Audience: Foreign citizens living in Austria, including people with a Blue Card, Red-White-Red Card, or other Austrian residence permit.

1. What is ID Austria?

ID Austria is Austria’s official electronic identity system. It allows you to securely log in to Austrian government services, digitally sign documents, and access various online public services.

For more information: https://www.bmi.gv.at/615/start.html

This page lists all the authorities where you can register for ID Austria. As a foreign citizen, you can typically register at a Landespolizeidirektion or selected Finanzamt Österreich locations.

2. Where to check which authority you can visit

Before booking an appointment, check the official ID Austria Authorities page from the Austrian Ministry of the Interior:

If you’re registering in Vorarlberg, the Police website provides information about ID Austria registration, required documents, and the appointment booking link:

https://www.polizei.gv.at/vbg/buergerservice/id_austria/start.html

I booked my appointment using:

https://citizen.bmi.gv.at/at.gv.bmi.fnsetvweb-p/etv/public/sva/Terminvereinbarung

3. Documents to take with you

For my appointment, I took:

  • Passport
  • EU Blue Card (or Red-White-Red Card / other Austrian residence permit)
  • Meldezettel
  • Recent passport photo (with the date)

The officer verified all my documents before proceeding with the registration.

The official Vorarlberg Police page says the required documents include an official photo ID, such as a passport or identity card, a current passport photo not older than six months, and proof of connection to Austria, such as a Meldebestätigung.

4. Booking the appointment

Open the official ID Austria authorities list and find a location that supports ID Austria registration for foreign citizens. If you are registering in Vorarlberg, use the appointment link provided on the Vorarlberg Police ID Austria page.

Choose the relevant authority, select an available appointment, and save the confirmation if one is provided.

5. What happens at the appointment

If it’s the police station, do not take anything with you that isn’t needed for the appointment (laptop or anything else that will slow the process down).

At the appointment, the officer checks your documents and verifies your identity. After verification, you receive a registration sheet. This sheet contains the information needed to complete your ID Austria registration online. In my case, the sheet included:

  • A registration ID
  • A temporary password
  • A registration link
  • A limited validity period

The link and login details were only valid for a short time, so complete the registration as soon as possible after the appointment.

6. Completing the registration online

It is recommended to complete the online registration on a laptop or desktop computer, because the final step requires scanning a QR code with the ID Austria app on your phone.

Steps:

  1. Open the registration link from the registration sheet.
  2. Enter the registration ID.
  3. Enter the temporary password.
  4. Follow the instructions on the website.
  5. Install or open the ID Austria app on your phone.
  6. When the website shows a QR code, scan it using the ID Austria app.
  7. Follow the app instructions to finish linking your phone.
  8. Once the setup is complete, your ID Austria should be active.

7. Verifying that ID Austria works

After completing registration, test your ID Austria.

For example, go to the Austrian government services portal and try to log in with ID Austria. Enter your username and password on the website. You should then receive an authentication prompt on your phone through the ID Austria app.

Approve the prompt on your phone. If the login succeeds, your ID Austria is working.

8. Practical tips

Use a laptop for the online setup because scanning the QR code is easier when the code is displayed on a separate screen.

Do not wait too long after receiving the registration sheet, because the link and credentials are only valid temporarily.

Take all documents even if you are not sure they will be needed. For foreign citizens, it is especially important to carry proof of residence or proof of connection to Austria.

Make sure your phone has the ID Austria app installed before starting the online registration.

9. Summary of the process

  1. Check the official ID Austria authorities list.
  2. Find an authority that registers foreign citizens.
  3. Book an appointment.
  4. Take your passport, residence permit, Meldezettel or Meldebestätigung, and passport photo.
  5. Attend the appointment and complete document verification.
  6. Receive the registration sheet.
  7. Open the registration link on a laptop.
  8. Enter the ID and temporary password.
  9. Scan the QR code using the ID Austria app.
  10. Test the login on an Austrian government service.

This was the process followed as a foreign citizen with an Austrian residence permit.

References

The following official resources were used while registering for ID Austria:

  1. ID Austria – Austrian Ministry of the Interior (BMI) https://www.bmi.gv.at/615/start.html

  2. Vorarlberg Police – ID Austria Information https://www.polizei.gv.at/vbg/buergerservice/id_austria/start.html

  3. Official Appointment Booking Portal https://citizen.bmi.gv.at/at.gv.bmi.fnsetvweb-p/etv/public/sva/Terminvereinbarung

  4. Austrian Government Services Portal (Login Verification) https://secure.oesterreich.gv.at/de/formsearch

  5. ID Austria App