How To Obtain An Austrian Passport And Driver's License

If you're moving to Austria, you may be wondering whether you can use your foreign driving licence and passport, or if you need to get an Austrian version of each. The good news is that if you have a foreign driving licence, you can use it in Austria for up to six months. However, after this period, you will need to exchange it for an Austrian driving licence. The process is fairly simple and involves taking some documents, including your passport, foreign licence, and photo, to the appropriate licensing office. The conversion costs €60.50. It's important to note that anyone with a non-EU licence must also have an international driving permit and a German translation of their licence. Additionally, when driving in Austria, you must always carry your driving licence and vehicle registration certificate with you.

Foreign licences from the EU/EEA are recognised in Austria and don't need to be converted

If you have a driving licence from an EU/EEA country, you're in luck! Your licence will be recognised in Austria and you won't need to convert it. This means you can continue driving in Austria without having to get an Austrian driving licence. However, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, if you are moving your residence to Austria, your EU/EEA driving licence is only valid until the expiry date specified by the issuing country or for five years, whichever comes first. So, if your licence is valid for more than five years, you will need to convert it before the five-year mark.

Second, even though conversion is not required, you may choose to convert your EU/EEA licence to an Austrian one voluntarily. To do this, you will need to submit a request to the driving licence authority, who will then contact the issuing country to verify that there are no issues that would prevent you from getting an Austrian licence. This process can take several weeks, so plan accordingly.

Third, if you are staying in Austria as a tourist or for a short period, you can drive with your EU/EEA licence without any issues. Just make sure to always carry your licence with you when driving, as well as your vehicle registration certificate if you have one.

Now, let's talk about the documents you will need if you decide to convert your EU/EEA licence. The process is fairly straightforward, and you will need to submit the following:

• A completed application form, which can be obtained from the driving licence authority or downloaded.
• Your passport, original and two copies.
• Your EU/EEA driving licence, original and two copies.
• One passport-sized photo (35 mm x 45 mm) that clearly shows your face.
• A German translation of your driving licence (optional but recommended).
• Confirmation of registration in the civil register, if possible (this facilitates the process).

The conversion process typically costs 60.50 Euros, and you may need to make an appointment with the State Police Department or the District Authority, depending on your location in Austria.

Non-EEA licences are valid for six months in Austria, after which they must be converted

If you are moving to Austria and have a non-EEA driving licence, you may continue to drive in the country for up to six months. After this period, your non-EEA driving licence will expire and must be converted to an Austrian driving licence.

To convert your non-EEA driving licence, you will need to take some documents to the appropriate licensing office, including your passport, foreign licence, and a photo. You will also need to show a valid medical report of good health and your Austrian residence registration form. In some cases, you may also need to take a driving test.

The conversion to an Austrian driving licence costs €60.50, but if you need it immediately, you have to pay an additional €18.94.

Driving licences are issued by the Vienna provincial police directorate

Driving licences in Austria are issued by the Vienna Provincial Police Directorate – Motor Vehicle Department (Landespolizeidirektion Wien – Verkehrsamt Wien). The office is located at Dietrichgasse 27, 1030 Vienna, and can be reached at +43 1 313 10-0. Their office hours are Monday to Wednesday, 8 am to 12.30 pm; Thursday, 8 am to 12.30 pm, and 1.30 pm to 5 pm; and Friday, 8 am to 12 noon. They also have standby duty on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 8 am to 12 noon.

In Vienna, the Motor Vehicle Department (Verkehrsamt) is responsible for issuing driving licences. However, in other Austrian cities, the local Federal Police Headquarters (Landespolizeidirektion) or District Administrative Authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) handles this responsibility.

The procedure for issuing a driving licence falls under the authority in whose district the driving school is located. However, there is usually no need for direct interaction with the authority. Instead, a driving licence application must be submitted to a driving school, and the school will handle the rest of the process.

For those with a foreign driving licence, it is important to note that licences from EU and EEA countries are recognised in Austria and do not need to be converted. However, licences from non-EU and non-EEA countries must be converted within six months of establishing residence in Austria. This conversion typically involves exchanging the foreign licence for an Austrian one and may require taking a practical driving test.

Regardless of the country of origin of the driving licence, it is essential to always carry your driving licence and vehicle registration certificate when driving in Austria.

To convert a foreign driving licence, you must submit an application to a driving school

If you are moving to Austria and want to drive, you will need to exchange your foreign driving licence for an Austrian one. The process is relatively simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, it's important to know that EU and EEA driving licences are recognised in Austria and do not need to be converted. However, you may choose to do so voluntarily. If you have a non-EU/EEA licence, you will need to convert it within six months of becoming a resident in Austria.

To convert a foreign driving licence, you must submit an application to a driving licence authority. In Austria, there are different authorities responsible for issuing driving licences. For example, in Vienna, it is the Motor Vehicle Department (Verkehrsamt), while in other cities, it may be the local Federal Police Headquarters (Landespolizeidirektion) or District Authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft).

When submitting your application, you will need to provide certain documents, including your passport, foreign licence, and a photo. You will also need to present a valid medical report of good health and your Austrian residence registration form (Bestätigung der Meldung).

The cost of converting a foreign driving licence is €60.50. However, if you require the new licence immediately, you will need to pay an additional fee of €18.94. It's important to note that, in some cases, you may also be required to take a driving test as part of the conversion process.

For those with an EU/EEA driving licence, the process is slightly different. When converting voluntarily or due to expiry, the driving licence authority must submit a request to the issuing country to verify that there are no issues with issuing an Austrian licence. This can take several weeks to process. Additionally, a translated extract from the driving licence may be required to facilitate processing.

Overall, while the process of converting a foreign driving licence in Austria is generally straightforward, it's important to be prepared and allow for potential delays in the process.

The process of exchanging a foreign driving licence is fairly easy

Exchanging a licence issued by an EEA country

EEA driving licences are recognised in Austria and do not have to be converted. However, you may choose to do so voluntarily. If you are moving your residence to Austria, an EEA driving licence is valid until the expiry date specified by the issuing country, but for no more than five years, unless it has been converted by that point.

When converting an EEA driving licence, the driving licence authority must submit a request to the issuing country to verify that there is no reason why an Austrian licence should not be issued. This process can take several weeks. The cost of exchanging an EEA licence is €60.50. No driving test or medical examination is required for the exchange.

Exchanging a licence issued by a non-EEA country

If you have a licence issued by a non-EEA country, you must exchange it within six months of being resident in Austria. The cost of exchanging a non-EEA licence is €60.50.

When converting a non-EEA driving licence, it is usually necessary to take a practical driving test. However, there are exceptions for licences issued by certain countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.

In some cases, licences from non-EEA countries are not recognised in Austria, and it is not possible to exchange them. In these cases, it is necessary to pass a full Austrian driving test.

Frequently asked questions