1 GUIDE ON PROTOCOL AND DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES Vienna, 2016 Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs Protocol Department, Unit I.1b (Host Nation Unit) July 2016 INDEX INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 4 GLOSSARY ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. THE PROTOCOL DEPARTMENT .............................................................................................................. 7 2. MEMBERS OF MISSIONS/INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND THEIR ARRIVAL .................. 8 2.1. AGRÉMENT FOR HEADS OF BILATERAL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ................................................................................... 8 2.2. ARRIVAL OF HEADS OF BILATERAL DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS AND PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS ..................... 8 2.3. EXEQUATUR PROCEDURE FOR CONSULS AND RELATED QUESTIONS ............................................................................ 8 2.3.1. Exequatur ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2.3.2. Honorary Consuls ........................................................................................................................ 9 2.4. MILITARY ATTACHÉS ............................................................................................................................................................. 9 2.5. NOTIFICATION OF ARRIVAL OF MISSION STAFF AND IO EMPLOYEES ...................................................................... 10 2.6. FAMILY MEMBERS................................................................................................................................................................ 10 2.7. LOCALLY EMPLOYED STAFF (LES) ................................................................................................................................... 11 2.8. PRIVATE DOMESTIC STAFF (PDS)/PERSONAL EMPLOYEES ....................................................................................... 13 2.9. INTERNS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 2.10. VISAS................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.10.1. for prospective mission members and IO employees ......................................................... 16 2.10.2. for individuals attending events organized by IOs ............................................................ 16 2.11. MFA IDENTITY CARDS (“LEGITIMATIONSKARTEN”) ................................................................................................ 16 2.12. APPOINTMENT OF A CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES AD INTERIM / ACTING HEAD OF CONSULATE ................................ 18 2.13. DEPARTURE OF HEAD OF MISSIONS AND OTHER PRIVILEGED PERSONNEL / RETURN OF ID CARD ................ 18 3. DIPLOMATIC PRIVILEGES ...................................................................................................................... 20 3.1. RELIEF FROM VALUE ADDED TAX (VAT) AND CUSTOMS DUTY ............................................................................... 20 3.1.1. Purchase of Goods and Services in Austria ............................................................................ 20 3.1.1.1. VAT Refund: ............................................................................................................................ 20 3.1.1.2. VAT Lump Sum Refund: ......................................................................................................... 21 3.1.1.3. VAT Exemptions: ..................................................................................................................... 22 3.1.2. Purchase of Goods and Services in Other EU Member States ............................................. 23 3.1.3. Imports of Goods and Services from Non-EU Member States ............................................. 23 3.1.4. Import/Transfer of personal effects and household goods ................................................. 24 3.2. MOTOR VEHICLES ................................................................................................................................................................ 24 3.2.1. Purchase of Motor Vehicles in Austria ................................................................................... 25 3.2.2. Purchase of Motor Vehicles in EU Member States Other than Austria .............................. 25 3.2.3. Purchase/Import of Motor Vehicles from Non-EU Member States .................................... 26 3.2.4. Waiting Period and repayment of VAT, NoVA and customs duties .................................. 26 3.3. OTHER TAXES AND FEES .................................................................................................................................................... 29 3.3.1. Mineral Oil Tax .......................................................................................................................... 29 3.3.2. Hunting and Fisheries Fee ........................................................................................................ 29 3.3.3. Insurance Tax and Engine-related Insurance Tax ................................................................ 30 3.3.4. TV and Radio Fee ....................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.5. Surveillance Fee ......................................................................................................................... 30 3.3.6. Tax on Domestic Pets ................................................................................................................ 30 3.4. PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE .............................................................................................................................................. 30 3.4.1. Authorisation Procedure .......................................................................................................... 30 3.4.2. Land Transfer Tax ...................................................................................................................... 31 3.4.3. Registration Fee for the Land Register ................................................................................... 31 3.4.4. Property/Land Tax..................................................................................................................... 31 2 3.4.5. Contractual Fee .......................................................................................................................... 31 4. VIENNA AIRPORT FACILITIES ............................................................................................................... 33 4.1. VIP FACILITIES AT THE GENERAL AVIATION CENTER (GAC) .................................................................................... 33 4.2. ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT ................................................................................................................................................... 33 4.3. PARKING AT THE AIRPORT ................................................................................................................................................ 34 4.4. EXCEPTION OF SECURITY SCREENING AT AUSTRIAN AIRPORTS ................................................................................. 34 5. TRAFFIC-RELATED QUESTIONS ............................................................................................................ 35 5.1. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES AND LICENSE PLATES ..................................................................................................... 35 5.2. DRIVER’S LICENCES ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 5.3. CD PARKING ZONES .......................................................................................................................................................... 37 5.4. RESTRICTED RESIDENTIAL PARKING ZONES IN VIENNA ............................................................................................. 37 5.5. VIOLATIONS OF TRAFFIC REGULATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 38 5.6. ANNUAL VEHICLE INSPECTION ........................................................................................................................................ 39 5.7. TOLL FOR THE USE OF MOTORWAYS ............................................................................................................................... 39 6. SECURITY, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTORAL PROCEEDINGS ......................................... 40 6.1. PROTECTION OF PREMISES AND PERSONS ..................................................................................................................... 40 6.2. ASSEMBLIES AND DEMONSTRATIONS ............................................................................................................................. 41 6.3. OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS HOSTED BY DIPLOMATIC