The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) officially opened the online accreditation portal on 3 November 2025 for journalists covering the 32nd Ministerial Council, which will convene on 4–5 December 2025 at Vienna’s Hofburg Palace. Foreign ministers from the OSCE’s 57 participating States and 11 Partner countries are expected, making the meeting one of Austria’s largest high-level diplomatic gatherings since the pandemic.
Austria’s Federal Press Service will process all applications. Media representatives must register before 1 December and collect their badges in person in Vienna. The advisory reminds applicants that Schengen visas, where required, must be requested no later than 15 calendar days before departure. The Interior Ministry has instructed border police at Vienna Airport and land crossings to staff additional “media lanes” to manage the influx of short-term business travellers.
![OSCE opens media accreditation for December Ministerial Council in Vienna]()
Global mobility teams at multinational news organisations will need to coordinate last-minute visa letters, hotel blocks and ground transport during Vienna’s peak Christmas-market season. Companies with Vienna-based assignees should warn employees of likely hotel price spikes and heavier airport security queues during the first week of December.
Because Finland holds the 2025 OSCE Chair, Finnish foreign-affairs staff are working with Austrian authorities on fast-track diplomatic channel procedures. Employers sending staff to bilateral side-events should review invitation letters to ensure they reference the official OSCE meeting number (#OSCEMC2025) to avoid delays at immigration.
For Austria, the Council is also a live test of new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric kiosks at Schwechat, which began phased roll-out in October. Interior-ministry officials said contingency teams are ready should high volumes trigger manual processing, but recommend travellers arrive at least 30 minutes earlier than usual.
Austria’s Federal Press Service will process all applications. Media representatives must register before 1 December and collect their badges in person in Vienna. The advisory reminds applicants that Schengen visas, where required, must be requested no later than 15 calendar days before departure. The Interior Ministry has instructed border police at Vienna Airport and land crossings to staff additional “media lanes” to manage the influx of short-term business travellers.
Global mobility teams at multinational news organisations will need to coordinate last-minute visa letters, hotel blocks and ground transport during Vienna’s peak Christmas-market season. Companies with Vienna-based assignees should warn employees of likely hotel price spikes and heavier airport security queues during the first week of December.
Because Finland holds the 2025 OSCE Chair, Finnish foreign-affairs staff are working with Austrian authorities on fast-track diplomatic channel procedures. Employers sending staff to bilateral side-events should review invitation letters to ensure they reference the official OSCE meeting number (#OSCEMC2025) to avoid delays at immigration.
For Austria, the Council is also a live test of new Entry/Exit System (EES) biometric kiosks at Schwechat, which began phased roll-out in October. Interior-ministry officials said contingency teams are ready should high volumes trigger manual processing, but recommend travellers arrive at least 30 minutes earlier than usual.
