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Cars 4 Rental Information on Austria

General

Area: 83,858 sq km (32,378 sq miles).

Population: 8,169,929 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density: 97.4 per sq km.

Capital: Vienna (Wien). Population: 1,608,144 (official estimate 1999).

GEOGRAPHY: Austria is a landlocked country, bordered by Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. It is a mountainous country, nearly half of which is covered with forests. Austria’s nine Federal Provinces form a political entity, but reflect a diversity of landscapes falling into five sections: the Eastern Alps (62.8 per cent), the Alpine and Carpathian Foothills (11.3 per cent), the Pannonian Lowlands (11.3 per cent), the Vienna Basin (4.4 per cent) and the Granite and Gneiss Highlands or Bohemian Massif (10.1 per cent). Austria’s highest mountain is Grossglockner (3798m/12,465ft). On its way from the Black Forest in southern Germany to the Black Sea, the River Danube flows approximately 360km (220 miles) through Austria. The vegetation changes according to the climate: the lower regions are densely wooded, with fir predominating above 1600ft and giving way to larch and stone-pine beyond 4000ft; the Alpine foothills consist predominantly of arable land and grassland (above 2000ft). The Pannonian region is characterised by scrub and heathland.

Government: Federal Republic. Head of State: President Heinz Fischer since 2004. Head of Government: Chancellor Wolfgang Schssel since 2000.

Language: German is the official language. Regional dialects are pronounced and within the different regions of the country one will encounter marked variations from Hochdeutsch, ie ‘standard’ German. There are Croatian and Slovene-speaking minorities in the Burgenland and southern Carinthia respectively.

Religion: 78 per cent Roman Catholic, 5 per cent Protestant, 4.5 per cent other denominations.

Time: GMT + 1.

Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin European plugs are standard.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD facilities available. Country code: 43. Outgoing international code: 00. Call boxes are grey and found in all areas. International calls can be made from payphones with four coin slots. Trunk calls within Austria and to 40 countries are cheaper Mon-Fri 1800-0800 and approximately 35 per cent cheaper at the weekend (from 1300 Saturday to 0800 Monday).

Mobile telephone

GSM 900/1800. Network operators include One (website: www.one.at), Telering (website: www.telering.at) and T-mobile (website: www.t-mobile.at).

Fax

Widely available, especially in cities.

Internet

There are many Internet cafes. ISPs include Nextra (website: www.nextra.at).

Telegram

Facilities are available from any post office; telegrams can also be sent by dialling 10 from any phone.

Post

Letters up to 20g and postcards within Europe are sent by airmail. Letters within Europe take 2 to 4 days, and to the USA 4 to 6 days. Stamps may be purchased in post offices or tobacco shops. Postcards and letters within Austria and Europe cost €0.55; to all other countries the cost is €1,25. Post boxes are yellow; red stripes mean that the box is also emptied weekends and bank holidays. A Poste Restante service is available at most post offices. Address mail to ‘Postlagernd’ (‘Hauptpostlagernd’ if a main post office), followed by the person’s name, town, and post code. Post office hours: generally Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1800, and Sat 0800-1000, but main post offices and those at major railway stations are open for 24 hours, 7 days a week, including public holidays.

Press

Newspapers are in German. The Wiener Zeitung, established in 1703, is the oldest newspaper in the world. The national daily with the largest circulation is the Neue Kronen-Zeitung, followed by Kurier, Der Standard and Die Presse. English-language newspapers and magazines are also widely available, particularly in the big cities and tourist resorts.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Austria). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Austrian Schilling was in circulation until 28 February 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange: Foreign currencies and travellers cheques can be exchanged at all banks, savings banks and exchange counters at airports and railway stations at the official exchange rates.

Credit & debit cards: Most major credit cards and Eurocheque cards are accepted in large cities and tourist areas. However, credit and debit cards are less widely accepted in Austria than they are in the USA or the UK and some smaller hotels may require bills to be paid in cash.

Travellers cheques: These are widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in a major currency (Euros, US Dollars, Pounds Sterling).

Currency restrictions: No restrictions except for export of more than €7267.28, for which a permit is required.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Euro against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Aug ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1= 1.43 1.46 1.50 1.49
$1= 0.90 0.80 0.84 0.80

Banking hours: Banks in Vienna are open Mon-Wed and Fri 0800-1230 and 1330-1500; Thurs 0800-1230 and 1330-1730 (head offices do not close for lunch). Different opening hours may be kept in the various Federal Provinces. The exchange counters at airports and at railway stations are generally open from the first to the last flight or train, which usually means 0800-2200 including weekends.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio No N/A
Malaria No N/A

Food & drink: Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally safe to eat.

Other risks: Ticks often live in heavily afforested areas during the summer months in some of the more easterly parts of Austria and can create discomfort and, in very rare cases, serious infection to people who are bitten. Immunisation against tick-borne encephalitis is available and travellers likely to find themselves in these wooded areas should take a course of injections.
Rabies is present in Austria, although there have been no incidents reported in recent years. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten seek medical advice without delay. For more information consult the Health appendix.

Health care: The following emergency numbers are used: Police: 133; Ambulance: 144; Fire: 122. For UK nationals on a temporary visit to Austria, an E111 is not required – production of a British passport is sufficient to obtain medical treatment. For other EEA nationals (including Austrians), resident in the UK, an E111 is required. Visitors who are treated privately may receive a refund for part of the costs, up to the amount that would have been payable for public hospital treatment. Such refunds are available from Regional Health Insurance Offices (Gebietskrankenkassen) which also provide addresses of medical and dental practitioners. Referral to a public hospital will require an admission voucher issued by a doctor. In an emergency, UK nationals should show their passport to the hospital administration which will ascertain from the insurance office whether the costs of treatment will be met.

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Climate

Austria enjoys a moderate continental climate: summers are warm and pleasant with cool nights, and winters are sunny, with snow levels high enough for widespread winter sports.

Required clothing: European clothes according to season. Alpine wear for mountain resorts.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No No
Australian Yes No/2 Yes
Canadian Yes No/2 Yes
USA Yes No/2 Yes
OtherEU 1 No No
Japanese Yes No/2 No

Note: Austria is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. For further details about passport and visa regulations in the Schengen area see the introductory section How to Use This Guide.

PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except:
1. nationals of EU countries, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Switzerland, who may enter with a valid national ID card.

VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of EU countries and nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland for an unlimited period;
(b) 2. nationals of American Samoa, Andorra, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Bolivia, Bonaire, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaao, East Timor, El Salvador, French Guinea, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Japan, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niue, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Romania, Saba, St Eustatius, St Maarten, San Marino, Singapore, Tahiti and her Islands, Uruguay, USA, US Virgin Islands, Vatican City and Venezuela for touristic stays of up to 3 months;
(c) transit passengers continuing their journey by the same or first connecting aircraft, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport.
Note: Nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep), Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka passing through Austria always require a transit visa, even when not leaving the airport. Transit passengers are advised to check transit regulations with the relevant Embassy or Consulate before travelling.

Types of visa and cost: A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued for all types of visit, costing £23.10.
Note: (a) Prices may change with the prevalent exchange rate, so visitors are advised to check the exact price before applying. (b) Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate are produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge; enquire at Embassy for details.

Validity: Validity according to documents presented. Visas cannot be extended; a new application must be made each time.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Travellers visiting just one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of that country; travellers visiting more than one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of the country chosen as the main destination or the first country they will enter that requires them to have a visa (if they have no main destination).

Application requirements: (a) Completed application form(s). (b) Passport valid for at least 3 months beyond the validity of the visa with at least one blank page. (c) Fee (cash or postal order only); cheques, except certified bankers drafts, are not accepted. (d) Two passport-size photos. (e) Proof of transport (airline tickets, vehicle papers, train reservation etc). (f) Proof of intention to return to home country (applicants may submit return ticket or vehicle papers if returning by car). (g) Confirmed hotel or tour reservation or letter from business partner in Austria or letter of invitation from Austrian host. (h) An all-risk medical insurance policy covering duration of visa (minimum coverage: £15). (i) Proof of occupation/student status. (j) Proof of sufficient financial means to fund stay in Austria. Applicants may submit travellers cheques, a confirmed hotel booking, bank statements or records from a similar financial institution. (k) For transit passengers, the visa from the destination country must be obtained first. (l) Postal applicants should enclose a self-addressed, prepaid envelope (registered or recorded delivery) for the return of the passport.

Note: All documents must be submitted in both their original form, plus one duplicate.

Working days required: Several weeks.

Temporary residence: Seek advice from the Austrian Embassy.

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