Country profile
Austria
AT · AUTAs of: 7/18/2026Transit country in Central Europe, Danube and rail corridors, pharmaceutical and industrial location
Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe and one of the key transit hubs between Western and Eastern Europe and between the north and the Adriatic. As an EU member it belongs to the EU customs union and the eurozone; imports and exports are handled by Zollamt Österreich (BMF) through the EU systems AIS, AES and ICS2. Road and rail corridors such as the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, the Brenner axis and the Rhine-Alpine Corridor connect the North Sea ports and the CEE region with the Adriatic ports of Koper and Trieste. Vienna-Schwechat is the central cargo airport, while the Danube ports of Vienna, Linz and Enns carry inland shipping. As a landlocked market, Austria uses access ports such as Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam, Koper and Trieste. Machinery and pharma shape its high-value freight.
Overview
Austria (AT) is a landlocked country in Central Europe and a central transit hub for goods moving between Western and Eastern Europe and between the North Sea ports and the Adriatic. As an EU member it belongs to the EU customs union and the eurozone; clearance runs through Zollamt Österreich under the Union Customs Code using the Austrian Customs Clearance System (AIS, AES, ICS2). The standard import VAT rate is 20 percent. The main cargo airport is Vienna-Schwechat (VIE), complemented by Linz, Graz, Salzburg and Innsbruck; inland shipping runs via the Danube ports of Vienna, Linz and Enns, while access seaports include Koper, Trieste, Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam. Road and rail axes such as the Baltic-Adriatic Corridor, the Brenner axis and the Rhine-Alpine Corridor link the country with the CEE markets and the seaports. Typical freight includes machinery, vehicle parts, pharmaceuticals, paper and steel; key trading partners are Germany, Italy, Switzerland and the United States.
Mentioned countries
Customs & Import/Export
Customs authority
Zollamt Österreich (Federal Ministry of Finance, BMF)Import system
EU Customs Code (UCC). Processing via the Austrian Customs Clearance System (ACCS): Automated Import System (AIS) and ICS2 for summary entry declarations.
Export system
EU Customs Code (UCC). Export via the Automated Export System (AES) within the Austrian Customs Clearance System (ACCS); transit movement via NCTS.
Import VAT
- Import VAT 20 percent (standard rate)
- reduced rates 13 and 10 percent, from 1.7.2026 additionally 4,9 percent on basic foodstuffs. Collected by Zollamt Österreich. No de minimis threshold for third-country consignments since 1.7.2021.
Import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Electronic customs declaration (AIS)
- Transport document (CMR, AWB, B/L)
- Proof of origin (EUR.1 / origin declaration) for preferential treatment
- If applicable, import licences / authorisations
Export documents
- Export declaration (AES)
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Proof of origin (EUR.1 / EUR-MED / origin declaration)
- Transport document
- If applicable, export authorisation (dual-use / war materiel, BMWET)
Origin proofs / FTA
EU preferential agreements: movement certificate EUR.1/EUR-MED, origin declaration (REX), A.TR for trade with Türkiye, Certificate of Origin.
Restricted & prohibited goods
EU prohibitions and restrictions: weapons and war materiel, cultural goods, waste, protected species (CITES), veterinary and plant protection controls, medicinal products.
Export controls & sanctions
EU Dual-Use Regulation 2021/821 and Foreign Trade Act 2011; approval by BMWET. EU sanctions (including against Russia, Belarus, Iran) are applied.
Without warranty — always verify with freight forwarder/customs agent and official authorities.
Customs / Import / Export (EU) — General process
Quick operational overview for shipments to the EU. The EU is a customs union; for imports from non‑EU countries, customs clearance and import VAT are typically key topics.
Documents (typical)
- Commercial invoice (description, value, Incoterms)
- Packing list (weights, dimensions, packages)
- HS code / tariff classification (duties/taxes and restrictions)
- Importer EORI and (where relevant) origin/preference documents
- Transport documents (AWB / Bill of Lading) depending on mode
Process (simplified)
- Prepare export (docs, HS code, origin/preference)
- Import clearance at the EU entry customs office (declaration, possible checks)
- Release and delivery; import VAT/duties based on classification and value
Common pitfalls
- Incoterms unclear → who clears customs/pays import VAT?
- Missing/wrong HS code/classification → delays and cost risk
- Origin/preference not properly documented → preference may not apply
- Inconsistent documents (invoice vs packing list vs shipment data)
Important: Requirements depend on goods, origin, Incoterms, value, and consignee. When in doubt, confirm with your broker/forwarder and official sources.
Official links
Note: regional/general sources. Country-specific authority links will be added iteratively.
Trade
Freight Infrastructure & Transport Network
Transport relevance
Cargo airports
- VIE - Wien-Schwechat
- LNZ - Linz
- GRZ - Graz
- SZG - Salzburg
- INN - Innsbruck
Inland ports & terminals
- Port of Vienna (Danube)
- Ennshafen / Enns (Danube)
- Linz (Danube)
- Krems (Danube)
Road corridors & border crossings
- A1 West Motorway (Vienna-Linz-Salzburg)
- A2 South Motorway (Vienna-Graz-Villach)
- A12/A13 Inn Valley and Brenner Motorway
- A4 East Motorway
- A10 Tauern Motorway
Rail corridors
- Baltic-Adriatic Corridor (Vienna-Graz-Klagenfurt-Trieste)
- Rhine-Alpine Corridor
- Brenner axis (Munich-Verona)
- Southern route with Koralm railway and Semmering Base Tunnel
Top trade lanes
- Germany - Austria
- Italy - Austria (Brenner)
- Austria - CEE (CZ/SK/HU)
- Adriatic ports (Koper/Trieste) - Austria
- North Sea ports (Hamburg) - Austria
Risk & Operational Notes
Risk notes
Alpine transit with special rules: sectoral driving ban and night driving ban in Tyrol, temporary truck blocking procedures at the Brenner. Otherwise a structurally stable logistics country.
Seasonal & weather risks
Winter conditions on Alpine routes (Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg): snow and chain or winter equipment requirements can delay road transit.
Current logistics notes
Koralmbahn Graz-Klagenfurt in operation since 2025 (Baltic-Adriatic Corridor); Semmering Base Tunnel until around 2030. 2026 temporary VAT reduction on certain foodstuffs.
As of: 2026-07-18
Operational notes – no claim to completeness. Verify with your freight forwarder and official sources.
Public holidays
| Date | Holiday | Type | Customs closed | Transport affected | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | New Year's Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Jan 6, 2026 | Epiphany | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Apr 6, 2026 | Easter Monday | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| May 1, 2026 | Labour Day (State Holiday) | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| May 14, 2026 | Ascension Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| May 25, 2026 | Whit Monday | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Jun 4, 2026 | Corpus Christi | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Aug 15, 2026 | Assumption Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Oct 26, 2026 | National Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Nov 1, 2026 | All Saints' Day | National | Falls on a Sunday in 2026; truck ban over 7.5 t until 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO). | ||
| Dec 8, 2026 | Immaculate Conception | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); retail partly open. | ||
| Dec 25, 2026 | Christmas Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. | ||
| Dec 26, 2026 | St. Stephen's Day | National | Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed. |
New Year's Day
Jan 1, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Epiphany
Jan 6, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Easter Monday
Apr 6, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Labour Day (State Holiday)
May 1, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Ascension Day
May 14, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Whit Monday
May 25, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Corpus Christi
Jun 4, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Assumption Day
Aug 15, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
National Day
Oct 26, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
All Saints' Day
Nov 1, 2026
Falls on a Sunday in 2026; truck ban over 7.5 t until 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO).
Immaculate Conception
Dec 8, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); retail partly open.
Christmas Day
Dec 25, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
St. Stephen's Day
Dec 26, 2026
Holiday truck ban over 7.5 t from 00:00 to 22:00 (Sec. 42 StVO); customs offices and businesses closed.
Sources: Arbeitsruhegesetz / wien.gv.at
Truck driving bans
Weekend truck ban over 7.5 t
Sunday banSamstag 15:00 bis Sonntag 22:00 (durchgehend), 15:00–22:00 (Europe/Vienna)
from 7.5 t
Exceptions
Exemptions include perishable foodstuffs, press, combined transport (pre-/post-haulage), emergencies; details Sec. 42 StVO.
Special permit possible
Applies to trucks with trailers over 3.5 t and trucks/articulated vehicles over 7.5 t; legal basis Sec. 42 StVO.
Public-holiday truck ban over 7.5 t
Holiday banAn gesetzlichen Feiertagen 00:00 bis 22:00, 00:00–22:00 (Europe/Vienna)
from 7.5 t
Exceptions
Exemptions as for the weekend ban (Sec. 42 StVO), incl. perishable goods and combined transport.
Special permit possible
Applies on all 13 Austrian public holidays; legal basis Sec. 42 StVO.
Night truck ban over 7.5 t
Night banTäglich 22:00 bis 05:00, 22:00–05:00 (Europe/Vienna)
from 7.5 t
Exceptions
Low-noise trucks ('L' badge) may drive, max. 60 km/h; further exemptions Sec. 42 StVO.
Special permit possible
Additional sectoral and night bans by the Tyrol province apply on certain routes (e.g. A12 Inn Valley).
Summer Saturday truck bans A12/A13/A14 (2026 season)
SeasonalAn bestimmten Samstagen ganztägig (Fahrverbotskalender 2026) (Europe/Vienna)
Jun 27, 2026 – Sep 26, 2026
from 7.5 t
Affected roads: A12 Inntal Autobahn, A13 Brenner Autobahn, A14 Rheintal/Walgau Autobahn
Exceptions
Exemptions per the driving-ban calendar ordinance; local origin/destination traffic partly exempt.
Special permit possible
All-day Saturday bans on travel Saturdays 27 Jun–26 Sep 2026 on transit axes; set annually by ordinance.
Sources: WKO / § 42 StVO · WKO Fahrverbotskalender 2026
Tolls & charges
GO-Maut (fahrleistungsabhängige Lkw-Maut)
Distance-basedOperator: ASFINAG
Lkw über 3,5 t hzG, Sattel-Kfz, Busse
Distance-based toll on motorways and expressways for vehicles over 3.5 t; billed via GO-Box (OBU mandatory). Rates by axle count, EURO emission class and, since 2024, CO2 emission class; special tolls incl. Brenner, Tauern, Arlberg.
Sources: ASFINAG
Airports in this country
Popular Transit Time Routes
Latest News
Sources & Data Confidence
Official sources
Source references without warranty. For legal/tax decisions consult official authorities.
FAQ
Is a customs declaration required for imports into Austria?
Goods from other EU member states move freely without a customs declaration. For consignments from third countries, an electronic import declaration via the Automated Import System (AIS) of Zollamt Österreich is required.
What is the import VAT rate in Austria?
The standard rate is 20 percent, and reduced rates are 13 and 10 percent. Import VAT is collected by Zollamt Österreich. Since 1 July 2021, there is no longer a de minimis threshold for small consignments from third countries.
Which customs system does Austria use?
Austria handles customs procedures under the EU Customs Code (UCC) through the Austrian Customs Clearance System (ACCS). This includes the Automated Import System (AIS), the Automated Export System (AES) and ICS2 for summary entry declarations.
Is Austria part of the EU customs union?
Yes. Austria is an EU member state and belongs to the EU customs union as well as the Eurozone. For trade with third countries, the EU Common Customs Tariff and EU preferential agreements apply.
Which ports does Austria use as a landlocked country?
As a landlocked country, Austria uses access ports such as Koper and Trieste on the Adriatic, as well as Hamburg, Bremerhaven and Rotterdam on the North Sea. Inland waterway shipping runs via the Danube ports of Vienna, Linz and Enns.
Which Alpine transit rules must I observe for road transport?
On the Brenner route and in Tyrol, special rules apply, such as a sectoral driving ban, a night driving ban and temporary truck blocking procedures. These can lead to waiting times and should be taken into account in route planning.
Which airport is the most important for air cargo in Austria?
The main cargo airport is Vienna-Schwechat (VIE). Other cargo locations are Linz (LNZ), Graz (GRZ), Salzburg (SZG) and Innsbruck (INN).
Which trade partners are important for Austria?
Which logistics terms are especially relevant for Austria?
For international shipments, these terms are a good quick start:
Next steps
Matching tools and partners