Embassy
Embassy of Germany, Vienna
Vienna
Gauermanngasse 2-4, 1010 Wien
Austria visa requirements for German citizens
German citizens can visit, live and work in Austria without a visa.
Passport
DEU
Germany
Going to
AUT
Austria
Free to visit, live and work
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can enter without a visa.
- Visa
- Not required
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Austria.
Ways into Austria
Your passport decides whether you need a visitor visa.
Visa not requiredEuropean citizen entryEU, EEA and Swiss citizens can enter without a visa.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that Austria accepts your travel document.
- Check whether you must register during your stay.
Documents required
- Accepted travel document
- The visitor limit of 90 days within 180 days does not define this route.
Visa not requiredSchengen permit visitA residence permit from another Schengen country allows short tourist visits.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Check that your residence permit is still valid.
- Carry your permit, travel document and trip details.
Documents required
- Valid Schengen residence permit
- Valid travel document
- The limit is 90 days within 180 days in other Schengen countries.
- This visit permission gives no right to work or study in Austria.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border C visaA rare border visa for urgent, unexpected reasons when applying earlier was impossible.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Valid for
- 15 days
- Entries
- Single
How to apply
- Ask an Austrian office for advice before travel if possible.
- Show border staff proof of your urgent, unexpected reason.
- Show why you could not apply earlier.
Documents required
- Valid travel document
- Proof of urgent, unexpected reason
- Proof you could not apply earlier
- Proof of return or onward travel
- Approval is rare and cannot be assumed.
- The visa lasts no more than 15 days; check your granted dates.
Visa requiredTourist C visaA visa for short holidays without work.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 15–45 days
How to apply
- Check which Austrian office handles applications where you live.
- Book an appointment and prepare your papers.
- Attend and give fingerprints if asked.
- Pay the fee and wait for a decision.
Documents required
- Signed form
- Passport and copy
- Passport photo, 35 × 45 mm
- Travel bookings and trip plan
- Proof of accommodation and funds
- Travel health insurance
- Proof you plan to leave
- 2 blank pages
- Return ticket
- Hotel booking
- Fingerprints
- The 90-day limit covers all Schengen countries together, within any 180 days.
- Insurance must cover Schengen medical care and transport home for at least 30,000 EUR.
Visa requiredLong visit D visaA visa for a longer visit without work.
- Stay
- 91 days
- Fee
- €195
How to apply
- Contact the Austrian office serving where you live.
- Prepare proof of your visit and its length.
- Submit your form, papers and fee.
Documents required
- D visa form
- Passport
- Passport photo
- Proof of longer visit
- Travel insurance
- Proof of funds
- Transport bookings
- 2 blank pages
- Check the visa for your exact stay dates.
- Ordinary D visas cannot be extended in Austria.
Sources (20)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Federal Ministry of the Interior: Entry, visas, visa-free entry and sponsorship
- Federal Ministry of the Interior: Country and passport visa requirements
- Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs: Visa
- Foreign ministry: Entry/Exit System and ETIAS
- European Union: Official ETIAS portal
- European Union agency: ETIAS operational status
- Austrian Embassy Washington: How to apply
- Austrian Embassy Washington: Visa document checklist
- Austrian Embassy London: Entry requirements, visas and immigration
- Austrian Embassy London: Schengen application requirements
- Austrian Embassy New Delhi: Visa
- Austrian Embassy New Delhi: Medical visit checklist
- Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation: Student C and D visas
- Austrian government migration portal: Very highly qualified workers
- Foreign ministry: Working holiday programmes
- Foreign ministry: Working holiday general conditions
- Foreign ministry: Country-specific working holiday applications
- European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
- European Commission: Visa policy and current suspensions
- European Commission: Visa nationality lists, read with current Austrian updates
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Trips to Austria
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from Germany
- Plugs C FNo adapter
- MoneyEUR €Same as home
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageGermanSpoken at home too
- Emergency112 or 133 police144 ambulance
Planning your Austria trip
Best time to go: Summer runs from early June to mid-September and suits hiking and city visits. Winter runs from December to March, with a longer winter sports season at higher mountain locations. Mountain nights can be cold even in summer.
- Schönbrunn Palace, ViennaThis palace has 1,441 rooms and is a major highlight of Vienna. Its zoo is the oldest in the world.
- St. Stephen's Cathedral, ViennaThis 12th-century cathedral is Vienna's most prominent religious building.
- SalzburgMozart's birthplace combines a well-preserved historic centre with Alpine scenery.
- Grossglockner High Alpine RoadThe road offers panoramic views of Austria's highest mountain and the surrounding landscape.
Scams to watch for in Austria
- Bicycle theftThieves steal bicycles left where they can be taken away. Bicycle theft is widespread in bigger cities.
- Pickpocketing and grab-and-run theftThieves take valuables from pockets or bags in crowds. In Vienna, some grab belongings and run as passengers board the U-Bahn.
- Theft of jackets and other belongingsPersonal belongings, including jackets, go missing. This kind of petty theft often goes unreported.
About Austria
Austria is a landlocked federal republic in Central Europe, most of it lying within the Alps.
- Capital
- Vienna
- Money
- Euro (€)
- Languages
- German
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +43
Other Europe passports
Going to Austria
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Austria with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do german citizens need a visa for Austria?
German citizens can visit, live and work in Austria without a visa.
Do austrian citizens need a visa for Germany?
Austrian citizens do not need a visa for Germany. Show your passport at the border.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Austria?
Albania, Andorra, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina Cyprus, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Austria are easier for german citizens?
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia Slovenia, and 3 more let german citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Austria?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Austria?
Euro (€). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Austria?
German.
How strong is the Germany passport?
It ranks #6 and reaches 156 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck