Students (with letter of admission or confirmation of enrolment) and researchers can enter Austria. You should have a document confirming your status as student/researcher with you when travelling. Depending on the country of residence, a negative PCR test result or home quarantine may be necessary in addition to this.

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

^{Last updated: 23 October 2020, 10:00 | 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

Important: this information is intended for students and researchers only!

Your country of residence is on list A and you have only stayed in countries on this list within the last 10 days.

• No home quarantine and no medical certificate required to enter Austria
   

Your country of residence is on list B  or you have stayed in a country on this list within the last 10 days.

• medical certificate* upon entry required
  OR
• 10-day home quarantine after arrival, and a PCR test in Austria must be initiated within 48 hours. With a negative SARS-COV-2 test result, the quarantine can be ended early

Your country of residence is neither on list A nor on list B.

• medical certificate* upon entry required
  OR
• 10-day home quarantine after arrival, and a PCR test in Austria must be initiated within 48 hours. With a negative SARS-COV-2 test result, the quarantine can be ended early

*To enter Austria, a medical certificate (download: template medical certificate in German / English) with a negative molecular-biological SARS-COV-2 test, taken less than 72 hours before your entry, must be provided.

^{Source: https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/eli/bgbl/ii/2020/445/P0/NOR40226916 | Latest update: October 23rd, 2020, 11am}

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.

You can take a molecular biological SARS-CoV-2 test for the entry in your country of residence. Please contact the Austrian representation in your country of residence in case of additional questions. 

Important: The "medical certificate" form is necessary for the entry as confirmation of your test result! You can find more information on the website of the federal ministry | Download: Medical certificate template: German /  English

Under certain circumstances you can also take a test in Austria after your arrival, for example at the airport in Vienna (rapid test). You have to register in advance, the test costs €120. Plan for an additional stay of several hours while waiting for the test result.

^{Last updated: 23 October 2020, 11:00}

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 esearchers (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 citizen, you do not need a residence permit. Third-country nationals must apply for a residence permit for stays of more than 6 months:

A) If you currently live outside of the EU/EEA or Schegen area, please contact the Austrian representation in the country of your residence. 

B) If you already legally stay within the EU/EEA or Schengen area and/or have a valid Schengen residence permit, you could be allowed to apply for the residence permit directly in Graz. Please also see the OeAD website for further information.


B) Initial application in Graz
Due to Covid-19, the application process changes in Graz are as follows:

• Initial applications must be made in person, an appointment has to be scheduled by email with the responsible officer of the authority in Graz. Please attach the completed and signed application form and a scan of the required documents to the email.The responsible officer will contact you with further instructions.
• For the personal appointment, please bring all the necessary documents in their original form and the completed application form and a photo. Please do not take large bags or backpacks with you, as these have to be checked on site, which leads to delays. There are no lockers. 
• After submitting the documents, you will receive the residence permit by post (RSa letter, personal acceptance necessary!).

^{Note: This procedure relates to the application in Graz. If you live outside the city of Graz, the process may be different!}

If you have further questions, please contact the contact person at the University of Graz:

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

^{Last updated: 21 October 2020, 11:00 | Source: Amt der Steiermärkischen Landesregierung, Abteilung 3}

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.

Since the beginning of September 2020, in Austria and at the University of Graz a traffic light system was implemented. Depending on the traffic light color (green / yellow / orange / red) of the district, the measures to control Covid-19 are adapted.

Information about the traffic light system at Uni Graz and from the government can be found here:  https://covid-19.uni-graz.at/en/ 

Please see this website and use your automatic browser translation (German-English) to read e.g. where to wear a mask and which protective measures are in act in English!

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:
  • EU / EEA citizens  can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their home countries, as this is also valid in Austria. Please contact your insurance in the country of residence about the benefits and use of the insurance in Austria.
     
  • Non-EU / EEA citizens staying for a semester (up to 6 months), must take care of a suitable insurance that meets the visa requirements. In this regard, please contact the responsible Austrian representation authority in the country of residence.
     

  • Non-EU / EEA citizens  staying for an academic year (2 semesters): You have to take out self-insurance for students with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). From the end of August onwards, you will find detailed information on an information platform linked here. If you have any questions, you can contact the responsible contact person in the International Relations Office .

• Prospective students with a letter of admission:

  • EU / EEA citizens: if you have health insurance within the EU / EEA, ask the insurance in your country of residence whether your insurance will also be valid in Austria. If you meet the requirements, you can take out student insurance with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). From the end of August onwards, you will find detailed information on an information platform linked here. You can contact the Welcome Center for more information.

  • Non-EU / EEA citizens : You need an insurance covering all risks in Austria that is equivalent to the statutory insurance to get a residence permit. If possible, you can take out student insurance with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), alternatively there are also private insurance policies that meet the requirements. For more information you can contact the Welcome Center.

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

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 

^{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.