Austrian Passport
The new biometric passport with fingerprints
Since March 30, 2009 only applications for a new biometric passport with fingerprints can be processed.
This means that all applicants for a new passport have to come personally to the Consulate General in Chicago to get fingerprinted.
You may of course also apply for issuance of an Austrian passport directly in Austria during your stay.
All current valid passports remain valid till their expiration date and do not need to get exchanged.
Austrian citizens living abroad permanently may also apply for an Austrian passport with the local authorities (city or county government) while in Austria.
Starting June 15, 2009, it is no longer possible to have children entered into your new or old passport. After June 15, 2012 it will not be possible for your child to travel with you using the existing entry in your passport. All children must have their own passport. Your passport with still be valid for your own travel until it expires.
Please click on Quicklinks (to the right of your computer screen) for our address, office hours and consular fees.
A) Issuance of new passports:
Austrian passports are usually valid for ten (10) years and cannot be renewed. Machine-readable passports are issued in Austria; therefore it usually takes six to eight weeks before a new passport may be handed over to the applicant.
The following documents must be presented (in original):
- Application form - signed and dated
Please adjust both printer and document to the correct paper size (A4 or letter)! - Affidavit (Eidesstattliche Erklärung) - completed and signed
- Two (2) recent passport photographs
(see new regulations in German only) - Alien Registration Card, Permanent Alien Card or valid US-Visa
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
(can be issued by the Consulate)
Children up to 12 years of age: Original Certificate of Citizenship of either parent (if child born in wedlock) or of mother (if born out of wedlock) - Drivers license, utility bills, bank statement etc. as proof of residence in US
- Old passport
- If applicable: Marriage Certificate
- If applicable: Divorce decree
- If applicable: Proof of academic degree
- If passport has been lost or stolen: proof that loss / theft has been reported to police
- Self-addressed and stamped envelope if you want your passport returned by mail
(the Consulate cannot be held liable for any loss or theft of documents while handled by a mail / postal service) - Consular fees
B) Changes to passports that are still valid:
Only the following changes can be made:
a) change of residence (to a different town, city etc.)
b) entry of an academic degree
A change of family name is not possible. In that case, you have to apply for a new passport.
The following documents are required (in original):
- Application form for change to passport - signed and dated
Please adjust both printer and document to correct paper-size (A4 or letter)! - Affidavit (Eidesstattliche Erklärung)
- Alien Registration Card, Permanent Resident Card or valid US-Visa
- Birth Certificate
- Certificate of Citizenship
- Drivers license, utility bills, bank statement as proof of residence in US
- If applicable: Marriage Certificate
- If applicable: Proof of academic degree
- Consular fees
C) Issuance of new child's passport
Passports issued to minors are valid:
for children under 2 years of age: two (2) year validity
for children between the ages of 2 and 12: five (5) year validity
Both parents must give their prior written consent (either at the Consulate or before a Notary Public).
For children under the age of two, an Austrian citizenship certificate, Austrian passport or an Austrian passport with a chip is free of charge. For you to have your child under the age of two entered into your passport is also free of charge.
The following documents are required (in original):
- Application form - signed and dated
Please adjust both printer and document to the correct paper size (A4 or letter)! - Affidavit (Eidesstattliche Erklärung) - completed and signed
- Two (2) recent passport photographs
(see new regulations in German only) - Alien Registration Card, Permanent Alien Card or valid US-Visa - for the child and the Austrian parent
- Birth Certificate - for the parents and the child
- Certificate of Citizenship - for the child and the Austrian parent
(can be issued by the Consulate) - Proof of Citizenship of the other parent
(copy of the Birth Certificate, Certificate of Citizenship or Passport) - Old passport or passport in which the child is entered
- Marriage Certificate
- If applicable: Divorce decree of the parents
- Self-addressed and stamped envelope if you want your passport returned by mail (the Consulate cannot be held liable for any loss or theft of documents while handled by a mail / postal service)
- Consular fees
Personal Identity Cards "Personalausweis"
It is now possible to apply for an Austrian Personal Identity Card ("Personalausweis") through the Austrian Consulate General. For this you require the same documents as when applying for an Austrian passport. The fee for applying for the Personal Identity Card is Euro 24,- and there is a further fee of Euro 56.70 after the document has been issued. The fee has to be paid in US-Dollars. For the corrent cost in US-Dollars contact the Austrian Consulate General directly at 312/222-1515.
Please note the following regulations on family name of spouse:
If your wedding took place before 1 May 1995, the female spouse may add her maiden name to the new family name by means of a hyphen (e.g. family name - maiden name).
If your wedding took place on or after 1 May 1995, the family name that will be entered in the passport is the name both parties agreed to in writing at the wedding ceremony (as long as this name is in accordance with the Austrian legal system). If the shared family name is not explicitly stated on the marriage certificate, the family name of the husband is assumed to be the new family name of both spouses.
