Austria is raising the cost of passports, visas and other administrative services from July 1st. Here’s what’s changing and why.
Anyone planning to apply for a passport, visa, or citizenship in Austria may want to act fast. From July 1st, a sweeping round of federal administrative fee increases is set to take effect—part of the government’s broader austerity plan to plug a €2 billion budget gap.
The hikes apply across several services, including passports, identity cards, and naturalisation applications.
According to the Finance Ministry, the adjustments reflect up to 48 percent inflation since fees were last updated.
READ ALSO: Austrians have more money – so why aren’t they spending it?
What’s changing from July
Among the biggest increases: a new adult passport will cost €112, up from €75.90. Applying for Austrian citizenship will rise to €163, up from €125.60.
Driving licences will increase to €90, up from €60.50. Changing your name will cost €567, a jump of €184.40. Identity cards will increase to €91, up from €61.50.
Meanwhile, the cost to file court applications will rise by €100, reaching €340.
In most cases, children’s fees remain lower. Some services, especially those tied to the birth of a child, will remain free of charge if completed within two years of the birth.
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Consular fees abroad already updated
For Austrians living abroad, some of these increases are already in effect. The Austrian Consulate General in New York, for example, has published new fees for June:
- Schengen Visa (Type C): $103
- Austrian National Visa (Type D): $171
- Residence permit: $137, plus $23 for fingerprinting
- New passport: $87 (standard) or $251 (express)
- Certificate of citizenship: $55
- ID card for adults: $71
Children’s documents and services, particularly those requested shortly after birth, may be provided free of charge depending on the case.
Anyone who submits their application before July 1st will still benefit from the current price structure. After that, the new rates will apply automatically. A full list of consular fees is available through Austria’s official consular services site.
READ ALSO: Everything that changes in Austria in June 2025
Why is this happening?
Austria is entering a new phase of belt-tightening, with a sweeping savings package designed to cut its growing deficit and rein in public spending.
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Unveiled by Finance Minister Markus Marterbauer in May, the €15 billion plan combines tax hikes with deep spending cuts across multiple sectors. The aim is to bring the country’s deficit, projected to hit 4.5 percent in 2025, back below the EU’s 3 percent threshold.
The fee hikes are part of a broader effort to reduce Austria’s reliance on borrowing and avoid long-term fiscal penalties under the EU’s excessive deficit procedure.
Although some measures won’t be felt until 2026, many cost increases will kick in from July 1st.
READ ALSO: Austria’s big savings plan: What’s being cut and how it could affect you
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