Outside the EU - Austria

Updated 11/2010

Legal requirements

The 2005 Austrian Foreign Trade Act stipulates various approval requirements, prerequisites for the grant of an approval, embargoes, security measures and registration requirements.

2005 Austrian Foreign Trade Act

Government support for exports

The export funding system is split into two areas:

Export guarantees (including guarantees for safeguarding foreign investments):

Federal guarantees (as set out in the Export Promotion Act) through the Österreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB)
Legal liabilities (as set out in the Guarantee Act)

Export financing for individual transactions and revolving credit:

Through the OeKB export financing procedure (including finance for foreign investments)
Through the Exportfonds GmbH procedure (for small and medium-sized businesses)

Statistics

Under the Austrian Trade Statistics Act and Trade Statistics Regulation, companies must submit statistical reports on trade with non-EU states (‘Extrastat returns ’).

Extrastat
Austrian Trade Statistics Act 1995
Austrian Trade Statistics Regulation 2009

Administrative procedures

Exporting goods

The following aspects must be taken into account: export declaration; shipping procedure; export invoicing (commercial invoice); dual-use goods and military goods (munitions).

Export declaration
Shipping procedure
Export invoicing
Dual-use goods and military goods

The most important international customs documents and their areas of application are as follows: the shipping document set out in the TIR Carnet Convention (includes the EC and most non-EU states), TIR carnet application, customs documents for temporary use, ATA carnet (includes the EC and some non-EU states), certificates of origin (various countries), preference certificates, application for approval to issue preference certificates (customs form 279), information sheet about issuing preference certificates (customs form 280).

TIR carnet application [127 KB]
Customs documents for temporary use
ATA carnet
Certificates of origin
Preference certificates
Application for approval to issue preference certificates [101 KB]
Information sheet about issuing preference certificates [148 KB]

Importing goods

Companies that import goods from non-EU states have to take various details into account such as duty and customs documentation as well as embargoes and restrictions on certain goods as well as the following: customs clearance; import duty; required import documentation; customs preferences; anti-dumping and compensation measures; embargoes, restrictions and measures relating to foreign trade law and trade policy.

Customs clearance
Import duty
Required import documentation
Customs preferences
Anti-dumping and compensation measures
Embargoes, restrictions and measures relating to foreign trade law and trade policy

Submission of statistical returns

Extrastat returns are based on customs documentation and are submitted as part of the customs procedure. Companies are required to submit returns to the customs authorities in order to fulfil their legal obligations. The customs authorities forward this return to Statistics Austria.

Extrastat

Resources

More detailed information and application documents are provided by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth
Federal Ministry of Finance
Austrian Federal Economic Chamber

Advantage Austria is a web portal with information about Austrian branches of trade, Austrian companies and events for foreign companies hoping to develop business relationships in Austria. Austrian companies can view information about business abroad and find cooperation partners for foreign trade.

AdvantageAustria.Org — The Austrian portal for foreign trade

Useful information for people living and working in Austria is available from HELP, the Austrian government help service, or the Business Service Portal USP.

The AWIS company database can also be used by companies to access information about seminars, events and cooperation projects. Newsletters are distributed on a weekly basis.

Programmes

Federal and regional subsidies are available to exporters and importers. Subsidies are also available as part of the Austrian Federal Government’s internationalisation campaign in addition to those offered by Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS) and the Österreichische Kontrollbank (OeKB).

Austria Wirtschaftsservice
Österreichische Kontrollbank AG

Check also the legislation on this topic in:

Outside the EU - Austria