Austria and Australia operate a bilateral agreement to allow Australian citizens to stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa. This is separate and in addition to the Schengen 90 day visa free stay. Eligibility conditions and rules of use apply.
The excerpt above is taken directly from the Australian Embassy and Permanent Mission to the United Nations website in Vienna, Austria. It couldn’t be written any clearer than that! The embassy includes a link to a PDF fact sheet, see below, on the website of BMEIA – Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten / the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The fact sheet is clear and concise and makes understanding how to use the bilateral agreement simple. Thank you Austria!
FACT SHEET
Austrian-Australian Bilateral Agreement On Visa Free Short Stays
The Austrian-Australian Bilateral Agreement on Visa Free Short Stays is still in force. The
Agreement enables Australian citizens to enter and to remain in AUSTRIA for up to 90 days without a visa, provided they:
• hold a biometric Australian passport valid for at least 3 months after their departure,
• do not enter with the intention of staying in Austria for longer than 90 days, and
• do not enter with the intention of entering into gainful employment or occupation.
This applies irrespective of the visa free stay of 90 days in 180 days that Australian citizens are entitled to spend, and have previously spent, in the Schengen area.
There are, however, certain requirements to be adhered to and aspects to be taken into
consideration when planning to enter Austria under the Bilateral Agreement following a visa free stay in the Schengen area:
• You must exit the Schengen area before re-entering Austria
• You must enter Austria directly (no transit through a third country)
• You may be required to provide evidence of (the duration of) your previous lawful
stay (e.g. entry and departure stamps in your passport, hotel invoices, etc.)
• You must not misuse the Bilateral Agreement to avoid Austrian immigration laws
• Other Schengen member states may not honour the Agreement
• Overstaying your 90 day period may result in a fine and a subsequent entry ban
Please note:
The decision on your entry is ultimately up to the competent border forces which may require you to present proof of your identity and evidence of your lawful stay at any time. The Austrian Embassy in Canberra cannot anticipate the competent border forces’ decision.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
For how long must I exit the Schengen area before I am permitted to re-enter Austria
under the Bilateral Agreement?
There is no prescribed period of time that a person must spend outside the Schengen area
before the person is permitted to re-enter Austria under the Bilateral Agreement. Any exit of the Schengen area, however, that serves the sole purpose of re-entering Austria under the Bilateral Agreement, may be regarded as a misuse of Austrian immigration laws
Where can I get more information?
Please contact the competent Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior for more information.
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