A last-minute holiday reminder published on 26 December 2025 by industry portal Travel and Tour World has put the spotlight back on the forthcoming European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and what it will mean for trips to Austria. Starting in late 2026, citizens of visa-exempt countries such as the United Kingdom will have to obtain an online travel authorisation before boarding a flight, train or coach bound for any of the 30 participating Schengen-area states, including Austria. The application will cost €20, be valid for three years and require basic biographic data plus security questions. The portal emphasises that ETIAS is *not* a visa, but it will be checked by carriers at departure and by border guards on arrival. Travellers who arrive without the authorisation risk denied boarding or refusal of entry.
For British corporates the measure adds a new administrative step to fly-in, fly-out assignments, sales visits and conferences in Austria—currently one of the top ten EU destinations for UK business travellers. Mobility managers are being urged to update pre-trip check-lists and automated travel approval workflows so that employees receive reminders 30 days before departure. Failure to comply would expose companies to costly last-minute ticket changes and stranded staff.
![UK travellers reminded: ETIAS authorisation will soon be required to visit Austria]()
If you want a quick, centralised way to handle these new authorisations, VisaHQ’s Austria page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) lets individuals and corporate travel teams create an account, fill out the ETIAS form online and track approvals in real time—ideal for ensuring staff or holiday-makers never reach the gate without the proper paperwork.
Although ETIAS grabs the headlines, the article also explains the difference between ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES) that is already live at Austrian airports. EES captures fingerprints and a facial image from all third-country nationals on first entry; ETIAS, by contrast, is a pre-screening database that allows carriers to confirm that a passenger is authorised to travel before they leave home. Together the two IT systems form the backbone of the EU’s new Smart Borders package aimed at tightening security while eventually speeding genuine travellers through border gates.
Practically speaking, Austrian hotels, event organisers and tour operators will need to update confirmation letters and website FAQs so that non-EU guests are aware of the requirement well before the rush of summer 2026. Because the permit lasts three years, the advice from Austrian travel trade bodies is to apply once flight dates are set for the first trip of 2026 and then simply keep the same authorisation number on file for repeat visits.
For British corporates the measure adds a new administrative step to fly-in, fly-out assignments, sales visits and conferences in Austria—currently one of the top ten EU destinations for UK business travellers. Mobility managers are being urged to update pre-trip check-lists and automated travel approval workflows so that employees receive reminders 30 days before departure. Failure to comply would expose companies to costly last-minute ticket changes and stranded staff.
If you want a quick, centralised way to handle these new authorisations, VisaHQ’s Austria page (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) lets individuals and corporate travel teams create an account, fill out the ETIAS form online and track approvals in real time—ideal for ensuring staff or holiday-makers never reach the gate without the proper paperwork.
Although ETIAS grabs the headlines, the article also explains the difference between ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System (EES) that is already live at Austrian airports. EES captures fingerprints and a facial image from all third-country nationals on first entry; ETIAS, by contrast, is a pre-screening database that allows carriers to confirm that a passenger is authorised to travel before they leave home. Together the two IT systems form the backbone of the EU’s new Smart Borders package aimed at tightening security while eventually speeding genuine travellers through border gates.
Practically speaking, Austrian hotels, event organisers and tour operators will need to update confirmation letters and website FAQs so that non-EU guests are aware of the requirement well before the rush of summer 2026. Because the permit lasts three years, the advice from Austrian travel trade bodies is to apply once flight dates are set for the first trip of 2026 and then simply keep the same authorisation number on file for repeat visits.
