Austria

VISA REGIME
 

For holders of diplomatic and official passports:

A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period

For holders of national passports and other travel documents:

A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days in a 180-day period

Note:

The holder of an emergency travel document in transit requires a visa unless it is a transit on the route a non-Schengen country―Austria―a non-Schengen country (e.g., the Republic of Serbia).

 

ENTERING AND LEAVING THE COUNTRY

The condition for citizens of the Republic of Serbia to enter the Republic of Austria is that they have a biometric travel document, which must be valid for at least three months after the planned date for leaving the territory of an EU member state.

Holders of biometric passports of the Republic of Serbia do not need a visa to stay for up to 90 days in a period of six months from the date of the first entry into a Schengen country.

Over 10,000 euros in cash must be declared upon entry into or exit from Austria. There is no duty on hand luggage, goods and medicines that are carried for personal use. All other goods must be declared.

Pets may be brought into the country if they have the prescribed health documentation, with data on vaccinations and a certificate of vaccination against rabies. Detailed information on bringing pets can be found on the Federal Office for Consumer Health website: https://www.bavg.gv.at/en/import/living-animals/travel

Austria is part of the Schengen Area, but border controls should be expected at the national borders. This applies to road, bus, and rail traffic, as well as at airports. Austria regularly conducts border controls at the Austrian-Hungarian and Austrian-Slovenian borders. From September 16, 2024, to March 15, 2025, internal border controls will also be conducted at the German-Austrian border. 
Police measures at the border will be carried out situationally, spatially, and flexibly, which may cause delays in cross-border traffic. Stay updated on traffic information, including border wait times, for example, via the Austrian state company ASFiNAG: https://www.asfinag.at/

SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENT
The Social Security Agreement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Austria grants persons insured in the Republic of Serbia, during their private stay in Austria (tourist stay), the right to use health care at the expense of compulsory health insurance only in case of emergency medical care in order to eliminate the immediate danger to life and health. To exercise the right to use health care abroad, it is necessary to obtain a bilingual form before departure, which is issued by the competent branch of the National Health Insurance Fund (which issued the health insurance card).

USEFUL INFORMATION

HEALTH SITUATION — Austria has an excellent network of health facilities which provide good health care. If necessary, contact the nearest general hospital.
Current information on the health situation in the country can be found on the World Health Organization website and the Austrian Ministry of Health website, as well as information about the import of medications for travelers:
https://www.sozialministerium.at/en/Topics/Health/Information-for-trave…

SECURITY SITUATION — Austria is listed as one of the safest countries in Europe. However, since the terrorist attack in 2020, the Austrian authorities have been applying increased security measures. In October 2023, an elevated level of terrorism risk was declared in Austria. For several years now, the general crime rate has been declining

TRANSPORT — As a significant tourist destination, Austria has 6 international airports (Vienna, Salzburg, Klagenfurt, Linz, Graz and Innsbruck), as well as a very good railway network. The entire territory of Austria is connected with several highways or the so-called fast roads (highways without a third stop lane) that enable fast and safe travel. During the winter period (1 November−15 April), the use of winter tires on all wheels is mandatory, while in some mountainous regions of Austria it is necessary to have other winter equipment (chains, etc.).

Holders of a driver’s license of the Republic of Serbia do not need an international driving permit to drive a motor vehicle when transiting through or entering the territory of the Republic of Austria. Citizens of the Republic of Serbia who have a regulated stay in the Republic of Austria, should exchange their national driver's license for an Austrian one (within 6 months), for all categories of driving, without taking a driving test.

Highway tolls must be paid, and the vignette may be bought at petrol stations by the Austrian border or by the Hungarian border when travelling from Serbia.

Before going on the road, it is necessary to check the technical condition of the motor vehicle, especially trucks. The fines are high, and there is a possibility of exclusion from traffic due to a technical malfunction of the vehicle. Public safety or road surveillance officers have the authority to fine and impose certain traffic offences immediately upon stopping the vehicle. However, payment by a payment request form is not possible. This applies to all drivers, regardless of whether they reside in Austria or not. A driver's license may be revoked if the driver is under the influence of alcohol or opiates, or the driver is unable to drive due to a physical or mental condition. Multiple consecutive use of high beams, without the need for traffic safety, is a misdemeanour, for which a fine is prescribed.

 

OTHER INFORMATION — The official currency is the euro. In Austria, it is possible to use payment cards of Serbian banks at ATMs of Austrian banks, as well as to in larger hotels and shops.
However, not all services are available for cashless payments, especially in hospitality, where only cash is accepted in some cases.

Important telephone numbers:

  • Roadside assistance by auto-moto association: OeAMTC 120 and ARBOe 123,
  • Customs Service: 00 43 1 51 433, 00 43 56 40 53,
  • Border police at Schwechat airport: 00 43 05 91 33 32 93,
  • Police: 133,
  • Ambulance: 144,
  • Fire brigade: 122.

Contact information
During your stay in Austria, for consular assistance and protection, you may contact the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Vienna, the Consular Department, GumpendorferStrasse 83−85, 1060 Wien, at the following number: 00 43 1 544 75 85, and e-mail address: consulate.vienna@mfa.rs, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Salzburg, Schallmooser Hauptstrasse 99, 5020 Salzburg, at the following number: 00 43 662 84 52 54 and e-mail address: genconsulate.salzburg@mfa.rs.