Austrian Passport

As of  March 30th, 2009  the Embassy will only issue the new biometric passport which contains fingerprints and a chip. The validity of the passport will be for 10 years, an extension will not be possible. 

Old Austrian passports are still valid until their expiry date and do not have to be changed.

The fee for the new biometric passport remains unchanged at € 70,00. Since the procedure of taking fingerprints at the Honorary Consulate General in Vancouver is an accessory administration effort, there is an additionally fee in the amout of € 30.00 per passport or € 15.00 per ID-Card due.

Detailed information (FAQs) with regard to the new passport is available (in German) on the website of the Austrian Interior Ministry.

Austrians with permanent residency abroad can apply for a new Austrian passport at the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa (Mon-Fri 9.00 am - 4.00 pm), the Honorary Consulate General in Toronto (for appointments please call (416) 967-4867) and the Honorary Consulate General in Vancouver (for appointments please call (604) 687-3338), or the nearest competent Austrian diplomatic representation.

Applications have to be made  i n  p e r s o n  since fingerprints have to be taken!

In case of permanent severe illness certified by a doctor or a hospital, please contact the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa.

New passports are centrally printed in Austria. It will take about 4-6 weeks until a new passport can be delivered.

Austrian citizens living permanently abroad can also apply for an Austrian passport with the local Austrian authorities (city or county government) while on vacation in Austria. 

The following documents must be presented:

1. Application form - dated and signed. If the applicant is still a minor (please note there is a now a new application form for minors), parents or legal guardians must sign as well. Fingerprints for minors are mandatory from the age of 12!
2. Affidavit - completed and signed
3. Affidavit (Passport Pictures) - if the minor does not have a recent and valid photo ID card, the parent(s) must also fill out and sign the affidavit on passport pictures
4. one (1) recent picture (35 x 45 mm), passport format. Further details to the passport pictures are listed on the passport picture criteria website (in German).
5. Original Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) or valid Canadian long-term visa 
6. Original Search of Citizenship Record (to be obtained via Citizenship and Immigration Canada).
   Search of citizenship records is not required in case of dual citizenship or if a valid PR card is presented.
7. Original Birth Certificate (if Canadian - "long form")
8. Original Citizenship Certificate
   Children up to 12 years of age: Original Certificate of Citizenship of either parent (if child was born in wedlock) or of mother (if child was born out of wedlock)
9. driver's licence, utility bills, bank statement etc. as proof of residence in Canada
10. old passport
11. if applicable: Marriage Certificate (government-issued)
12. if applicable: Divorce Certificate
13. if applicable: Proof of Austrian academic degree
14. 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.
15. self-addressed and stamped envelope (Fedex, Purolator, etc.) 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)
16. Consular fee to be paid in cash, via money-order or certified cheque

Please note that the "gewünschte Zustelladresse" (mentioned in the application form) can only be the address of the Austrian Embassy in Ottawa. The new passport cannot be sent directly from Austria to your address of residence in Canada.

Furthermore, express passports cannot be ordered from abroad.

Since the passport picture criteria website is available only in German, the Embassy has drawn up an unofficial translation of the most important passport picture criteria. Please read the information carefully to ensure that the passport picture you are sending with your application fulfills all the required criteria.

The passport picture template is also provided below. Before printing the template, please make sure that "Page Scaling" is set to "none".

Only the following changes are possible:

• entry of a recognized academic degree
• cancellation of entry of children
• change of geographical validity

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

The following documents are required:

1. Application form for change in passport - dated and signed
2. Original Permanent Residence Card or valid long-term visa
3. Original Search of Citizenship Record
   Not required if dual citizenship or if valid PR Card is presented.
4. Original Birth Certificate (if Canadian: long form)
5. Original Citizenship Certificate
6. driver's license, utility bills, bank statement as proof of residence in Canada
7. passport
8. if applicable: Marriage Certificate (government-issued)
9. if applicable: proof of recognized academic degree
10. self-addressed and stamped envelope (Fedex, Purolator, etc.) 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)
11. Consular fee to be paid in cash, via money-order or certified cheque

a) Minors

Passports issued to minors are valid for:

• under the age of two: two (2) years
• over the age of two but less than twelve years old: five (5) years
• over twelve years of age: ten (10) years

Who can apply for the entry of children under the age of 12 in his/her passport?

• if parents are married: either parent can apply for the entry. Parents must sign the application form at the Embassy/Consulate General or before a Notary Public.
• if parents are not or no longer married: only the parent who has been granted the right to legally represent the child (divorce certificate must be presented) can apply for the entry. This parent must either sign the application form at the Embassy/Consulate General or before a Notary Public.

Children must hold their own passports.  They cannot be entered in the passports of their parents. No fingerprints are required for children under the age of 12.

A passport application for children under the age of 14 must be signed by both parents either at the Embassy or before a notary public. If the parents are divorced, the divorce certificate must be presented.

Minors over the age of 14 may apply for a passport themselves provided both parents have prior given their written consent (either at the Embassy or before a notary public).

b) Family name of spouse

If the wedding took place before 1 May 1995, the female spouse may add her maiden name to her new family name by means of a hyphen (familiy name-maiden name; e.g. if family name is Maier, wife may call her Maier-Huber).

If the 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 Austrian law). If the shared family name is not explicitly stated on the marriage certificate or there was no written agreement, the husband's family name is assumed to be the new family name of both spouses and their children.