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Residency Travel

Traveling on an Expired/Expiring Residence Permit

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Article 50 Holders

In 2026, a large number of 5 year (non permanent) Article 50 residency permits expire. Even though people should upgrade/renew their existing residence permits, they may still need to travel on an expired/expiring residence permit.

The advice from the BMIBundesministerium für Inneres The Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) / Ministry for the Interior (UK counterparty: the Home Office) is competent for public security, policing, border control as well as residency and citizenships. It is also responsible for elections and direct democracy instruments as well as the civil service in the respective provinces, as well as municipal level where they are not covered by the Federal Chancellery. (courtesy of the British Embassy, Vienna) is as follows:


“In case of pending applications for Article 50 card renewals, the applicant will be provided with a confirmation of application (“Bestätigung über die Antragstellung”) in A4 Format (same procedure as with the initial application). They should take this with them – along with a valid passport and the expired / expiring Article 50 card – when they travel.

The Austrian authorities have notified this document to their Schengen Partners.“

Emergency Visa

For all non-Article 50 residence permits, if you need to travel and have an expired/expiring residence permit you should apply for a Notvignette (or Notvisum); also known as an Emergency Visa.

If your current permit has expired but you have already applied for a renewal, the Notvignette allows you to travel abroad and re-enter Austria legally while your application is still processing.

Who can apply?

You are eligible if:

  • You are a third-country national (non-EU/EEAEEA The European Economic Area (EEA) consists of the 27 EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The United Kingdom is not part of the EEA./Swiss).
  • You have a valid passport.
  • You applied for a renewal of your residence permit before the old one expired.
  • Your renewal application is still pending.
  • You have an urgent reason to travel (e.g., family emergency, work, or school).

The Application Process

The process is handled by the immigration authority (MA 35 in Vienna, or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft in other regions).

  1. Book an Appointment: You usually cannot just walk in. In Vienna, you must contact MA 35 to request an appointment for a “Notvignette.”. See process below.
  2. Required Documents:
    • Valid Travel Document (Passport).
    • Current/Expired Residence Permit.
    • Proof of Renewal Application (“Bestätigung über die Antragstellung” or “Einreichbestätigung” given to you when you applied for the new permit).
    • One Passport Photo (not older than 6 months).
    • Proof of Urgency: A letter from an employer, a doctor’s note, or flight tickets (though urgency is often interpreted broadly).
  3. The Fee: The cost is approximately €50–€60 (the exact price can vary slightly depending on the specific administrative fees at the time).
  4. Issuance: If approved, a sticker is placed in your passport. It is typically valid for 3 months.

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