Current news

Due to the Ebola/Bundibugyo outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, India has introduced a mandatory online health declaration for all travelers arriving at an international airport in India. The online health declaration must be completed on this page within 24 hours prior to entry: https://airsuvidha.civilaviation.gov.in/

Your ÖVKG Team

Dear Customers,

First of all: You are currently still required to apply for an A1 certificate for every business trip.

On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, in Strasbourg, the European Parliament decided to change the requirements for applying for the A1 certificate. The requirement to apply for the A1 certificate will not be abolished. The change results in a new regulation governing the requirements for applying for the A1 certificate:

• The new regulation currently applies to trade show and customer visits, but not to sectors within the construction industry.

• The new regulation applies regardless of the EU & EFTA destination.

The new regulation is defined as follows:

• An A1 certificate is not required for business trips lasting a maximum of three consecutive days, but only once within a 30-day period.

What does this mean in practice:

• It must be verified whether a business trip has been taken or is planned within the past 30 days or the next 30 days. If a business trip has been taken or is scheduled during either of these periods and an exemption from the A1 certificate requirement has already been selected for that trip, A1 certificates must be applied for in connection with any subsequent business trips.

What happens next:

• In the next step, the new regulation will be submitted to the EU and EFTA member states. These countries will then have two years to transpose the regulation into national law. Only then will the new regulation governing the application process for the A1 certificate take effect.

Recommendation:

• Currently, an A1 certificate must still be applied for each business trip.

• The process will become more complex. The “rolling 30 days” period means that a total period of 60 days must be reviewed: 30 days in the past and 30 days in the future. It will be necessary to verify whether the exemption from submitting an A1 certificate has already been used, regardless of the travel destination within the EU and EFTA countries. Subsequently, a decision must be made regarding the time period for which the A1 certificate should be requested.

• DVKG can handle this complexity by automating the verification process and informing the applicant whether an A1 certificate needs to be requested.

• DVKG offers this solution, which meets the necessary technical requirements. DVKG already uses this technical solution for other compliance-related matters.

IMPORTANT, all other social security certificates that must be applied for in connection with business trips outside the EU and EFTA countries remain unaffected by the new regulation. Social security certificates must still be requested for every business trip outside the EU and EFTA countries.

Please feel free to contact our sales team for further questions and guidance.

Best regards

Your ÖVKG Team

Since mid-April 2026—starting with Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City—an Arrival Card must be completed before entering Vietnam. The Arrival Card is now also required at numerous other points of entry.

Please note that the Arrival Card must be completed anew for EVERY entry.

The ÖVKG team will be happy to assist you.

Your ÖVKG Team

Dear Sir or Madam,

We would like to inform you that the following countries have introduced an electronic arrival card (e-Arrival Card)

• Barbados (within 3 days prior to entry)
• China (within 90 days before entry)
• Dominican Republic
• India (within 4 days before entry)
• Indonesia (within 3 days before entry)
• Cambodia (within 7 days before entry)
• Canada (within 3 days before entry)
• Cape Verde (within 5 days before entry)
• Colombia (within 3 days before entry and exit)
• Cuba (within 7 days before entry)
• Laos (within 3 days before entry and exit)
• Malaysia (within 3 days before entry)
• Maldives (within 4 days before entry)
• Mauritius (within 15 days before entry)
• Nigeria (within 3 days before entry and exit)
• Philippines (within 3 days before entry and exit)
• Singapore (within 3 days before entry)
• South Korea (within 3 days before entry)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Thailand (within 3 days before entry)
• Taiwan (within 3 days before entry)
• Vietnam (within 3 days before entry)

Important note: Arrival Card required for entry and exit

For the following countries, the arrival card must be completed both on entry and exit:

• Colombia
• Laos
• Nigeria
• Philippines

Please note:

The Arrival Card serves to speed up and simplify entry, but does not replace a visa. Please therefore check in good time whether an additional visa is required for your destination.

You can apply for your Arrival Card conveniently and easily via the ÖVKG portal for a fee.

Please also note the respective country-specific deadlines, entry requirements, conditions and exceptions (e.g. for third-country nationals or holders of a residence permit)

If you have any questions, please call us on +43 1 361 5520 or send an email to wien@oevkg.at .

Best regards

Your ÖVKG team

Due to the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, there will be an increased number of closing days and changes to opening and processing times at embassies of Islamic countries in the week between 25.05.2026 and 31.05.2026.

We kindly ask you to take this into account.

Best regards

Your ÖVKG team