Addressing Mail In Austria: A Simple Guide

If you're sending mail to Austria, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, Austrian Post offers three categories of tariffs: the European Union, Rest of Europe, and Rest of World. You can also choose between Priority and Economy services, with Priority being faster but only slightly more expensive. If you're sending something important, you may want to add on extra services such as signature-on-delivery or tracking. To ensure your mail is processed quickly, leave the bottom 16 millimetres blank on both sides, and ensure the return address doesn't extend more than 40 millimetres from the top of the envelope. If you're based in Austria and want to redirect your mail, Austrian Post offers this service for three to 12 months.

International mail services and rates

Austrian Post (Österreichische Post AG) is the national mail service of Austria, delivering mail and parcels both domestically and internationally. Austrian Post offers a range of services, including registered mail and express delivery, with varying rates depending on the urgency of the shipment.

For international mail services, Austrian Post has agreements with different companies, such as DHL, DPD, UPS, and TNT, to provide efficient and reliable postal deliveries worldwide. The rates for international shipments will depend on factors such as weight, dimensions, and delivery times. Austrian Post provides a rate calculator on its website to help customers estimate the cost of shipping letters, parcels, and other items.

Austrian Post's registered mail service is a popular option for businesses sending important documents. This service offers confirmation of posting and delivery, as well as insurance coverage of up to €75 in case of loss, theft, or damage. Standard delivery is also available at a lower cost for less time-sensitive shipments.

When addressing mail to Austria, it is important to leave at least the bottom 16 millimetres (5/8 inch) blank on both the front and back of the envelope or postcard. This space is reserved for barcodes printed by the postal service's sorting machines. Additionally, the return address should not extend beyond 40 millimetres from the top of the envelope and should be at least 15 millimetres from the envelope's right edge.

Address formatting

When addressing mail to Austria, there are a few formatting guidelines to follow to ensure your mail is delivered without delay. Here are the key points to keep in mind:

Address Format

The Austrian address format is similar to other European countries. The recipient's address should be written clearly and legibly in the centre of the envelope or package. Here is the correct order for the address lines:

• Recipient's name
• House number and street name
• Postal code and town/city
• Country (optional when mailing within the EU)

For example:

[Recipient's name]

[House number] [Street name]

[Postal code] [Town/City]

Austria

Return Address

When including a return address, it should be written in the top left corner of the envelope or package. The return address should not extend more than 40 mm from the top of the envelope and should remain within 74 mm of the envelope's left edge.

Machine Readability

To ensure prompt processing, Austrian Post recommends that addresses be machine-readable. This means using a clear and simple format without any decorative elements that might confuse the sorting machines.

Clear Space

It is also important to leave clear space on the envelope or package for sorting and barcodes. The postal service requests that you leave at least the bottom 16 mm blank on both the front and back. The bottommost 15 mm of the envelope should be kept clear.

Postal Restrictions

When sending mail to Austria, it is important to be aware of any prohibited or restricted items. Each country has its own restrictions, so check the guidelines provided by your postal carrier. Some common prohibited items include dangerous goods, sharp objects, and perishable items.

PO Boxes

Austria offers PO Box services for individuals and businesses. There is only one size of PO Box, but you can choose between "PO Box Only Mail" and "All-mail PO Box" options. Private companies also offer independent PO Box services.

PO Box options

If you don't want to use your home address to receive mail in Austria, you can get a PO Box. These are generic addresses at local post offices and are very useful for businesses. There is only one size of PO Box in Austria, but they offer four different options:

PO Box Only Mail

With this option, only mail with the PO Box address will be delivered. This means that any mail addressed to your personal or registered address will not be delivered to the PO Box.

All-mail PO Box

This service delivers all mail addressed to either the PO Box or the customer's personal address to the PO Box. This is a good choice if you want to receive all your mail in one place, regardless of the address it is sent to.

PO Box Only Mail for Business

Similar to the PO Box Only Mail option, but for businesses. Only mail addressed to the business's PO Box address will be delivered.

All-mail PO Box for Business

This option allows businesses to receive all mail addressed to either their PO Box or their registered address in one place. This is ideal for businesses that want to keep their registered address private or that receive mail at multiple locations.

In addition to these options, there are also some private companies that offer independent PO boxes in Austria. These may offer different features and benefits, so it is worth exploring all options before making a decision.

When addressing mail to Austria, it is important to leave at least the bottom 16 millimetres (5/8 inch) blank on both the front and back of the envelope or postcard. This space is needed for the postal service's reading and sorting machines to print bar codes on your mail. The return address should be within 40 millimetres from the top of the envelope and should not extend within 74 millimetres of the envelope's right edge. The recipient address should be at least 40 millimetres from the top of the envelope and should not extend beyond 140 millimetres from the right edge.

Additional services

When addressing mail to Austria, it is important to follow the country's specific postal guidelines and format conventions to ensure accurate and prompt delivery. Here are some additional services and considerations to keep in mind:

• Postal Banking and Money Transfer: Österreichische Post AG, the national postal service provider in Austria, offers postal banking and money transfer services at their post offices. These services provide convenience and accessibility for individuals who need to conduct financial transactions along with their postal activities.
• Parcel Delivery: Along with standard and international mail services, Österreichische Post AG also provides parcel delivery services. This includes sending and receiving parcels within Austria and internationally.
• Express Mail: For time-sensitive correspondence, express mail services are available. This option ensures faster delivery than standard mail, making it ideal for urgent documents or packages.
• PO Box and Rural Delivery: For recipients who live in remote or hard-to-reach locations, the Austrian postal service offers PO Box services. Customers can opt to have their mail delivered to a post office box if their residence is not covered by the regular postal delivery network. Alternatively, they can choose to collect their mail from the nearest post office.
• Courier Services: When using courier services, it is recommended to include a phone number along with the recipient's address. This can be especially useful for rural or difficult-to-access areas, ensuring smooth delivery and avoiding potential delays.
• Address Translation: While German is the official language in Austria, international senders can include English translations for key terms in the address. For example, "Postfach" for PO Box. Additionally, city names should be written in full using their official German name, such as "Wien" for Vienna.
• Postal Code Verification: Austria uses a four- or five-digit postal code system. It is crucial to include the correct postal code to ensure efficient mail delivery. Double-checking the specific postal code for the recipient's exact location is always recommended.

Prohibited and restricted items

When sending mail to Austria, it is important to be aware of the prohibited and restricted items that are not allowed to be shipped to the country. The shipping of certain items may be restricted or prohibited due to laws, regulations, safety concerns, or the nature of the goods.

Austria has specific restrictions and prohibitions on the import of certain goods, including military and dual-use items, medicines, tobacco, alcohol, and live animals. These restrictions are outlined in the EU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC), which provides information on import and export regulations, duties, and relevant legislation.

Additionally, there are certain goods that are prohibited from being shipped by law or regulation in Austria. These may include hazardous materials, dangerous goods, firearms, ammunition, and certain types of liquids and gels. It is important to note that the shipper is responsible for complying with all applicable government regulations and laws in the origin and destination countries.

For postal traffic, or the transportation of goods by postal administrations in the European Community, there are specific regulations for customs clearance in Austria. Österreichische Post AG handles the customs declaration for individual consignments and requires relevant documents such as order confirmations, invoices, import licences, and import certificates. Union goods exported by postal traffic to a third country may be exempt from prior customs clearance if they do not exceed a total value of €1,000 and are not subject to export prohibitions or restrictions.

Furthermore, Austria has a general ban on the trade of tobacco products, including mail order sales, due to the Austrian Tobacco Monopoly Act and the Austrian Tobacco Tax Act. This ban extends to purchases from both non-EU and EU states.

Frequently asked questions