Minister of the Interior Gerhard Karner emphasized: “The Austrian passport is one of the most secure travel documents in the world. Austrians can rely on that.” The Austrian passport combines modern design with the highest international security standards in the area of counterfeit protection. In addition to a polycarbonate data page, the document features a specially developed Secure Biometric Bar Code (SDBB) that stores identity data in a crypto-agile and post-quantum-secure manner. Thanks to this technology, the stored identity data is also protected against future threats posed by powerful quantum computers. At the same time, anti-counterfeiting measures are continuously being improved. “Security is not a static state,” Karner emphasized. The continuous improvement of document and identity protection therefore remains a central priority. The authenticity of the document can be verified easily and free of charge via the public “CHECK-AT” smartphone app.
National sovereignty in ID technology
Passports are produced and personalized exclusively in the specially secured production facilities of the Austrian State Printing Company.
OSD Director General Helmut Lackner stated: “Crises and geopolitical tensions forcefully remind us that having system-critical expertise within our own country is not a luxury, but a strategic necessity. The State Printing Company combines more than 220 years of experience in high-security printing with secure digital solutions, thereby ensuring national resilience. The fact that our passport is protected today from tomorrow’s risks through post-quantum-secure cryptography underscores the innovative strength of our company and our country.”
Internationally recognized and proven in everyday use
The development of the new passport took more than three years and was carried out in close cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior, the Austrian Federal Bureau of Investigation, the State Criminal Investigation Offices, and the Austrian State Printing Company.
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Austria also sets high standards for its public services: Once an application has been submitted to any passport office, the passport is usually issued within five business days. In particularly urgent cases, the passport can be issued as early as the next business day.
On October 7, 2025, the new passport was awarded the KSÖ Security Prize by the Competence Center for a Secure Austria (KSÖ) in the category “Outstanding Contributions to Digital Security” for its innovative security features.
Just in time for your next trip: Check your passport’s validity
With the peak travel season approaching, the Ministry of the Interior recommends checking the validity of your passport well in advance. Renewing a passport is a straightforward process and can be done at any of the more than 1,000 passport offices throughout Austria, regardless of where you live.
When traveling to countries outside the EU, it is especially important to check the remaining validity of your passport: Many countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the planned duration of your stay.
