If you have a visa-exempt passport (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan…), today you can enter Austria visa-free with a valid passport, for up to 90 days. Once ETIAS starts, you'll need to apply before you travel (€20). Austria may ask you to show case-by-case (no fixed daily amount). Visa-required nationalities (India, China, South Africa…) need a Schengen visa.
What you need for Austria, by passport
| Your passport | Today | Once ETIAS starts |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-exempt US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, Japan… | No visa Valid passport + EES registration | ETIAS required Online application, €20 |
| Visa required India, China, South Africa, Turkey, the Philippines… | Schengen visa | Schengen visa ETIAS doesn't apply |
| EU, EEA or Switzerland | Nothing extra | Nothing extra |
Not sure which group you're in? Use the Do I need ETIAS? checker or see the official list of nationalities.
What border officers in Austria can ask for
Even without a visa, officers in Austria can check that you meet the Schengen entry conditions. Keep these handy, printed or on your phone:
- A valid passport. Valid for at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Europe and issued within the last 10 years.
- Purpose and accommodation. Hotel booking, invitation letter or the address where you'll stay, plus anything that backs up your trip (tourism, business, family).
- A return or onward ticket. Proof that you'll leave before your 90 days are up.
- Travel insurance. Not mandatory if you travel visa-free, but strongly recommended, and you may be asked about it.
- Enough money: Assessed case by case (no fixed daily amount). (reference amount set by the country, European Commission, 08/06/2026)
Where your border check happens when you travel to Austria
Main international airports in Austria: Wien (VIE), Salzburg (SZG), Innsbruck (INN).
If Austria is the first Schengen country on your trip, the passport check and EES registration happen at the airport where you land. If you connect through another Schengen hub (Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Helsinki…), the check happens there and your flight to Austria is treated as an internal Schengen flight.
All of Austria's land borders are with other Schengen countries, so there are no routine passport checks when you cross them by car, bus or train. Countries can reintroduce temporary checks, so always carry your passport.
The EES at airports and borders in Austria
In Austria, the Entry/Exit System (EES) is used at every external border crossing point, from Wien (VIE) to seaports and land crossings. It started on 12 October 2025 and has been fully live since 10 April 2026. The first time you enter, officers take 4 fingerprints and a photo (no fingerprints for children under 12) and record the date; Austria no longer stamps passports. On later trips your data is only verified.
Austria in depth: Vienna as a gateway
Austria is surrounded by Schengen countries and Liechtenstein, so it has no external land borders. Vienna airport is often the first Schengen stop for travellers heading to Bratislava, only an hour away, and to Hungary or the Czech Republic.
Austria does not publish a fixed daily amount: border officers decide case by case whether your funds match your plans. Carry proof of accommodation, a return ticket and a card or bank statement.
Austria has reintroduced temporary checks at some land borders in recent years, so carry your passport on trains from Hungary, Slovenia or Germany.
Good to know about Austria
- With no fixed amount, carry proof of accommodation, a return ticket and a clear means of payment.
How long you can stay
You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Days in Austria add up with days in every other Schengen country, so a week in Austria after a month elsewhere leaves you around 53 days. Check your balance with the 90/180 calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do you need for Austria?
There's no fixed amount: it's assessed case by case based on the length and type of trip.
Do US citizens need a visa for Austria?
No. US citizens can visit Austria visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Today a valid passport is enough; once ETIAS launches, you will also need an approved ETIAS (€20) before you travel.
Do UK citizens need ETIAS for Austria?
Not yet, because ETIAS has not started. Once it launches, British passport holders will need ETIAS to visit Austria, unless they are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement as residents of an EU country.
Keep reading
Sources
This guide is independent and for information only. Rules can change: before you travel, always double-check on the official ETIAS website and with the authorities of the country you're visiting.