Attention: Passports, driving licenses and ID cards will be significantly more expensive from July!

Attention: Passports, driving licenses and ID cards will be significantly more expensive from July!

From July 2025, citizens in Austria will have to expect significantly higher fees for official documents such as passports, driving licenses and identity cards. The fees have been discussed in recent weeks and will come into effect at the start of next month. The increase is part of a government measure to generate additional revenue of around 760 million euros.

The changes particularly affect the following documents:

Submit applications early

It is particularly important that the time of application is decisive for the amount of the fee and not the date of issue. Anyone who submits their application in June can save up to 36 euros per document. The ÖAMTC therefore recommends checking all documents and making applications in good time in order to avoid both costs and stress before future trips.

Applications can be submitted throughout Austria and not just at your main residence. This means that citizens can submit their applications to any responsible authority in Germany. However, due to the new fee increase, there are currently hardly any appointments available, which is why long waiting times can be expected.

This increase is not just limited to passports and driver's licenses; Other official documents such as citizenship applications and registration certificates are also becoming more expensive. With this measure, the government's aim is to ensure the long-term stability of fees in the face of increased costs.

International fee structure

For those who wish to submit applications outside of Germany, there are specific regulations regarding fee payment. The fees at German diplomatic missions must be paid on the day the application is submitted, and various means of payment are accepted. Euro payments are only possible by credit card, while cash in USD is also permitted, although there is no guarantee of fixed dollar amounts as exchange rate fluctuations must be taken into account. However, checks are not accepted.

In order to be prepared for the higher fees, it is advisable to find out about the new tariffs and the required documents in advance. Applying early can save time and money, so not only are you well prepared, but you can also be prepared for potentially higher costs.

Further information about the fees and the required documents can be found on the relevant pages: Gailtal Journal, Germany.info, and My district.