If you lose your passport
Advice
Anyone wishing to apply for a passport is requested to make an appointment with the passport office (online, by phone or e-mail) in order to minimize the waiting time.
If you lose your passport in Austria
If you lose your passport in Austria, a report to the passport authority is required.
Likewise, the recovery of a travel document must be reported immediately to the passport authority. The revocation of the travel document in the (international) tracing databases takes at least 24 hours, however, the entry regulations of some countries provide that despite revocation, entry is not possible with a travel document once reported as lost.
Advice
Citizens of countries other than Austria should visit their home country's representation (→ BMEIA in order to request an emergency passport.
If you lose your passport abroad
If you are abroad, you must first report the loss to the local police. On the basis of this report, the Austrian representation (→ BMEIA) (embassy, consulate) will issue an emergency passport for your return journey.
Back in Austria, a report to the passport authority is required.
Likewise, the recovery of a travel document must be reported immediately to the passport authority. The revocation of the travel document in the (international) tracing databases takes at least 24 hours, however, the entry regulations of some countries provide that despite revocation, entry is not possible with a travel document once reported as lost.
Advice
It is not possible to travel to the USA with an Austrian emergency passport without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. It is only possible if a visa is obtained from the US representation. Bear in mind that you will need to book an appointment for an interview at the US representation, which costs around 144 Euro, and that it will take at least two working days to process your application.
Given the processing time for US visas, you may also want to consider applying for a 1-day express passport in Austria.
The aforementioned provisions also apply if the USA is not your final destination, but you are transiting through a US airport.
More detailed information can be found under the heading ’Stolen passport' at oesterreich.gv.at
Further links
- Information on the 1-day express passport (→ BMI)German text
- Foreign representations in Austria (→ BMEIA)
- Expired or lost passports (→ Your Europe)
Legal basis
- Passgesetz (PassG)
- Passgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (PassG-DV)
Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of the Interior