Entry and Customs Regulations in Austria
Please note, that travellers from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will require an ETIAS travel authorisation from spring 2025. Please check here for more information.
As a rule, checks are no longer carried out at the internal land borders to the Schengen states. However, in order to be able to provide proof of identity during random checks, travellers must carry their travel document in the Schengen area.
Each child needs its own identification document (identity card or passport), as children's entries in a parent's passport are no longer valid.
Swiss nationals require a valid ID or a passport that has been expired for a maximum of 5 years to enter Austria.
Further information: Austrian Embassy in Bern
Citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany require a valid identity card or passport (or one that has not been valid for more than one year) to enter Austria.
Further information: Austrian Embassy in Berlin
Find here more information about which documents are accepted for entry into Austria.
Nationals of EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, and others (e.g. Australia, Japan, Canada, US) do not need a visa to enter Austria. All other nationalities require a Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days.
Under the Schengen Agreement, third-country nationals with a visa can enter Austria without needing a separate Austrian visa.
Holders of a residence permit from a Schengen state can travel to other Schengen states for up to 90 days.
Visa Information
Audio Tape Information Service via 0900-575 022 (in German)
Personal information from 14 until 16 pm at the Visa Department of the Austrian Embassy in Bern via Tel. +41 31-356 52 52
Website
UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, Indian Nationals
In principle, customs checks are no longer carried out, but spot checks are possible at any time.
In the case of a direct flight (without a stopover in a third country) from an EU state to another EU state, the exit for EU travellers can be used.
Note: If the journey was started in a state outside the EU and only a stopover/transit stay was made in another EU country before entering Austria, the provisions for travellers from third countries apply.
More information about the free movement of goods in the EU.
Entry from within the EUR
Tobacco products or alcoholic beverages are exempt from duty only for personal use. If the standard quantities stated below are exceeded, you have to proof that the goods are intended for personal use.
Tobacco products:
Cigarettes: 800 pieces
Cigarillos (maximum 3 g unit weight): 400 pieces
Cigars: 200 pieces
Smoking tobacco: 1 kg
Alcoholic beverages:
Spirits: 10 litres
Alcoholic beverages other than beer, sparkling wine or wine up to 22 % vol.: 20 litres
wine (of which max. 60 litres sparkling wine): 90 litres
Beer: 110 litres
Here you will find detailed information on the allowances when travelling from EU countries.
This provision does not apply to the Canary Islands (Spain), Gibraltar (Great Britain) and the British Channel Islands (Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, etc.). When entering from these countries, the same import quantities are allowed as when entering from non-EU countries.
Attention: Duty free purchases are no longer possible when travelling directly within the EU.
When passing through customs, you must declare the following goods, i.e. submit a customs declaration for
goods not intended for personal use
goods purchased outside the EU that exceed the allowances for tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, non-sparkling wines, beer and medicines and the exemption limit for other goods
goods that are subject to import bans or import restrictions
Entry from NON-EU Countries
Maximum quantities for duty-free import into Austria from third countries for personal use or as a gift in air and sea travel:
Tobacco products:
Cigarettes: 200 pieces or
Cigarillos (cigars with a maximum weight of 3 g each): 100 pieces or
Cigars: 50 pieces or
Smoking tobacco: 250 grams or
A proportionate assortment of these goods
Here you will find detailed information on the allowances for entry from non-EU countries.
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of more than 22% vol. or undenatured ethyl alcohol of 80% vol. or more: 1 litre or
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages of an alcoholic strength by volume not exceeding 22% vol: 2 litres or
A proportionate assortment of these goods and in addition
Non-sparkling wines: 4 litres and
Beer: 16 litres
Other goods up to a total value of 300 euros (for entry by land); for air travellers up to a total value of 430 euros.
For travellers under 15 years of age, these two allowances are generally reduced to 150 euros (regardless of the mode of transportation used). Multiple travellers may not add their travel allowances together.
Travel equipment for personal use during the stay may be imported into Austria duty-free and informally, provided there are no import bans.
Central Inquiry Office/Customs
Customs Office Klagenfurt Villach
Ackerweg 19
9500 Villach
Phone +43 (0) 50 233 740
E-mail zollinfo@bmf.gv.at
This is what you need to keep in mind
A maximum of five animals per person are allowed.
Each animal must be identified by a microchip. However, a tattoo carried out before July 3, 2011 is still valid, provided that it is clearly legible.
Each animal must have a pet passport issued by a veterinarian authorized by the competent authority. It must also show that the animal in question has a valid rabies vaccination and, if applicable, a valid booster vaccination. The rabies vaccination is valid for 21 days after completion of the basic immunization, if the animal has undergone regular booster vaccination thereafter.
For more information on entry, validity of rabies vaccination and entry requirements for puppies, please visit the website of the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection. There you will also find information on entry and re-entry with pets from third countries to Austria.
Leash and muzzle must be carried during your stay in Austria. In Austria, the regulation of the leash or muzzle obligation is the responsibility of the individual communities. There is no nationwide law in which the leash or muzzle requirement is precisely regulated. The tourism association of the chosen holiday destination can provide precise information about the regulations that apply in the respective municipality.
In general, the Upper Austrian dog-keeping law is taken as a basis.
An excerpt from it:
In the local area, there is a leash OR muzzle obligation. If necessary, but in any case at bus stops, in public transport, in schools and kindergardens/nurseries, in children's playgrounds, as well as in larger gatherings of people, such as in shopping centres, bathing facilities and at events, there is a leash AND muzzle obligation.
Police dogs on duty, assistance and rescue dogs, trained hunting dogs, as well as dogs on whose assistance certain persons are dependent (e.g. guide dogs for the seeing impaired) are exempt from these regulations.
The municipality may determine by ordinance:
where leash OR muzzle obligation does NOT apply in the local area (free running areas)
where leash AND muzzle obligation applies in the local area
where the carrying of dogs is generally prohibited in the local area (dog-free zone)
where leashing OR muzzling is also compulsory outside the local area