Documents Needed to Open a Bank Account in Austria
The documents needed to open a bank account in Austria depend on your nationality, residence status, account type and whether you apply online or at a branch.
At minimum, an Austrian bank must verify your identity. International students and newcomers may also need proof of address, residence documents, tax information and evidence explaining where their money comes from.
Last updated: July 26, 2026
Quick Document Checklist
Prepare the following before applying:
- A valid passport or national identity card.
- Austrian residence registration confirmation.
- Proof of your Austrian address.
- Residence permit or visa, where applicable.
- Tax Identification Number from each country of tax residence.
- University enrolment certificate for a student account.
- Employment contract or proof of income, when relevant.
- Evidence of scholarship, savings or family support if requested.
- A working mobile phone number.
- An active email address.
- A smartphone for online or app-based accounts.
Not every bank requests every document. Requirements can vary according to your citizenship, account features and identity-verification method.
Documents Needed to Open a Bank Account in Austria
1. Valid Passport or National Identity Card
An official photo identity document is the most important requirement.
A bank may accept:
- A valid passport.
- An EU or EEA national identity card.
- An Austrian residence card.
- Another officially recognised photo identification document.
Austria’s Financial Market Authority states that banks must identify customers when establishing a business relationship such as opening an account. Identification can take place in person or through an approved video-based process.
Check that your document:
- Has not expired.
- Is readable and undamaged.
- Shows your full legal name.
- Matches the information entered in the application.
- Is supported by the bank’s online verification provider.
A document that works at a branch may not necessarily be supported by an automated online application.
2. Austrian Residence Registration Confirmation
After moving into accommodation in Austria, residents generally need to register their address within three days. The accommodation provider must sign the registration form, and the authority then issues written confirmation of registration.
This document is commonly called the Meldezettel, although the paper you keep is technically the registration confirmation.
Banks may use it to verify:
- Your Austrian address.
- Your legal connection to Austria.
- Where the debit card and security letters should be delivered.
- Which national account terms apply to you.
Keep both a printed copy and a clear digital scan.
3. Proof of Address
A bank may ask for additional proof of where you live, especially when your identity document does not show your current Austrian address.
Possible documents include:
- Austrian registration confirmation.
- Rental agreement.
- University accommodation confirmation.
- Recent electricity, internet or utility bill.
- Official government correspondence.
- Confirmation signed by your accommodation provider.
The address must normally match the address entered in your bank application.
Students staying temporarily in a hotel or hostel may find that some banks require a more permanent residential or delivery address before issuing a debit card.
4. Residence Permit or Visa
Non-EU and non-EEA applicants may be asked to provide evidence of their legal residence in Austria.
Depending on your status, this may include:
- Austrian student residence permit.
- Red-White-Red Card.
- Residence card for a family member.
- Long-stay visa.
- Temporary residence documentation.
- Asylum or protection documents accepted under Austrian law.
For a basic payment account, private individuals must generally have a legal right of residence in the EU. Applicants without a fixed home may still apply using a delivery address.
A bank may request both your passport and residence document rather than accepting only one.
5. Tax Identification Number
Austrian banks must collect information about customers’ tax residence under the Common Reporting Standard.
You may need to provide:
- Your Austrian tax number, if one has been issued.
- Your Tax Identification Number from your home country.
- TINs from any other countries where you are tax resident.
- A signed tax-residency self-certification.
Bank Austria explains that financial institutions must document customers’ countries of tax residence and the corresponding TINs. Reportable information can include the account holder’s name, address, date of birth, tax residence and account balance.
Find your TIN before attending the appointment. It may not be the same as your passport or national identity number.
6. University Enrolment Certificate
Students applying for a free or discounted student account may need to prove that they are enrolled at an eligible educational institution.
Useful evidence can include:
- Official enrolment certificate.
- University admission letter.
- Student identity card.
- Confirmation of registration for the current semester.
- Exchange-programme document.
- Doctoral or research appointment confirmation.
The document should ideally show:
- Your full name.
- Institution’s name.
- Programme of study.
- Current academic year or semester.
Bank Austria’s GoGreen Student Account is currently intended for eligible students up to age 30, so the bank may need to verify that you meet the product’s conditions.
7. Proof of Income or Source of Funds
A salary is not always required for a standard current account. However, the bank may ask how you intend to fund the account.
Acceptable evidence may include:
- Employment contract.
- Recent salary statements.
- Scholarship award letter.
- University funding confirmation.
- Bank statements showing personal savings.
- Parental sponsorship letter.
- Evidence of regular family transfers.
- Proof of a blocked-account arrangement.
- Freelance or self-employment documents.
The Austrian FMA explains that banks may ask about employment, sources of income and expected transaction patterns as part of legally required anti-money-laundering checks.
Receiving financial support from abroad is not automatically a problem. You should simply be able to explain the source and provide supporting documents if requested.
8. Mobile Number, Email and Smartphone
Online account opening normally requires access to digital verification tools.
Bank Austria’s video-identification process requires:
- A valid passport or national identity card.
- Stable internet connection.
- Working camera and microphone.
- A mobile phone capable of receiving SMS codes.
- A suitable private environment for the video call.
The bank sends codes to confirm the mobile number and complete the digital signature.
A digital bank may also require:
- A compatible smartphone.
- The bank’s mobile application.
- A supported operating system.
- Selfie or video verification.
N26 requires applicants to be at least 18, live in an eligible country, own a smartphone and possess a valid supported identity document.
Documents for EU and EEA Citizens
EU and EEA applicants should normally prepare:
- Passport or national identity card.
- Austrian registration confirmation.
- Proof of address.
- Tax-residency information and TIN.
- Enrolment certificate for a student account.
- Mobile number and email address.
A residence permit is generally not required in the same way as for a third-country national, but the bank still needs to verify your Austrian residence and tax information.
Documents for Non-EU Students
Non-EU international students should prepare:
- Valid passport.
- Austrian student visa or residence permit.
- Meldezettel or registration confirmation.
- Rental or university housing document.
- University enrolment certificate.
- Home-country TIN.
- Proof of scholarship, sponsorship or savings.
- Mobile number and email address.
Bring original documents to a branch even when you have already uploaded copies online.
Documents Needed for Online Account Opening
When applying online, you may need fewer paper documents, but the bank still performs identity and compliance checks.
Bank Austria allows eligible applicants to verify their identity using full ID Austria without additional identification documents. Alternatively, applicants can complete video identification using a valid passport or national identity card, a smartphone and an email address.
Online verification may fail when:
- Your nationality or document type is unsupported.
- The document image is unclear.
- Your current address cannot be confirmed.
- Your name differs across documents.
- Manual residence or tax checks are required.
In these situations, book a branch appointment instead of repeatedly submitting the same online application.
Can You Open an Account Without Proof of Income?
Yes, many standard debit accounts do not require a regular salary or Austrian credit history.
Proof of income becomes more important when requesting:
- Credit card.
- Overdraft.
- Personal loan.
- Instalment financing.
- Premium account with income conditions.
Apply first for a positive-balance current account without borrowing facilities.
What If a Bank Rejects Your Application?
People legally residing in the EU generally have the right to request an Austrian basic payment account.
The account supports deposits, withdrawals, direct debits, online payments and transfers, but it cannot normally be overdrawn. An official photo identity document is required.
A complete basic-account application should generally be processed within ten business days, although identity checks involving foreign applicants may take longer.
Final Checklist Before Applying
Bring or upload:
- Valid photo ID.
- Austrian registration confirmation.
- Residence permit or visa.
- Proof of address.
- Tax Identification Number.
- University enrolment certificate.
- Proof of funds if requested.
- Mobile phone and email address.
Use exactly the same spelling and name order on every document. Missing tax information, expired passports and inconsistent addresses are among the most avoidable causes of delays.
Official Sources
- Austrian Financial Market Authority – Identifying Yourself
- Austrian Government – Registering a Residence
- Austrian Financial Market Authority – Basic Payment Account
- Bank Austria – Online Account and Identity Verification
- Bank Austria – Common Reporting Standard and TIN Requirements
- N26 Austria – Account Opening Requirements
