Traveling To Austria: Passport Requirements For Uk Citizens

UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Austria for a short-term holiday or business trip (up to 90 days in a 180-day period). However, they do require a valid passport to travel to and from the country. This passport must meet several requirements, including having at least three months' validity and being less than ten years old. From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will also need an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter Austria.

UK passport holders don't need a visa for Austria for up to 90 days

UK passport holders do not need a visa to enter Austria for short-term holidays, business trips, or short-term studies or training of up to 90 days in a 180-day period. This is because Austria is one of the Schengen states, which UK citizens can visit without a visa for a cumulative period of 90 days. This means that visits to other Schengen countries within the 180 days before your trip to Austria will count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

However, there are specific passport requirements that must be met for entry into Austria. Your passport must:

• Have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.
• Have an 'expiry date' of at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (although 6 months validity is strongly recommended to avoid needing to prove your departure date).

Please note that if you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years. Additionally, at Austrian border control, you may need to:

• Show proof of your accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home.
• Show proof of travel insurance.
• Show a return or onward ticket.
• Prove that you have enough money for your stay.

From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will require an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation to enter Austria.

Passports must be less than 10 years old and have 3+ months' validity

To enter Austria, your passport must meet the following criteria:

• It must be less than 10 years old, even if it has more than 3 months left before it expires.
• It must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.

These rules apply because Austria follows Schengen area rules. The Schengen area includes 26 European countries that have officially abolished passport and other types of border control at their mutual borders. This means that, if you are travelling within the Schengen area, you don't need to show your passport or go through customs when crossing borders.

If your passport does not meet these requirements, you may not be able to travel to Austria or other countries in the Schengen area. You should check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet the requirements. If they do not, you should renew your passport.

In addition to the passport requirements, there are other important documents you may need when travelling to Austria. For example, you may need to show proof of your accommodation, travel insurance, a return or onward ticket, and that you have enough money for your stay.

From 2025, UK travellers will need ETIAS travel authorisation

To enter Austria, your passport must meet the following requirements:

• Have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago.
• Have an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area (although 6 months validity is strongly recommended).

From 2025, UK travellers will need ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation to enter Austria. ETIAS is expected to be operational six months after EES (the new EU Entry/Exit System). It will cost EUR 7 for individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. For those under 18 and over 70, no fee will be charged.

• It will be valid for three years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
• You can leave and re-enter as many times as you wish during this period, as long as you do not exceed the 90 days in 180 days visa-free limit.
• You will need to provide a valid travel document and pay the application fee.
• You will be asked to provide personal information, including your name, date and place of birth, sex, nationalities, home address, email address and phone number(s).
• You must apply using a travel document that is recognised by the European countries requiring ETIAS.
• Your travel document should be valid for more than three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the European countries requiring ETIAS and should not be older than 10 years.
• You will receive an email once your application has been processed.
• If your application is refused, you have the right to appeal.

You may need to show proof of funds and/or a return ticket

When travelling to Austria, you may need to show proof of funds and/or a return ticket. This is to demonstrate that you can support yourself financially during your stay and that you do not intend to overstay your visa. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Proof of Funds

• You must prove that you have enough money for your stay, including covering your living expenses for the duration of your stay. The required amount varies depending on your age, whether you are travelling as a couple, and if you have any children.
• For example, as of 2024, students under 24 years of age must prove they have €672.64 per month, while students 24 and older must show €1,217.96 per month. Couples are required to prove they have €1,921.46 per month, plus an additional €187.93 per month for each child.
• You must prove these funds for twelve months in advance. The money must be in a savings account or bank account in your name that is accessible from Austria.
• Alternatively, you can provide a declaration of guarantee from a person residing in the European Union, purchase traveller's cheques, or show a confirmation of a scholarship award.
• If your accommodation costs exceed €359.72 per month, you will need to prove additional funds.
• You may also be asked to prove the origin of your funds, such as through bank statements, employment contracts, or scholarship confirmations.

Return Ticket

• At Austrian border control, you may be asked to show a return or onward ticket. This is to ensure that you do not overstay the visa-free period of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
• If you are unable to present a return or onward ticket, you may be denied entry into Austria.

It is important to note that these requirements may change, so it is always best to check with the Austrian Embassy or a travel advisor for the most up-to-date information before your trip.

You must declare cash or travellers cheques over €10,000

As a UK citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Austria for a short-term holiday or business trip (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). However, there are specific requirements regarding your passport and the items you carry.

Firstly, your passport must meet the following criteria:

• Have at least three months' validity remaining (although six months is strongly recommended to avoid having to prove your departure date).
• Be less than ten years old from the date of issue, even if it has more than six months left.

If these conditions are not met, you may be denied entry to the EU, including Austria.

When entering Austria, you may be asked to present your passport and other documents at border control. You may need to show:

• Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home.
• Proof of travel insurance.
• A return or onward ticket.
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay.

In addition, there are strict rules regarding the goods you can bring into Austria. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. This includes:

Taking Food into Austria

You cannot take meat, milk, or products containing them into EU countries. Exceptions include powdered baby milk, baby food, and special foods or pet food required for medical reasons.

Taking Money into Austria

You must declare cash or traveller's cheques if the value is €10,000 or more. By declaring this amount, you will receive a certified declaration proving that you brought the money with you. Failure to declare may result in your money being seized when you leave the country.

Other Restricted Items

When passing through customs, you must declare goods not intended for personal use or purchased outside the EU that exceed the allowances for tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, non-sparkling wines, beer, and medicines. You must also declare any goods subject to import bans or restrictions.

Frequently asked questions