Official Documents and Certificates

I) You need documents from Austria?

Austrian citizens living in Canada may ask the Embassy, if need be, to assist them in getting documents and/or official papers from Austria. Please note that fees will be charged.

Attention: Due to strict Austrian privacy laws, documents and certificates can be requested only by the individual concerned, his/her spouse, his/her children, and his/her parents.
In addition, the following information must at least be included in the request:
a) Purpose for which document is needed,
b) Relationship to the person whose record is requested,
c) Proof of that relationship by sending e.g. copy of your passport, copy of marriage certificate etc.

Non-Austrian citizens are kindly asked to apply at their embassy or consulate. The Austrian Embassy in Ottawa is NOT authorized to assist non-Austrian citizens in obtaining civil documents from Austria. However, you may directly contact the competent authority in Austria (the request should then be written in German). Phone and fax numbers are to be found by visiting the HEROLD-Austrian Phone Directory or the HELP-Guide (see quicklinks).

Please contact the local Vital Statistics Registry (Standesamt) of the municipality concerned and request the document you are looking for to be issued on an "international" form (to avoid any translation hassles later on). The addresses and phone numbers of all Vital Statistics Registries in Austria are listed in the Austrian phone directory and in the HELP-Guide (see quicklinks).

Please note that until 1938 (in Burgenland till 1895) the registration of births, marriages, and deaths was done by the local churches and religious communities. Starting in 1870 and lasting till 1938, civil documents of individuals without a religious affiliation were issued by the county government. In the province of Burgenland, civil documents have been issued by the towns and villages since 1895.

Note: Civil documents issued by Austrian authorities need full diplomatic legalisation/authentication to be valid in Canada.

If you have lost your driver's license or your driver's license has been stolen, you must apply for a duplicate directly at the competent authority in Austria (local police department [in major cities] or county government). Neither the Embassy nor a Consulate are authorized to issue driver's licenses.

The necessary forms (for download) and the addresses of the competent authorities are to be found in the HELP-Guide (see quicklink). Your "new" driver's license will then be sent to a diplomatic post (Embassy or Consulate) where you can pick it up - you must show up at the diplomatic post in person - after having paid the fees.

Police Clearance Certificates (aka Criminal Record Checks) from Austria can be obtained by applying at an Austrian diplomatic post (Embassy or Consulate). For further information please follow the link below.

Copies of Austrian divorce certificates can be obtained by directly contacting the District Court that has issued the decree. It is recommended that you call them first. Addresses and phone numbers are listed in the HELP-Guide (see quicklink).

II) You need a document from Canada?

Austrian citizens residing in Austria who need civil documents from Canada are kindly asked to get in touch both personally and directly with the Canadian Embassy in Vienna (see quicklink).

For any further questions, please contact the Citizens Services Unit at the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs by calling 05/01150-4411.