Whispers Travel

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:

Austria is a highly developed stable democracy with a modern economy.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:

A passport is required. A visa is not required for business or tourist stays up to three months. For more information concerning entry requirements for Austria, travelers should contact the Embassy of Austria at 3524 International Court, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 895-6767, or the nearest Austrian Consulate General in Chicago, Los Angeles, or New York. The Austrian Embassy to the United States maintains a Web page in English that answers in detail, questions concerning the laws and regulations of Austria, including residency, driver's license requirements, and permission to work: www.austria.org/index.html.

CRIME INFORMATION:

Austria has a low crime rate, and violent crime is rare. However, crimes involving theft of personal property have increased in recent years. Travelers can become targets of pickpockets and purse-snatchers who operate where tourists tend to gather; favorite spots include Vienna's two largest train stations. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport overseas should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S. citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" for ways to promote a more trouble-free trip. The pamphlet is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

MEDICAL FACILITIES:

Good medical care is widely available. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including coverage for medical evacuation by air, has proven to be useful. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars or more. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:

U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas may face extreme difficulties. Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision for medical evacuation. Please ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death. Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure, "Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad," available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page or autofax: (202) 647-3000.

OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION:

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITONS:

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions which differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Austria is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Safety of Public Transportation: Excellent
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Excellent
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Excellent
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Excellent

According to the Austrian Automobile Association (OAMTC), road conditions and traffic safety are very good throughout Austria. During the winter, however, road conditions in the alpine area may change drastically due to snow and ice. In times of unusually heavy snowfalls or danger of avalanches, roads in the mountain areas may be closed for several days or longer. On many mountain roads the use of chains are required by law during periods of heavy snowfall. Highways, city streets, and major roads are cleaned of snow around the clock. Drivers should exercise caution during winter vacation (December to February), Easter, and summer vacation (July and August) due to heavier traffic. Traffic information and road conditions are broadcast on the English language channel FM4, located between 91 and 105 FM depending on the locale.

A U.S. driver's license is not sufficient to drive in Austria. The U.S. driver's license must be accompanied by an international driver's license, or by an official translation of the U.S. driver's license, which can be easily obtained at one of the Austrian automobile clubs (OAMTC or ARBO). This arrangement is only acceptable for the first six months of driving in Austria, after which all drivers must obtain an Austrian license.

Austria requires all vehicles using the Autobahn and other major highways to display a highway tax sticker "Autobahn Vignette" on the inside windshield of the vehicle. The sticker may be purchased at border crossings, gas stations on highways leading into Austria, gas stations in Austria, as well as small "Tabak" shops located in Austrian towns. Fines for failing to display a valid Autobahn Vignette on the windshield of the car are usually $85.00.

Tourists driving rented vehicles should pay close attention to the provisions of their rental contract. Many contracts prohibit drivers from taking rented vehicles into Eastern European countries. Drivers attempting to enter countries listed as "prohibited" on the car rental contract may be arrested, fined, and/or convicted of attempted auto theft. The vehicle can be held by Austrian police for the car rental company.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Austria's Civil Aviation Authority as Category 1 -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Austria's air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at tel. 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the DOD at tel. (618) 229-4801.

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS:

Austria customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes. ATA Carnet Headquarters, located at the U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet in the United States. For additional information, please call (212) 354-4480, or send an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit www.uscib.org for details.

DRUG PENALTIES:

U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Austria are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES:

For information on international adoption of children and international parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone (202) 736-7000.

REGISTRATION AND EMBASSY/CONSULATE LOCATION:

U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or Consular Agency and obtain updated information on travel and security in Austria. The U.S. Embassy in Vienna is located at Boltzmanngasse 16 in the Ninth District. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located on the fourth floor of Gartenbaupromenade 2 in the First District. The telephone number for both the U.S. Embassy and the Consular Section is (43)(1) 31-339. There is also a Consular Agency in Salzburg at Alter Markt 1, telephone (43) (662) 84-87-76, open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon. U.S. citizens in Salzburg who require assistance outside of these hours may contact the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. The Embassy also maintains a web site at http://www.usembassy-vienna.at, with information helpful to American citizens.

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 14, 1999, to update information on Medical Facilities and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions, add information on Medical Insurance and Customs Regulations, and delete Y2K Information.

The Mission of the Bureau of Consular Affairs is: To administer laws, formulate regulations and implement policies relating to the broad range of consular services provided to American citizens abroad.

In carrying out this responsibility, the Office of Overseas Citizens Services of the Bureau advises and supports our Embassies and Consulates around the world in such matters as deaths, arrests, robberies, citizenship and nationality, Federal benefits, notarization of documents, international parental child abduction and international adoptions. To assist the traveling public the Bureau issues Consular Information Sheets, Travel Warnings and Public Announcements concerning conditions in countries where Americans may be planning to visit or reside.

To issue passports to U.S. citizens.

In Fiscal Year 1999, the Bureau of Consular Affairs through fourteen U.S. passport agencies and one processing center issued over 6.7 million U.S. passports to American citizens planning to travel overseas.

To formulate and implement policies relating to immigration and consular services and to administer the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act as they relate to the Department of State in coordination with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Following regulations established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act, consular officers overseas with the guidance of the Bureau's Office of Visa Services issued over 6 million non-immigrant visas and more than 400,000 immigrant visas in Fiscal Year 1997.

http://www.travel.state.gov/index.html