he Austrian identity system has reached a milestone: since the introduction of the new passport design on 1 December 2023, exactly two million copies of the high‑security document have been issued. The “anniversary document” was presented to a resident of Wels (Upper Austria). On this occasion, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and Helmut Lackner, General Director of the Austrian State Printing Office (OeSD), gave a press statement summarizing the achievement.

Cutting‑edge security technology for personal identity

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner emphasized: “The Austrian passport is among the safest travel documents in the world. Austrians can rely on it.” The Austrian passport combines modern design with the highest international anti‑counterfeiting standards. In addition to a polycarbonate data page, the document features a purpose‑built QR code that stores identity data in a quantum‑secure manner. Thanks to this technology, the stored identity information is protected even against future threats from powerful quantum computers. At the same time, the anti‑counterfeiting measures are continuously being improved. “Security is not a static state,” Karner asserted. “The ongoing enhancement of document and identity protection therefore remains a core focus.”
The authenticity of the passport can be verified easily and free of charge via the smartphone app CHECK‑AT.National sovereignty and domestic value creation

The production and personalization of passports are carried out exclusively in the specially secured facilities of the Austrian State Printing Office.

General Director Helmut Lackner (OeSD) explained: “Crises and geopolitical tensions make it clear that system‑critical know‑how at home is not a luxury but a strategic necessity. The State Printing Office combines more than 220 years of high‑security printing experience with secure digital solutions, guaranteeing national resilience. That our passport today is protected against tomorrow’s risks by quantum‑secure cryptography highlights the innovative strength of our location.”

Internationally recognised and proven in everyday use

The development of the new passport took over three years and was carried out in close cooperation among the Ministry of the Interior, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the state criminal police offices of Burgenland and Lower Austria, and the Austrian State Printing Office.

Austrian identity documents are also highly regarded abroad. In the Henley Passport Index 2025, Austria ranks fourth worldwide. With an Austrian passport, visa‑free entry is possible to 191 countries.

Austrian citizen services likewise set high standards: after applying at any passport authority, delivery usually occurs within five working days. In particularly urgent cases, the passport can be delivered as early as the next business day.

For its innovative security features, the new passport was awarded on 7 October 2025 by the Competence Center Secure Austria (KSÖ) with the KSÖ Security Award in the category “Outstanding Contributions to Digital Security.”

Check your passport’s validity well before your next trip

With the upcoming peak travel season, the Ministry of the Interior recommends checking passport validity early. Re‑issuance is straightforward and can be done at any of more than 1 000 passport offices throughout Austria, regardless of where you live.

For trips to third‑party (non‑EU/EEA) countries, pay particular attention to the remaining validity period: many nations require that a passport be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay.

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