Termination of pregnancy

How long is an abortion possible? What costs can be expected?

In Austria, abortion is usually allowed within the first three months of pregnancy, following a consultation with a doctor.

Doctors can also terminate a pregnancy:

• if there is a serious danger to the mental health, physical health or life of the pregnant woman;
• if the child is expected to be born with severe mental or physical disabilities, or
• if the woman was under 14 years of age when she became pregnant.

Doctors are not obliged to perform or assist in an abortion unless the abortion is required in order to save the pregnant woman's life. The same provisions apply to all staff working in legally regulated health professions.

Abortion in the event of a teenage pregnancy

From the age of 14, adolescents can give their own consent to an abortion. Consent from a legal guardian is not generally required. However, hospitals in some Austrian provinces do need this consent in order to comply with legal requirements. The consent of a legal guardian is also necessary if the adolescent is not legally capable of giving consent (for example as a result of a learning disability).

If the pregnant woman is under the age of 14, the consent of a parent or legal guardian is always required before an abortion can be performed. 

Costs and fees

The costs of an abortion are only covered under statutory health insurance if the abortion is necessary for medical reasons.

Cost absorption by other agencies

The Department for Social Affairs, Social and Health Law (MA 40) of the City of Vienna assumes the costs for an abortion if women are in a material emergency and all other requirements are met. The costs are covered in the amount of the guideline rates of the Vienna Health Association.

The choice of the method as well as the place or person performing the abortion is up to the woman.
The abortion must be performed in Austria. The application for assumption of the costs of an abortion or the confirmation of funding must be made before the procedure is performed. It must always be submitted in writing.

Contact and information
E-mail address: soziale.leistungen@ma40.wien.gv.at
Telephone number: +43 1 4000-8040

In Tyrol, the Province of Tyrol, Department of Social Affairs, offers financial support for abortions through a so-called Hardship Fund (HFF). The HFF was handed over to the lilawohnt association as a member of the action committee for administration and implementation. The money from this fund is accessible to all social institutions in Tyrol after verification of the personal and financial situation of the requesting woman. This is to ensure the financing of an abortion for income disadvantaged women anonymously and as unbureaucratically as possible.

Contact and information
E-mail address: beratung@lilawohnt.at
Telephone number: +43 512 562477

Advice

The following agencies can provide advice on whether you should consider an abortion: 

• Family advice centres
• Women’s advice centres
• Women’s health centres

Further links

• MA 40 (→ Stadt Wien)^{German text}
• Verein lilawohnt (→ lilawohnt)^{German text}
• Abortion (→ Health portal)^{German text}
• List of facilities that perform abortions (→ Austrian Society for Family Planning)^{German text}
• Advice in the event of an unplanned pregnancy (→ Family advice)^{German text}

Legal basis

• Sections 96 to 98 of the Strafgesetzbuch
• Sections 21 and 141 of the  Allgemeines bürgerliches Gesetzbuch