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VIENNA – Austria’s passport remains one of the most powerful travel documents in the world, ranking 10th globally in the latest Passport Reports index. The Austrian passport achieved 173 mobility points and a global access rate of 87.4%, reflecting the broad range of destinations accessible with minimal entry restrictions.
According to the ranking, Austrian citizens can travel visa-free to 119 countries and territories. A further 44 destinations allow entry through visa-on-arrival systems or other simplified entry procedures, while 10 destinations require travelers to obtain an electronic travel authorization before departure. Only 25 destinations still require Austrian passport holders to secure a traditional visa in advance.
The combined access arrangements result in a global accessibility rate of 87.4%, placing Austria among the world’s most travel-friendly nations.
Strong Access Across Multiple Regions
Passport Reports recorded particularly strong results for Austria in several regions. When visa-free travel, visas on arrival, electronic travel authorizations and other simplified procedures are considered together, Austrian travelers enjoy full access coverage in Europe, South America, the Caribbean, the Gulf states and North America.
Access levels remain high elsewhere, reaching 92.9% in Oceania, 82.4% in the Middle East, 82.0% in Asia and 80.0% in Central Asia. Africa records the lowest regional access rate for Austrian travelers at 72.2%.
Entry Rules Vary by Destination
The report also highlights specific entry conditions for individual countries. Austrian citizens traveling to the United States can stay for up to 90 days under an electronic travel authorization system, while Canada permits stays of up to 180 days under similar arrangements.
In the Seychelles, visitors must complete a tourist registration process and may stay for up to 90 days. Cabo Verde requires the EASE pre-registration system and allows stays of up to 30 days, while the Dominican Republic operates an e-ticket system with a maximum stay of 30 days.
Strong European Standing
Within Europe, Austria ranks 14th among 47 countries. The Austrian passport also places 14th among the 29 Schengen member states and among the 38 OECD countries included in the report.
Among the 159 World Trade Organization member states, Austria ranks 17th, while it occupies 14th place among the 57 participating states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Notably, Austria is ranked second among the world’s eight federal parliamentary republics.
Austria Less Open in Reverse Ranking
Passport Reports also evaluates countries based on how accessible they are to foreign visitors. In this separate “welcome ranking,” Austria is placed 92nd out of 199 countries.
The two rankings measure different aspects of mobility. While the passport ranking assesses how many destinations Austrian citizens can access, the welcome ranking evaluates the conditions faced by foreign nationals seeking entry into Austria.
Methodology Influences Rankings
Passport rankings often differ from one provider to another because of variations in methodology. Differences may arise from how forms of entry access are categorized, how rankings treat ties and which travel permissions are counted.
Passport Reports calculates its rankings based on a hierarchy that first considers total mobility points derived from visa-free travel, visas on arrival, simplified entry arrangements and electronic travel authorizations. If countries are tied, the number of visa-free destinations is compared first, followed by electronic travel authorizations and then visas on arrival or equivalent entry schemes. If all criteria remain identical, countries share the same ranking position.
The methodology is designed to provide a consistent and transparent comparison of passport strength across all countries included in the index.
- Hector Pascua with reference from vienna.at/picture: canva.com
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