if medical certificate is required)
• Results in 24h, up to 48h, depends on lab capacity
• Swab test takes place at the following address: 8010 Graz, Leonhardplatz 3. If you take the test between 8-10am, you can get the result on the same day.
• Appointments by phone or email: 0316/904488 | info(at)medius.at
• You are kindly asked to bring your sample to the partner lab (5 min walking) to speed up the process.
• You can get the test result by email or pick it up at the lab.

HYGIENICUM GmbH

• Costs: EUR 120
• Results in 12-36h
• Swab test takes place at the following address: 8055 Graz-Straßgang, Robert-Viertl-Straße 7
• If you take the test between 8 and 10am, you get the result on the same day (until 8pm)
• Appointments can be scheduled online: www.hygienicum.at, you will get the result electronically

Antigen tests

• Some pharmacies in and around Graz offer an Antigen test for between 24-40€
  Please see this list of pharmacies in Austria that offer Antigen COVID tests. (as of 20/12/2020)
• https://mobiler-covid-test.at/ (registration required, costs 29€, test takes place in Grazbachgasse)
• Screening programme of the government (free of charge, Austrian social security number required): https://oesterreich-testet.at

If you are a prospective student or researcher at the University of Graz, you can contact the Austrian representation in charge for an appointment for the visa or residence permit application. You should attach a confirmation of your status, such as an admission letter (students) or a hosting agreement/proof of employment (researchers). Please individually check the website of the embassy in charge for details.

In case of additional questions, you can contact the respective contact person:

• International researchers (staff & visiting scholars) & degree-seeking students: welcome(at)uni-graz.at
• Exchange students: incoming.exchange@uni-graz.at / erasmus.incoming(at)uni-graz.at / erasmusplus.intl.incoming(at)uni-graz.at

^{Last updated: 27 July 2020, 07:30 | Source: www.aussenministerium.at}

If you are an EU / EEA or Swiss national, you do NOT need a residence permit.

For stays of more than 6 months, third-country nationals must apply for a residence permit that corresponds to their planned activity:

1. If you currently live outside the EU / EEA or the Schengen area, please contact the Austrian representation authority in your country of residence.
    
2. If you are already legally residing within the EU / EEA or in the Schengen area and/or have a valid residence permit in a Schengen country, you may be eligible to apply directly in Graz.

2) First-time application in Graz
Due to the current situation with COVID, a personal application for the residence permit is only possible upon prior appointment. To receive an appointment, you can submit your documents by post - please make sure you provide a valid email address so that the authorities can contact you about how to proceed:

Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung
Abteilung  3 - Referat Aufenthalts und Sicherheitswesen
Paulustorgasse 4, 8010 Graz

If you have questions, please get in touch with your contact person at the University of Graz:

• Exchange students: incoming.exchange@uni-graz.at / erasmus.incoming(at)uni-graz.at
• Employees/researchers and students (degree-seeking students): welcome(at)uni-graz.at

^{Note: If you live outside the city of Graz, the process may be different!
Last update: January 14, 2021  4 p.m.   Source: Ateilung 3, Land Steiermark}

In order to open a bank account in Austria, you must have already registered your main residence in Austria. Please contact a bank of your choice and inquire about any changes in the procedures for opening a bank account due to Covid-19. If possible, bring some cash (Euros) for the first weeks.

Stay at home and call 1450, which is the official hotline for health councelling and measures related to Covid-19 symptoms. You will receive further information on how to proceed and possible testing by them.

1) Wearing a mouth-nose protection (mask)
You have to wear a mask in all closed public rooms (e.g. public transport, planes, cabs,...) as well as in all shops (retail) and services (hairdressers,....) as well as at work depending on your individual wokring situation. Current rules and regulations at the university: https://covid-19.uni-graz.at/en
 

2) 1-2m distance to others not living in the same household with you
Everywhere, also outdoors!
 

3) "Lockdown measures"

• December 26^th 2020 until January 24^th 2021: most shops except for grocery stores and necessities as well as most services (such as hairdressers, cosmetics,...) closed

Please read about the further implications on the official channels of the ministry as wella

Important websites & download:

• Ministry of Social Affairs (German - use browser translation function to English)
• City of Vienna (English)
• Information about current measures in 17 languages

Since the beginning of September 2020, in Austria and at the University of Graz a traffic light system was implemented. Information about the traffic light system at Uni Graz and from the government can be found here:  https://covid-19.uni-graz.at/en/ 

^{Last update: January 14 2021, 4 p.m.}

Yes, if you move to Austria you have to register:

1. Registration of residence in Graz
   Persons who are moving to Austria for the first time must register their residence within 3 working days after moving into their accommodation by law. Due to the current situation with Covid-19, you need an appointment to register your residence for the first time. If you have already lived in Austria, the registration could also be carried out online, please contact the registration service directly. If you need to go into a home quarantine after entering the country, please contact the Welcome Center (exchange students: your contact person in the International Relations Office) well in advance to find a solution for registering your place of residence.
    
2. EU / EEA and Swiss citizens: Confirmation of Registration  (in addition to step 1)
   For stays of more than 3 months, EU / EEA or Swiss citizens must register with the Office of the Styrian State Government  (Paulustorgasse 4, 8010 Graz) within 4 months of moving to Graz. This registration costs about 30 € and is mandatory! You currently need to make an appointment with the responsible officer at the government to register.

Attention : Steps 1 and 2 take place independently - the responsible offices are in different buildings!

^{Last updated: 09 July 2020, 16:00 | Source: www.graz.at  / www.verwaltung.steiermark.at/}

Please note the information for your group:

• Newly arriving international staff of the University of Graz: You are insured with the mandatory public insurance from the first day of employment with the provider BVAEB, if your monthly income at the University of Graz exceeds the minimum employment threshold (460.66 Euro/month). The HR department registers you for comprehensive health, pension, unemployment and accident insurance; you do not have to take action yourself. You can contact the Welcome Center for more information
   
• Exchange students & prospective students with a letter of admission can find further information about insurance on orientation.uni-graz.at

^{Last updated: 23 October 2020, 12:00}

The websites of most Austrian federal ministries are mainly offered in German. We recommend that you download a browser e.g. Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge etc. with an automatic translation function (check the language settings). This will allow you to read German websites in English or other languages. Even if the translation is not perfect, it grants you access to up-to-date information.

• Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection: https://www.sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus---Haeufig-gestellte-Fragen.html
• Ministry of European and International Affairs: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/
• Ministry of the Interior: https://www.bmi.gv.at/
  • Entry & Covid-19 (English version): https://www.bmi.gv.at/bmi_documents/2513.pdf 
• OeAD: https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/entry-conditions-covid-19/ 

^{Last updated: 09 July 2020, 16:00}

>>>Covid-19 Info page by the University of Graz

>>>Download: Covid-19 information & instructions for exchange students

If you have any questions about a visa / residence permit or about entry with health measures, please also contact the Austrian representation in your country of residence.