Crossing Austria by sleeper train without getting off - do Austrian covid entry rules apply?
I will soon take the sleeper train from Zurich to Ljubljana.
The train route covers Switzerland-Austria-Slovenia. I will not be getting off until my final destination. As of today (May 2022), Slovenia lifted the requirement to show proof of test, recovery or vaccination. Austria still has it AFAIK. Information regarding transiting passengers in such situation is difficult to find.
Do I need to abide by the Austrian rules even if I remain on board the train for the whole crossing of the country?
Best Answer
The rules state, according to the Austrian Embassy in Washington:
Persons entering Austria for the following purposes are not subject to COVID-19 entry restrictions or mandatory quarantine:
- TRANSIT through Austria without stop or unnecessary delay. A change in mode of transportation is admissible (e.g. plane to train, bus, taxi, etc.).
- ...
Similar information can be found in the German FAQ of the Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz:
Folgende Personengruppen sind bei der Ein- und Wiedereinreise von der COVID-19-Einreiseverordnung ausgenommen:
- ...
- Transitpassagiere bzw. Personen, die ohne Zwischenstopp durch Österreich durchreisen,
- ...
The German Automobile Club ADAC notes that they usually tolerate short stops for buying gas or going to the toilet.
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