I have discovered that the new right-wing government will drastically tighten-up it's immigration policy in order to stem the flow of foreigners into Austria. It is planned that from the 15. February, all foreigners entering Austria will require visas, which can be obtained at land borders and at airports. Visa's for EU citizens will be issued free of charge, those for non-EU citizens will cost between 500 AS ($35) for a 10 day visa and 800 ($50) AS for 21 days. <BR>Austrian police will make regular checks on foreigners from mid-February and it is reported that anybody found without a valid visa will be taken to a detention centre. Checks will especially be made in the alpine ski resorts, Vienna and Salzbourg <BR>

Does anyone have a confirmation of this? A url would be helpful.

Below is a copy of a response from the Austrian Consulate General about visa requirements for US citizens. I am enclosing both my message and the Austrian response. You may draw your own conclusions. <BR> <BR>From: austrian consulate general &lt;[email protected]&gt; <BR>To: Robert D. brown &lt;[email protected]&gt; <BR>Subject: Re: Visa for Austria <BR> <BR>You don´t need a visa only a valid passport. <BR> <BR>[My original message.] <BR>&gt;My wife and I plan to visit Salzburg and Vienna in September of 2000. <BR>&gt;We are both American citizens with valid US passports. <BR>&gt;We plan to be in Austria 6 nights, 7 days. <BR>&gt;Are we required to have a visa???? <BR>&gt; <BR>&gt;Thank you for yo

The comment about Austrian visa requirements is a bit premature. There are none at present for members of the European Union or the United States and a vast number of other countries. The ruling political party in Austria, the People's Party, is attempting to form a coalition government by joining up with Jorg Haider's Freedom Party which finished second in Austria's recent election. The Freedom Party is ultra-right wing and a serious concern to the European Union which has threatened sanctions against Austria if the coalition is allowed to materialize. At present it has not, although a proposal to do just that is to be presented to Austria's president today. IF the coalition materializes, and IF the European Union and other countries including the United States and Israel impose sanctions, Austria could well retaliate with the imposition of visa requirements. <BR> <BR>This entire scenario has interesting implications for a number of reasons. Does a body such as the European Union have the right to interfere in what was the result of an internal, fair, scandal free democratic election in one of its member countries? Will any action on the part of the European Union that threatens a member's sovereignty result in the breakup of the Union? How can any member of the Union rationalize imposing sanctions upon a member of that Union when the bulk of Union membership maintains unrestrained relations with countries such as China, Russia and any number of African and Asian countries that are run by demagogues and tyrants? <BR> <BR>Food for thought! <BR>

Please keep this thread going. I'm planning a ski trip for next Jan. to Zell am See with 20 Americans.

<BR>The Austrian Consulategeneral would like to inform you that there is no change in visa policy and there will not be any changes in this respect. For any enquiries please contact first the various Austrian embassies/consulates before giving false information or misleading information.

I think we should adopt a wait and see attitude. The new government took over today, I am told. Member nations of the EU are reacting strongly.

I agree with Redneck. I think it's all a bit disconcerting (especially if you're Jewish and planning a trip to Austria) but the backlash has been so strong and sudden that it seems Haider will step back on his hard line stances.

Wes Fowler's points are well taken. I think the new coalition government in Austria and the EC reaction is going to make Europe really get into the business of defining sovereignty, far more than the piffle over Euros and Pounds. Maybe this forum is the wrong place for political discussions (although they appear to be springing up of late) but as travelers I think we need to be aware of the political context in the countries we visit, and understand that our visiting, or not visiting, may be seen by some as political acts. I for one would prefer not to enhance the Austrian economy just now, but that's my personal take.

Regardless of the validity of the original post, the fact is there is money in visas. And if you want to exert greater control and raise some bucks, why not do as some other countries do and require tourist visas (most countries require immigration visas of different sorts). Ahhh, forget the negative effects on tourism and opening a path of further corruption for custom and border officials to take bribes, it's still more money into the party coffers. <BR> <BR>And to the consulate: don't you guys know you are always the last to know? You'll be spouting that rhetoric up to the moment your backs are against the wall -- literally. Of course, that begs the question of plausable deniabilty. <BR> <BR>The obvious question to "R" is already asked, how did you "discover" this info and what is your source(s)? <BR>

BTW -- do you know that the USA requires tourist visas of travelers from certain countries, a B1 visa for adults and B2 visa for children. And the US consulate may not grant such visas on their whim if it is felt there is a likely-hood of that person jumping the visa, such as getting married in the US for the purpose of immigration. So, is the idea that Austria "might" do the same so shocking, along with some exageration by "R"? I don't know, maybe they already do, hence the consulate response of "no changes". <BR>

I was at the courthouse last week (10/13/00) in Pennsylvania to get my passport to go to Austria in November. When I asked the passport represenative if I needed a visa, she consulted some departmental documentation and replied "it's only required if you're staying in Austria over 90 days. I would only hope that the county passport departments have the latest documentation. I'd think they'd have to. <BR> <BR>I read some Austria info on the net and it told me the same thing about the 90 days. <BR> <BR>Happy traveling. <BR> <BR>

I just got back from Austria, and the only visa I needed said Bank of America Visa on it. [My credit card for those of you who are literal minded.] I don't know how the immigration/passport people could tell how long I had been there because my passport was never stamped. <BR> <BR>Out of curiosity, I looked at my current passport, which I have had for 3 years. It has 5 port of entry stamps on it: <BR>3 are US Immigration stamps, 1 is Canadian, and 1 is French that was put on for some reason at CDG Airport. <BR>Usually the French don't bother, and the Swiss method is to wave people through with both hands. The Austrian folks looked at my picture, but no stamp was forthcoming.

Anybody had experience travelling on a South American Passport (Specifically Venezuela) in Germany and Austria and the Visa requirements if any? My fiance will be travelling with a Venezuelan passport and a US resident card and I will have a US passport. Any experiences or knowledge at all on this? Thanks