Austria

We would like to inform you about the upcoming new regulation concerning the change from manual to digital customs stamps at Vienna Schwechat Airport. This regulation will come into force on 1 April 2019. The Austrian customs administration has commissioned an independent company to carry out, on its behalf, the export validation on a digital basis.

As of 1 April 2019, all manual customs stamps at Vienna International Airport will be replaced by a digital QR code.

What are the changes?
An independent company will check and scan all Tax Free forms at Vienna Schwechat Airport on behalf of the customs administration, thus digitally recording all form and invoice data. For this purpose, Tax Free customers will have new counters for their use, instead of the customs counters, where the Tax Free forms will be digitised and validated. As a rule, the tourist will receive an export validation, a "Green Channel". The customs administration, however, reserves the right to limit the "Green Channel" at its discretion and to have certain exports additionally checked by customs officers. In this case, the tourist receives a "Red Channel" and must have the export confirmed by a customs officer.

Who is affected?
This new process will have an effect on international shoppers who have made purchases, and want to take advantage of the Tax Free Service and leave the EU via Vienna Schwechat Airport. Digital customs stamps are currently available ONLY at Vienna Schwechat Airport and are to be applied to ALL forms, including those from other countries, those from other Tax Free providers and also Tax Free forms issued by the state.

What will change for you?
At the airport you will find new counters for the validation process of your Tax Free forms, airside and landside. Please note that each form must be filled in completely and correctly to receive a "Green Channel". In addition to the name, nationality and passport number, the city and postal code will be a mandatory field for validation.

As before, the following applies to all Tax Free sales in Austria:

• Non-EU citizens without residence in the EU are entitled to Tax Free.
• Each invoice must be at least € 75.01 (even if there are several invoices on one Tax Free receipt)
• The goods must be exported within 3 months from of the end of the month of purchase.

Tax Free shopping in Vienna

Vienna is one of those must-visit cities, like London or Paris, where just walking down the street is an exercise in fascination. Few cities are as grand, yet Vienna wears its imperial history lightly.

Graben, Kohlmarkt und Kärntner Strasse 

• Pedestrianised streets which were once home to the classical masters Haydn and Chopin, here you’ll find international luxury from brands such as Gucci, and Breitling. This area was also home to the imperial jewellers, and you’ll still find jewellers of every stripe, from historic boutiques to big-name brands.

Goldenes Quartier

• Formed between Tuchlauben, Bognergasse, Seitzergasse and Am Hof, and nestled against the five-star luxury of the Park Hyatt Vienna has super-high-end stores like Mulberry, Alexander McQueen, and Saint Laurent which have sprung up to satisfy the most demanding fashionista.

Mariahilfer Strasse

• Vienna’s most famous shopping street. ‘Mahü’, in the 6th district, is home to department stores and high street clothing brands like Jack Wolfskin and Brandy Melville.

McArthur Glen Parndorf outlet village

• Thirty minutes outside Vienna, it has over 130 boutiques with cafes and restaurants, children’s play area and free parking. Discover great designer stores such as Karl Lagerfeld, Gucci, Michael Kors, plus much more, and enjoy up to 70% discounts all year round – as well as Tax Free shopping.

Tax Free shopping in other cities

Graz

• Austria’s second largest city is a great place to visit: its four universities ensure a lively nightlife and art scene, and the city’s Kunsthaus, Friendly Alien, has to be seen to be believed.
• Hauptplatz is the main place to be for shops and boutiques, such as the main shopping street, Herrengasse. There’s a great choice here, with stores ranging from Espirit to Ludwig Reiter’s famous men’s shoes. And Sackstrasse, Graz’s ‘Art Mile’, boasts a fabulous mix of antique shops and contemporary galleries.

Linz

• Austria’s third largest city lies along the River Danube with its second longest shopping street, Linzer Landstrasse.

Innsbruck

• The capital of the Tyrol region, the top spot for Austria’s excellent skiing. There is a great mix of Tax Free shopping here from ski equipment stores from reliable brands such as Intersport to everyday wear, high-end shops, and lifestyle boutiques like Fink´s.