Austria Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Austria sits at the heart of Europe and welcomes millions of visitors each year who come to enjoy Vienna’s imperial palaces, Salzburg’s baroque old town, alpine skiing and the famous Austria food scene. Entry is straightforward for most travellers: EU/EEA citizens need only a valid ID card, while passport-holding visitors from around 60 non-EU countries (including the United States, Canada, Australia, the UK and Japan) may enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Upon arrival you will pass through a quick immigration check where officers scan your passport, occasionally ask about the purpose of your visit or where you plan to stay, and then you are free to collect your bags and head into the country. The whole process usually takes 15–30 minutes at Vienna International Airport, slightly longer at smaller land borders during peak ski season when Austria hotels and restaurants fill up fast.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Austria applies the Schengen visa code; short-stay rules are therefore harmonised with 25 neighbouring European countries.

Visa-Free Entry

90 days within any 180-day rolling period (no extensions)

Tourist or business visits for travellers holding ordinary passports from countries on the EU ‘positive list’

Includes

United States Canada United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Japan South Korea Singapore Brunei Israel Chile Uruguay Vatican City Monaco San Marino Andorra United Arab Emirates Malaysia Hong Kong SAR Macao SAR Taiwan Serbia Albania Bosnia & Herzegovina North Macedonia Montenegro Moldova Georgia Ukraine (currently 90/360 rule)

You must hold a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the Schengen area and issued within the last 10 years. The 90-day allowance is cumulative for the entire Schengen zone, not per country.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)

N/A

Austria itself does not issue stand-alone ETAs; travellers who need a visa must apply for a Schengen sticker in advance.

How to Apply: N/A
Cost: N/A

There is no Austrian ETA. Third-country nationals who require ‘visa facilitation’ (e.g., holders of UK Travel Documents, refugees) still need a traditional Schengen visa.

Visa Required

90 days single, double or multiple entry; 6-month window

All other passport holders must obtain a Schengen short-stay visa (type C) before arrival

How to Apply: Apply at the Austrian embassy/consulate or an authorised visa centre in your country of residence; first appointment within 15 calendar days, processing usually 5–15 days. Requires biometric data, travel insurance (€30,000), proof of accommodation, funds and onward ticket.

Austria travel insurance covering medical & repatriation is mandatory; policies can be purchased online for around €1–2 per day.

Arrival Process

Arrival is efficient but be ready to show documents and answer a few questions.

Passport Control

Queue in the ‘All passports / Non-EU’ or ‘EU/EEA’ lane; hand your passport open at the photo page. The officer may stamp visa-free passports to track your 90-day allowance.

Baggage Collection & Customs Choice

Collect checked bags, then proceed through the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you exceed duty-free limits or carry restricted items.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport or EU ID card

Must be valid for 3 months beyond intended departure date and issued within last 10 years

Visa (if required)

Schengen sticker or residence card; ensure it covers Austria

Proof of accommodation & return/onward ticket

Rarely asked but useful if questioned about over-stay risk

Travel health insurance certificate

Required for visa nationals; recommended for visa-free visitors (austria travel insurance)

Tips for Smooth Entry

Have hotel confirmation, insurance email and return boarding pass ready on your phone to avoid fumbling in bags after a long flight

If you plan to ski, pack boots & helmet in checked bags; security regards ski gear as ‘oversized’ and will screen separately if taken as carry-on

Non-EU visitors cannot use e-gates; families should stay together in the ‘all passports’ queue

Customs & Duty-Free

Austria applies generous EU duty-free allowances; anything above must be declared and may attract VAT plus customs duty.

Alcohol

4 L still wine OR 2 L <15% wine + 16 L beer; plus 1 L spirits >22% OR 2 L <22% liqueur

You must be 18+ to import alcohol; random checks at ski-resort bus stations are common in winter

Tobacco

200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250 g smoking tobacco

Again 18+; e-cigarette refills count toward the tobacco limit

Currency

Cash, bearer-cheques or promissory notes of €10,000 or more must be declared

Form available online and at airports; penalties start at 20% of undeclared amount

Gifts/Goods

€430 for air/sea travellers aged 15+; €150 for under 15

Value is per person; commercial samples or items for resale are not duty-free

Prohibited Items

Narcotic drugs without prescription – criminal offence
Counterfeit goods & pirated media – immediate confiscation
Endangered species (CITES) without permit – e.g., ivory souvenirs
Certain high-risk food items from outside EU – meat, milk, egg products (avian flu & swine fever controls)

Restricted Items

Weapons & ammunition – need European Firearms Pass and Austrian import licence
Plants & plant products – phytosanitary certificate required from country of origin, checked at border inspection posts
Medication containing narcotics – carry doctor’s letter detailing dosage and condition
Pets – microchip, rabies serology titre and entry via travellers’ point with veterinary check (see special situations)

Health Requirements

No exotic vaccinations are required, but complete travel insurance is strongly advised for alpine activities.

Recommended Vaccinations

Routine MMR, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis
Seasonal influenza if visiting October–March
Tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for hikers in alpine forests April–October

Health Insurance

Mandatory for visa applicants (€30,000 coverage). For visa-free visitors, Austria travel insurance is optional but highly recommended; mountain rescue (helicopter) can cost €4,000+. Many insurers exclude ‘off-piste’ skiing unless specifically declared.

Current Health Requirements: COVID-19 entry restrictions ended 30 April 2023; however, if a new public-health event arises, rules can change quickly—check the Interior Ministry site before departure.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate

Find your country's embassy or consulate

Check your government's travel advisory website (e.g., travel.state.gov, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, travel.gc.ca)

Immigration Authority

Official immigration website

For visa applications and official information: oesterreich.gv.at (English) or bmi.gv.at

Emergency

Emergency services number

Police, ambulance, fire – dial 112 (EU-wide) or 133 (police only), 144 (ambulance), 122 (fire)

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Carry the child’s passport; if only one parent is present, bring written consent (in German or English) from the other plus copy of their passport/ID. Austrian border officers occasionally ask to prevent child abduction.

Traveling with Pets

Dogs, cats and ferrets need ISO-compliant microchip, valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old) and EU Health Certificate or EU pet passport. Large breeds must wear muzzle on public transport in Vienna; check Austria hotels for pet fee.

Extended Stays

Beyond 90 days you need a national visa (D) or residence permit (student, work, family reunion). Apply at the Austrian embassy before arrival; processing can take 8–12 weeks. Residence permits are tied to specific purposes—remote work alone is not yet recognised.

Know what to pack

Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear — with shopping links for every item.

View Austria Packing List →