Brexit and Travelling to Austria

On 1 January 2021, the transition period has ended, and UK citizens are no longer subject to EU rights. The following rules are in effect:

Visa Requirements for Holidays

As a UK national, you will not need a visa to travel to Austria for a holiday (up to 90 days in any 180-day period).

• UK nationals do not need a visa for short-term holidays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) at least until the end of 2023.
• At border control, you may need to show a return or onward ticket or prove that you have enough money for your stay.
• You may need a visa or permit to stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel.
• Please be aware that different rules may apply to non-UK nationals, even if they are family members of UK nationals.

Learn more

Travelling for Business

British workers travelling to Austria are subject to the following rules:

• Short-term business trips (e.g. for business meetings, contract negotiations) are covered by the 90-day visa-free period.
• Longer-term posting of workers is also visa-free for up to 90 days.
• Postings from 90 days up to 6 months require a visa; longer postings require a residence permit.

For any specific questions on visas and working in Austria, please contact the Austrian embassy.

Passports

On the day you travel, you’ll need your passport to both:

• have at least 3 months left (Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended, that your passport is valid for at least 6 more months when entering Austria. This would in many cases save you from having to proof the date of your intended leave of the EU.)
• be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)

If this is not the case, you may not be able to travel to the EU, including Austria.

Learn more on travel and passports requirements

Travelling to European Countries from Mai 2025

• The United Kingdom will be a launch member of the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System), which is supposed to start by Mai 2025.
• British citizens will benefit from using an online application system to apply for ETIAS, which is not yet available.
• Find the list of participating countries here (as per February 2023).
• The ETIAS will be valid for 3 years, or the date of passport expiry (whichever comes first), and can be used for stays of up to 90 days in a 180 day period.
• ETIAS will cost EUR 7 for individuals between the ages of 18 and 70. For persons under the age of 18 and over the age of 70, no fee will be charged.
• Find all FAQs about ETIAS here.

EHIC / Travel Insurance

Within the EU, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) gives citizens access to a wide range of healthcare options. Please be aware that private healthcare and services like mountain rescues are not covered.

• If you currently have an EHIC, it will remain valid until the date of expiry.
• Certain people, such as EU citizens living in the UK before 2021 and their family members, can apply for a UK-GHIC (UK Global Health Insurance Card). Learn more here.
• We highly recommend all UK travellers buy travel insurance for any trip in the future.

Learn more on foreign travel insurance

Driving in Austria

• If you have a card driving licence issued in the UK, you can use it to drive in the EU.
• You may need an International Driving Permit, which you can obtain from your post office, if you have a paper driving licence or a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Isle of Man.
• If you drive to Austria using your own vehicle, you will need a physical copy of your vehicle's ‘green card’.
• You must also display a GB sticker clearly on the rear of your vehicle if your number plate has either a Euro symbol; a national flag of England, Scotland or Wales; OR numbers and letters only – no flag or identifier.

Learn more about driving in the EU

Taking Your Pet on Holiday

When travelling to an EU country, your pet needs:

• a microchip
• a valid rabies vaccination
• an animal health certificate (unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland)

Learn more on taking your pet to the EU

Roaming Fees

If you travel to Austria, you may be subject to roaming fees when using your mobile phone. At the moment, the following mobile service providers are not charging roaming fees: O2 (all contracts), EE and Three UK (older contracts only)

Learn more about using your mobile in the EU

In summation:

• You do not need a visa to travel to Austria for holidays (up to 90 days in a 180-day period) until the end of 2023
• Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months & be less than 10 years old
• Travel insurance is highly recommended
• You can use your UK card driving licence to drive in Austria (check additional requirements)
• Your pet needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and an animal health certificate

Resources

UK government advice on visiting Europe from 2021

Information from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)

Brexit Checker Tool for Personalised Action

ETIAS European Travel Information and Authorisation System