South Africa Embassy Vienna

Before your visit

The embassy’s address is Sandgasse 33 in Vienna’s 19th district (Döbling).

• Checklist: identity document, completed forms, originals plus one copy of each supporting document.

Who runs the South African Embassy?

Rapulane Sydney Molekane has served as South African ambassador to Austria since July 2019. Its accreditation extends beyond Austria to Slovakia and Slovenia. 18 diplomats are registered with the Austrian Foreign Ministry for this embassy. Do not confuse the embassy with South Africa’s permanent mission to the United Nations and other international organisations in Vienna: that mission deals with multilateral diplomacy only.

Embassy or honorary consulate?

The consular section in Vienna is responsible for South African citizens in all of Austria. Five honorary consulates (Graz, Innsbruck, Linz, Salzburg and St. Pölten) can help with information and some formalities, but passports are normally issued by the embassy.

Consular services

Requests the consular staff deal with:

• Powers of attorney and other notarial acts
• Certificates for pensions and social security abroad
• Citizenship and residence register matters

Fees and current requirements are published on the embassy website (https://dirco.gov.za/vienna).

Documents checklist

What South African citizens usually need to bring for the most common requests, based on official South African government information:

South African passport (application abroad)

• Passport application form BI-73 (DHA-73), completed in black ink
• Form BI-529 (citizenship), required for all South African citizens abroad
• Fingerprints for applicants aged 16 and over – taken at the mission
• Certified copies of your passport and ID or birth certificate (the passport alone is not enough)
• Colour photos as specified by the mission; documents in other languages need a sworn English translation
• Apply 6–12 months before expiry; collection only in person. Emergency: an Emergency Travel Certificate for the direct return to South Africa

Sources: South African High Commission in Canberra – South African passports (dirco.gov.za), South African Embassy in Bern – civic services (dirco.gov.za) (checked October 2026). Requirements and fees can change and individual posts may ask for more – confirm the current list with the embassy before your visit.

Do I need an appointment?

Public hours are published, so short matters can often be handled without booking. Passport applications may still require an appointment.

Visa and entry information

Austrian citizens need no visa for South Africa and must travel with a passport. The Austrian Foreign Ministry currently rates South Africa as security risk (level 2 of 4).

Other consulates and embassies in Vienna

162 other countries are represented in Vienna, among them: Sovereign Military Order of Malta (embassy), Spain (embassy), Sri Lanka (embassy), Sudan (embassy), Sweden (embassy), Switzerland (embassy), Syria (embassy), Tajikistan (embassy), Tanzania (embassy), Thailand (embassy), Tunisia (embassy), Tunisia (honorary), Turkmenistan (embassy), Türkiye (consulate general), Türkiye (embassy), Uganda (honorary), Ukraine (embassy), United Arab Emirates (embassy), United Kingdom (embassy), United States (embassy). The full list of all 163 missions is on the overview page for Austria.

Closing days

The embassy is closed on Austrian public holidays and on South African holidays such as National Day (27 April). Bridge days around holidays may bring further closures.

Emergency assistance

Austrians who need help in South Africa contact the Austrian Embassy in Pretoria (+27 12 45 29 155).

Diplomatic missions between South Africa and Austria

South Africa in Austria

Measured in a straight line from Vienna, the nearest other South African office is the Honorary Consulate in St. Pölten (about 56 km). Distances in brackets are straight-line distances from Vienna.

• Vienna – Embassy of South Africa (this page)
• Graz (140 km) – Honorary Consulate (Styria)
• Innsbruck (390 km) – Honorary Consulate (Tyrol)
• Linz (160 km) – Honorary Consulate (Upper Austria)
• Salzburg (250 km) – Honorary Consulate (Salzburg)
• St. Pölten (56 km) – Honorary Consulate (Lower Austria)

Austria in South Africa

• Durban – Austrian Honorary Consulate
• Gqeberha/Port Elizabeth – Austrian Honorary Consulate
• Cape Town – Austrian Honorary Consulate General
• Pretoria – Austrian Embassy