Introduction to the Austrian Passport
The Austrian passport is considered one of the world’s most powerful travel documents. In 2025, it ranks among the top five globally, tied in 4th place. Austrian citizens enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 188 countries and territories. This high ranking reflects Austria’s extensive international travel freedom and strong diplomatic ties. The Federal Ministry of the Interior issues Austrian passports to Austrian nationals, as well as citizens of the European Union. As an EU member and part of the Schengen Area, Austria affords its citizens freedom of movement across all other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland, meaning Austrians can live, work, and travel in those countries without a visa. The Austrian passport’s inclusion in the EU also means it follows the standard EU passport format and benefits from consular protection by EU delegations when abroad.
From 2023 to 2025, the Austrian passport consistently ranked in the global top five. 5th in 2023, 3rd in 2024, and 4th in 2025. Its ranking reflects visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 188–191 destinations worldwide.
Visa-Free Countries for Austrian Citizens
Austrian citizens enjoy visa-free travel to over 151 countries, including:
Albania
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bolivia
Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Bulgaria
Cape Verde Islands
Cayman Islands
Chile
China
Colombia
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Curacao
Cyprus
Czechia
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
eSwatini
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
France
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French West Indies
Georgia
Germany
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR China)
Hungary
Iceland
Iraq
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao (SAR China)
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Netherlands
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niue
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Palau Islands
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Reunion
Romania
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Maarten
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
Tajikistan
Thailand
The Gambia
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Visa on Arrival Countries for Austrian Citizens
Here is the list of countries where Austrian passport holders can get a VOA:
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Burundi
Cambodia
Comoro Islands
Djibouti
Egypt
Ethiopia
Guinea-Bissau
Indonesia
Iran
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Maldives
Myanmar
Nepal
Qatar
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Somalia
St. Helena
Tanzania
E-visa Countries for Austrian Citizens
Here is the list of countries where Austrian passport holders can get an e-visa:
Azerbaijan
Benin
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Cuba
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Guinea
India
Mauritania
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Russian Federation
Syria
Togo
Uganda
Vietnam
ETA Countries for Austrian Citizens
Here is the list of countries to which Austrian citizens can travel with an ETA:
American Samoa
Australia
Canada
Guam
Israel
Kenya
New Zealand
Northern Mariana Islands
Puerto Rico
Seychelles
Sri Lanka
United Kingdom
United States
US Virgin Islands
Passport Validity for Adults and Children
An Austrian passport’s validity period depends on the age of the holder at issuance:
Adults (age 12 and older): Austrian passports are valid for 10 years from the issue date. This applies to anyone 12 or above, including seniors. (Austrian passports cannot be extended/renewed—one must apply for a new passport after expiration.
Children (under 12): Shorter validity to account for rapid changes in physical appearance:
Ages 0–1 (infants): passport valid for 2 years.
Ages 2–11: passport valid for 5 years.
Physical Appearance and Design
The Austrian passport features the standard EU burgundy cover, with gold-embossed text:
“EUROPÄISCHE UNION”, “REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH”, and “REISEPASS”.
The Austrian coat of arms is centred, with the biometric chip symbol at the bottom. A unique touch is “Austria” in Braille at the top, aiding the visually impaired.
The durable polycarbonate passport includes a contactless chip on the back. Inside, it has a polycarbonate data page followed by 32 visa pages, each decorated with artistic imagery, such as mountain landscapes, rivers, national symbols, and excerpts from the Austrian anthem. These serve both as cultural design and security elements.
Info in the Austria Passport (Bio-data Page)
The bio-data page, made of polycarbonate, presents all holder details in German and English and includes:
Passport Type:
Country Code
Passport Number
Surname and Given Names
Title
Nationality
Date & Place of Birth
Gender
Date of Issue & Expiry
Issuing Authority
Signature & Photo of Holder
Machine-readable zone (MRZ)
Austrian passports include a biometric chip storing the facial image and two fingerprints. These are encrypted and used at border controls and e-gates. The chip data must match the printed information, ensuring document authenticity.