Passport

• Passport Application Process
• Austrian Biometric Passport Pictures
• Mobile Passport Application Unit
• Application Forms (in German)
• Transfer of Australian or New Zealand Resident or Visitor Visa
• Change of Austrian Passport
• Austrian ID-Card (Personalausweis)
• Application Form

Austrian passports are generally issued with a validity of ten (10) years. Passports for infants (newborn to age 2) and children (up to age 12) are issued with a limited validity of 2 and 5 years respectively. 
As a general rule the personal appearance of the applicant at the relevant Austrian Consulate or Embassy is required for all passport applications, including for infants and children under the age of 12.
For applicants age 12 and above Fingerprints scans will be taken electronically during the passport application at the Embassy in Canberra, or the Austrian Honorary Consulates Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth (temporarily closed). For reasons of data security it is not possible to have fingerprint scans taken by other authorities (Australian police etc.) and submitted with the passport application.
In New Zealand the Austrian passport can be applied for at the Austrian Honorary Consulate Auckland only. The fingerprints and biometric data will be stored on the microchip of the passport for additional document security.
The biometric passports are printed in Austria and delivered to the Embassy in fortnightly intervals. The processing time from application to delivery therefore varies between 2 and 4 weeks.

In accordance with the EU-principle "one person - one passport" since June 2009 it is no longer possible to have children entered into the passport of the Austrian parent(s). Existing entries will automatically lose validity on 15 June 2012.

As proof of non-acquisition of Australian or New Zealand citizenship applicants holding permanent residency in Australia or New Zealand have to provide proof of residence status. For this purpose a Certificate of Evidence of Residence Status (issued by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship) or a Denial of Citizenship (issued by the Citizenship Office, Department of Internal Affairs) has to be produced at the time of application (this document must not be older than 2 months).

All supporting documents have to be presented in original together with one copy. Please note that all documents issued in Australia and New Zealand have to be legalized by means of an "Apostille" (see "Authentication" for details). Documents issued by other countries have to be issued with the relevant legalization (Apostille or other) and must be translated into German (except for documents in English):

1. Application form - If the applicant is under age 18 (please note there is a separate application form for minors), one of the parents (if parents are married) or the legal guardian must sign the application as well. (The legal guardian for children born out of wedlock is the unmarried mother. If the parents are divorced and share custody, both parents have to sign the application form).
2. Statutory Declaration ("Erklärung")- completed and signed (see below) 
3. one (1) recent passport photo. For details and specifications see the information below). Additionally to the listed criteria the eyes on the picture have to be in the upper half of the photograph!
4. Recent "Certificate of Evidence of Resident Status" from the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (not older than 2 months) for Austrian Permanent Residents in Australia (in New Zealand: "Denial of Citizenship", to be obtained from the Citizenship Office, Department of Internal Affairs).
   If you hold dual citizenship or a temporary visa this document is not required.
5. Birth Certificate 
6. Citizenship Certificate
   Children up to 12 years of age: Certificate of Citizenship of either parent (if child was born in wedlock) or of mother (if child was born out of wedlock)
7. old passport
8. if applicable: Marriage (issued by Registrar Office) and Divorce Certificates
9. if applicable: Proof of Academic Degree (e.g. diploma) to be entered into the passport *)
10. if applicable: Austrian Change of Name Document
11. if passport has been lost or stolen: proof that loss/theft has been reported to police. You must also prove your identity and your Austrian citizenship.
12. Self-addressed prepaid envelope if you want your passport returned by mail (the Embassy cannot be held liable for any loss or theft of documents while handled by a mail/postal service)
13. Cash, Bank-Cheque (no personal cheques) or Money Order (from Australia Post) made out to "Austrian Embassy" for the applicable consular fee.
14. Please state a day-time phone number on your application.

*) Only academic degrees acquired at European universities or recognized Institutes of Higher Education can be entered into Austrian passports.

The Austrian criteria for biometric passport pictures are almost identical to the criteria for Australian and New Zealand passports. The only major difference is that for Austria the eyes on the picture have to be in the upper half of the photograph. Therefore every professional photographer in Australia and New Zealand should be able to print passport pictures according to our specifications (pictures from Australia Post are usually unsuitable for Austrian passports due to the low quality of the photographs).

Useful links:
Austrian passport picture criteria (in German)
Template for Austrian Passport Pictures

Additionally the Embassy has located photographers in the vicinity of our Consulates in Australia and New Zealand that should be familiar with the Austrian passport picture criteria.

Austrian citizens who are unable to apply for a new passport in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne or Auckland may be able to lodge the passport application locally through the mobile passport application unit (specific days only).

Please contact the relevant Consulate for details.

Before the new Austrian passport can be handed out to you the old passport must be cancelled by the Embassy or Consulate. Valid visas in this passport will not be affected. However, it is recommended to have the visa sticker transferred to the new travel document by the relevant authority (in Australia: Department of Immigration and Citizenship, in New Zealand: Immigration New Zealand).
Electronic visas also have to be transferred to the new passport.

The following changes can be made in valid Austrian passports:

• cancellation of entry of children
• change of place of residence (only passports issued before 16.06.2006)

As of 15 June 2009 the entry of a child into the passport of the parent(s) is not longer possible. Existing entries will automatically lose validity by 15 June 2012!

A change of one's family name is not possible. In that case, you have to apply for a new passport.

1. Application form for change in passport - dated and signed
2. Current passport
3. Change of place of residence: Proof of address in Australia (e.g. driver's licence)
4. Self-addressed prepaid envelope if you want your passport returned by mail (the Embassy cannot be held liable for any loss or theft of documents while handled by a mail/postal service)
5. Cash, Bank cheque (no personal cheques) or money order made out to "Austrian Embassy" for the applicable consular fee.
6. Please state a day-time phone number on your application.

It is now possible to apply for the Austrian ID-Card (Personalausweis) through the Austrian Embassies. This document can also be used to travel from Austria to many European countries and allows additional functions to be added (for use in Austria only). However, this document is not recognized in Australia.

For a list of necessary documents see information for passport applications above.

For further details on the Austrian ID-Card see Austrian Government Help Website.

Last updated: 11.01.2012