Safety and security

A security alert of a suspected attack was issued by authorities on 15 March 2023. People are asked to remain vigilant in crowded and popular inner city places.

Crime

Crime remains relatively low in Austria but you should take sensible precautions.

• Don’t carry your credit card, travel tickets and money together - leave spare cash and valuables in a safe place.
• Don’t carry your passport unless absolutely necessary and leave a copy of your passport (and travel and insurance documents) with family or friends at home.

Be particularly aware of petty theft at Vienna´s largest train stations, Westbahnhof, and Hauptbahnhof. There have also been several recent reports of thefts on the trains between Vienna and Prague/Budapest.

Reporting a crime

If you’re a victim of a crime while in Austria, report it to the local police immediately. And you can contact us at the Irish Embassy if you need help.

Passport loss/theft

If your passport is lost or stolen, you should contact the Embassy as soon as possible and report the loss or theft to the nearest police station or Magistrat. You will need to submit a copy of your police statement when you’re applying for a new passport or if you’re making a claim on your insurance.

In some cases, you may be able to use this statement instead of a passport, but you should check with the airline before going to the airport. If your airline won’t accept the statement, the Embassy may issue you with an Emergency Travel Certificate, valid for one journey from Austria to Ireland, or a Temporary Passport, valid for a restricted period of time.

Walking and Cycling

Please observe traffic lights when walking in Austrian towns and cities, particularly Vienna. On the spot fines are administered for crossing the road at a red light.

It is important to observe the rules of the road when cycling. On the spot fines are administered for cycling in pedestrian areas. It addition, cyclists in Vienna are subject to random breath testing. Failing a test may result in a fine, imprisonment, or both.

Driving

The rules of the road are more complex in Austria than those in Ireland, especially for caravan and motor home owners so if you’re planning on driving, remember:

• Bring your full Irish driving license and make sure you have adequate and appropriate insurance.
• Using your headlights is mandatory in poor visibility and recommended at all other times.
• Carry a high-visibility vest and a hazard warning triangle in the car.
• Motorists in Austria must form an emergency corridor as soon as traffic ceases to progress and congestion is imminent on motorways or dual carriageways and highways, regardless of whether emergency vehicles are already in the vicinity or not.
• Road conditions are generally good although roads in alpine areas can become hazardous during winter and some mountain roads may be closed for extended period.

Using the motorway

If you’re planning to use motorways and ‘S’ roads in Austria, you risk heavy, on-the-spot fines if you don’t display a Motorway Vignette on your vehicle. You can buy these Motorway Vignettes at all major border crossings into Austria and at larger petrol stations.

Drink Driving

The legal drink driving limit in Austria is 50 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The limit is 10 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood for coach/HGV drivers and those who have had a licence for less than two years. Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol are severe.

Hiring a vehicle

If you’re hiring a vehicle, we advise you not to hand over your passport as a form of security. If you’re allowing your passport to be photocopied, keep it in your sight at all times.

Check that you have adequate insurance and read the small print of the vehicle hire contract (particularly any waiver that will come into effect if the vehicle is damaged).

Local laws and customs

Remember, the local laws apply to you as a visitor and it is your responsibility to follow them. Be sensitive to local customs, traditions and practices as your behaviour may be seen as improper, hostile or even illegal

Illegal drugs

Illegal drug use (no matter what the drug) carries stiff penalties, including fines and long prison terms.

Personal identification

Under Austrian law, you must carry identification, such as a passport, at all times, or be able to produce identification within a short timeframe. We advise you to carry photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport, and keep the original in a safe place.

Registration

If you’re staying in private accommodation in Austria for more than three days, you must register your place of residence with the local authorities. 

Climate and Skiing

Practical advice

If you’re travelling to Austria, make sure you know what to expect – then plan and pack so that you’re prepared. Get local advice on how to manage in the case of a serious incident or dangerous conditions and co-operate with local authorities.

Climate

Austria’s climate is moderate and generally pleasant, with warm summers and cold winters (temperatures largely depend on altitudes). From June to September, you can expect sunshine and low rainfall and from November to March the weather is much colder and usually ideal for winter sports.

Skiing

If you are planning a skiing holiday contact the Austrian Tourist Agency which covers Ireland (1890 930 118 or holiday@austria.info) for advice on weather and safety conditions before you travel. Off-piste skiing is highly dangerous. You should follow all safety instructions carefully, given the danger of avalanches in some areas, in particular in times of heavy snow.

Always check with the local tourist offices on current snow and weather conditions on arrival. Avalanche beepers (receivers) are the most common rescue devices and when properly used provide the fastest way of locating an avalanche victim. You can get avalanche information by telephoning +43 512 581839 or by visiting the following the websites of the Tirol Avalanche Warning Service or the European Avalanche Warning Service. Take extra care during the spring season, as this is when avalanches most commonly occur.

Please register with the Embassy if embarking on a ski holiday.

Health

COVID-19

3-G rule:

• For the protection of vulnerable groups, the 3-G rule (vaccinated/recovered or tested) continues to apply in health care settings (e.g. visits to hospitals and nursing homes) within Austria. To meet the 3-G rule, a certificate or proof of Covid vaccination, recovery or testing must be presented upon request. Please pay attention to their different validity periods.
• To note: A previous recovery is no longer considered an ‘immunological event’ in its own right. This means that going forward, three vaccinations will generally be required to fulfil the above stated 3-G rule. Each recovery is still valid for six months; however, it no longer replaces a vaccination.

Tick-borne encephalitis

If you’re planning to travel in forested areas, you risk being exposed to tick-borne encephalitis. Ticks are very common in country areas and are active from spring to autumn. Vaccinations can be organised with your local medical practitioner.

Travel Insurance

We can’t pay for emergency medical repatriation, repatriation of remains, or for expenses as a result of a personal emergency while you are abroad. If you buy an appropriate travel insurance policy, these costs will be covered, provided you haven’t broken the terms and conditions.

Buying comprehensive travel insurance can save you and your family a lot of money if something goes wrong. It will also ensure that you get the medical attention you need, when you need it. Hospital bills can quickly run into thousands of euro, and a medical evacuation back to Ireland can cost thousands more.

Not all policies are the same, and the cheapest one might be cheap for a reason. Make sure your policy covers all the activities you plan to do on your trip. Insurance Ireland recommend that you purchase a policy that provides a minimum medical cover of €1 million.

Emergency expenses

Your policy should cover:

• All medical care abroad, including evacuation by air ambulance, or other emergency procedures, and any other costs associated with an unexpected longer stay.
• Your entire trip, from departure to return. Consider an annual multi-trip policy if you’re making more than one trip in the year.   
• 24-hour emergency service and assistance.
• Personal liability cover (in case you’re sued for causing injury or damaging property).
• Lost and stolen possessions.
• Cancellation and curtailment.
• Any extra activities you intend to do that are excluded from standard policies (e.g. skiing, water sport activities such as jet skiing or other extreme sports).

Exclusions: You should know most insurance policies will not cover drink or drug-related incidents.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

As an Irish resident you are entitled to get healthcare through the public system in countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland if you become ill or injured while on a temporary stay there. Ensure that you get or renew your EHIC (the new name for the E111) before you go, and remember, you need one for every person travelling in your group.

The EHIC is not a substitute for proper travel insurance provided by a reputable insurer. It doesn’t cover medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. Also, some private hospitals may not accept the EHIC, so you should check with the hospital administrator beforehand.

Medication

Make sure you bring enough medication for your entire trip and for any unexpected delays. Bring copies of your prescription in case you lose your medication, or in case you are asked to justify why you have certain medications at an entry point (airport, port, land border etc.).

Bear in mind that not all over-the-counter medications available in Ireland are legal in other countries and do your research before you go. Check with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the country you’re planning to visit if you’re unsure which medications you may be able to bring with you.