Customs and Immigration Rules

When arriving at Vienna Airport all travellers from non-Schengen* countries are required to pass through Austrian passport and customs control (via Pier Ost or bus arrivals East).

*currently the Schengen Accord, which removes passport and customs controls at the borders between signatory states, applies to the following EU countries: Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Finland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Spain and Iceland. In such cases, passengers arrive at Pier West or bus arrivals West.

Travellers entering Vienna from the Irish Republic and the UK:

Visitors from the above named EU Member States are also subject to passport control, although they are not required to make a customs declaration (providing quantities of tobacco, alcohol etc. that are being carried fall within the limits set out for personal use). In short, if your luggage has been tagged with a green edge, you may pass through the blue gate.

Random checks are made, however, in order to deter tobacco and drug smugglers as well as imports of banned or restricted goods. Travellers from all other countries (see below) are subject to normal customs and passport regulations.

Travellers Entering Austria from Non-EU Countries

Citizens of non-EU countries must either pass through the green channel (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declare). As a note of caution, you should only go through the green channel if you’re sure to be travelling within set customs allowances.

Where non-EU citizens arrive in Austria carrying personal goods that they have paid duty or tax on in another EU country, they will not be required to pay further duty or tax providing a receipt is produced.

Of course, it goes without saying that visitors to Vienna should never carry items into the country for someone else (regardless of who they are).

For a list of current Austrian Customs allowances, see table below.

Returning to Your Home Country

When returning home, be sure about customs allowances in your own country:

For general information on UK/EU customs allowances contact the National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 (+44 208 929 0152 for international callers). Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs also provide a useful leaflet entitled ‘A guide for travellers’ (Notice 1) which is available without charge and can viewed on the Internet at: www.hmrc.gov.uk

In the US, the US Customs Service’s Internet site at: www.customs.ustreas.gov summarises duty limits in the leaflet ‘Know Before You Go’.

For general customs enquiries in Canada call 1 800 461-9999 (toll free). The leaflet ‘I declare/Je Déclare’ is available together with bi-lingual information (English and French). Information is also available on the Internet at: www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca