Do Germany passport holders need a visa to visit AT?
No visa required. German citizens have EU freedom of movement and can enter Austria with just a valid German national ID card or passport for unlimited tourist stays. Germany and Austria are both members of the European Union and the Schengen Area, so German ordinary passport holders enjoy full EU freedom of movement when traveling to Austria. No visa, eVisa, or travel authorization is needed for tourism or short visits. A valid German national identity card (Personalausweis) or passport is sufficient to enter; there are no fixed passport-validity requirements beyond it being valid for the trip. Because both countries are inside Schengen, there are normally no systematic border checks at the German-Austrian land border, although Austria periodically reintroduces temporary internal border controls, so carrying a valid ID document is essential. The Schengen 90/180-day rule does NOT limit EU citizens: as an EU national, a German can stay in Austria for up to three months on the basis of freedom of movement with no formalities, and may remain longer (subject to a registration certificate / Anmeldebescheinigung) without ever needing a visa. ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System expected to launch in late 2026, applies only to visa-exempt non-EU nationals and does NOT apply to German or other EU citizens. For tourist stays, the only practical local obligation is municipal registration (Meldezettel) within three days if staying somewhere other than a hotel or similar accommodation, where the establishment handles guest registration.
VISA-FREETOURISMUNLIMITEDLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
Germany (PR)Living in Germany as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance→