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Useful information
Support for British nationals abroad: a guide. sets out how to stay safe abroad, and explains how the FCDO can support you if you get into difficulty.
Updates to this page
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Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
-
24 October 2024 Updated section on EU Entry/Exit System (EES), following the announcement that the EES will be delayed.
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13 May 2024 Added information on EU Entry/Exit System (EES) from autumn 2024. UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (those who were lawfully resident in the EU before 1 January 2021) will be exempt from registration in EES, provided they hold the correct documentation.
-
16 October 2023 Added link to complain to the EU if your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement are not being respected. Added line to confirm that Austria does not offer a special visa for "digital nomads".
-
11 July 2023 Reviewed corona virus information
-
19 December 2022 Added information on Church Tax
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2 August 2022 Added information about reduced Article 50 card fees for under 16s (now €26.30) and how to apply for a partial refund if you have paid the full adult fee. The reduced fee applies retrospectively from 1 Jan 2021.
-
15 July 2022 Added line on property purchase for Article 50 card holders: "If you have an Article 50 card, you should be treated the same as an Austrian national when purchasing property."
-
15 June 2022 Added information for Article 50 residency card holders who become parents after 1 January 2022.
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29 April 2022 Added information on Article 50 card eligibility for parents of children born on or after 1 January 2022.
-
27 April 2022 Updated information on passport stamping at borders.
-
11 March 2022 Important information in the Working in Austria, and National insurance sections if you work in Austria, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
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1 January 2022 Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
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6 December 2021 Added information on applying for an Article 50 card during lockdown. UK nationals living in Austria before 1 January 2021 have until 31 December 2021 to apply for an Article 50 card and secure their residency rights.
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12 August 2021 Guidance reviewed for Passports and travel, Healthcare, Working in Austria, Professional qualifications, Studying in Austria, Money, tax and banking, Benefits, Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships, Emergencies, Returning to the UK and Useful information sections.
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29 July 2021 Professional qualifications section updated for British citizens who are moving or moved to Austria after 1 January 2021 and those living there since before 1 January 2021.
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29 June 2021 Working in Austria section updated: new guidance for frontier workers
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4 May 2021 Visas and residency section updated with information for holders of legitimation cards.
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19 April 2021 Link added to new embassy online Q&A session on Wed 21 April; Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; Education section updated with information on funding eligibility for students and link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on recognition of professional qualifications; Working in Austria section updated with link to DIT guidance on working or providing services.
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1 March 2021 Driving section update: additional information on importing vehicles from the UK
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15 February 2021 Benefits section updated on access to Austrian benefits.
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15 February 2021 Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines.
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14 January 2021 Visas and residency section updated on where to apply for the new Article 50 residence card
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31 December 2020 Updated as the transition period ends with new information on pet travel and moving to Austria
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22 December 2020 Driving in Austria section updated - date by which residents need to exchange licence
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16 December 2020 Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling.
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23 November 2020 Residency section updated to explain the new ‘Article 50’ residence card.
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10 November 2020 Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers
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7 October 2020 Visas and Residency section updated with further information on the new residency system
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8 September 2020 Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
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3 July 2020 Added a link to embassy Q&A events, before an online Q&A on Monday 6 July 2020. You can ask questions from midday - 2pm Austrian time on the embassy's facebook page www.facebook.com/ukinaustria.
-
23 January 2020 Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
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18 October 2019 Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
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3 September 2019 Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
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27 August 2019 Brexit update: Added guidance to "Passports and travel after Brexit" section for UK nationals travelling from Austria before Brexit and returning afterwards. Added information to the Visas & Residency section: "If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, British nationals must apply for a new residence permit within 6 months of Brexit."
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16 April 2019 EU Exit update: updated "Passports and Travel after the UK leaves the EU" and "Returning to the UK" sections
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1 April 2019 Added guidance under "Passports and travel after EU Exit" for recommended travel documentation if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
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27 March 2019 Updated information on residency, visas, healthcare, driving, education and professional qualifications, pensions and passports to reflect latest information on the UK's departure from the EU.
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12 March 2019 We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.
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22 February 2019 Updated information on passports: you must use the checker tool to see if your passport is still valid for your trip
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12 February 2019 EU Exit update: New English language website link to the Austrian Federal Chancellery Brexit page
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29 January 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on access to healthcare
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28 January 2019 EU Exit update: Added new Brexit Q&A event dates in Salzburg, Styria, Lower Austria, Vienna, Upper Austria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Carinthia and Burgenland
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18 January 2019 EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving
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17 January 2019 EU Exit update: added web link to new Austrian government page about Brexit preparations in EU Exit section
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22 November 2018 EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section
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21 November 2018 Brexit update: "Visas and Residency" section updated to reflect the wording from the Austrian Government about requirements for the registration certificate and long-term residency certificate.
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24 October 2018 Link to citizens outreach meetings
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23 April 2018 Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.
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9 May 2017 Information on healthcare access updated.
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1 July 2015 Update to entry and residence requirements
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1 July 2013 Added links to Life Certificate witness options document
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28 June 2013 Life Certificate section - updates requested by BE Vienna Consular section. Notary search website address added - update requested by BE Vienna Consular Section.
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10 May 2013 First published.
Update history
2025-11-19 15:31
Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.
2025-06-18 10:58
Updated section on visas and residency if you were living in Austria before 1 January 2021 to include more detail on Article 50 card applications.
2024-10-24 10:05
Updated section on EU Entry/Exit System (EES), following the announcement that the EES will be delayed.
2024-05-13 12:21
Added information on EU Entry/Exit System (EES) from autumn 2024. UK nationals who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement (those who were lawfully resident in the EU before 1 January 2021) will be exempt from registration in EES, provided they hold the correct documentation.
2023-10-16 11:32
Added link to complain to the EU if your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement are not being respected. Added line to confirm that Austria does not offer a special visa for “digital nomads”.
2023-07-11 09:48
Reviewed corona virus information
2022-12-19 09:53
Added information on Church Tax
2022-08-02 12:53
Added information about reduced Article 50 card fees for under 16s (now €26.30) and how to apply for a partial refund if you have paid the full adult fee. The reduced fee applies retrospectively from 1 Jan 2021.
2022-07-15 10:54
Added line on property purchase for Article 50 card holders: “If you have an Article 50 card, you should be treated the same as an Austrian national when purchasing property.”
2022-06-15 13:01
Added information for Article 50 residency card holders who become parents after 1 January 2022.
2022-04-29 11:22
Added information on Article 50 card eligibility for parents of children born on or after 1 January 2022.
2022-04-27 16:08
Updated information on passport stamping at borders.
2022-03-11 09:28
Important information in the Working in Austria, and National insurance sections if you work in Austria, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.
2022-01-01 07:00
Visas and residency guidance updated, following the 31 December 2021 residency deadline for people with rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
2021-12-06 12:32
Added information on applying for an Article 50 card during lockdown. UK nationals living in Austria before 1 January 2021 have until 31 December 2021 to apply for an Article 50 card and secure their residency rights.
2021-03-01 09:54
Driving section update: additional information on importing vehicles from the UK
2021-02-15 13:10
Benefits section updated on access to Austrian benefits.
2020-09-08 10:30
Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021
2020-07-03 11:02
Added a link to embassy Q&A events, before an online Q&A on Monday 6 July 2020. You can ask questions from midday – 2pm Austrian time on the embassy's facebook page www.facebook.com/ukinaustria.
2020-01-23 11:31
Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.
2019-10-18 12:17
Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement
2019-09-03 17:02
Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.
2019-08-27 12:07
Brexit update: Added guidance to “Passports and travel after Brexit” section for UK nationals travelling from Austria before Brexit and returning afterwards. Added information to the Visas & Residency section: “If the UK leaves the EU with a deal, British nationals must apply for a new residence permit within 6 months of Brexit.”
2019-04-16 10:35
EU Exit update: updated “Passports and Travel after the UK leaves the EU” and “Returning to the UK” sections