CHECK-AT

The passport serves as proof of identity and citizenship. Austrian citizenship is a prerequisite for the issue of an Austrian passport. Within Austria, the passport serves as official photo ID and proof of identity. A travel document must be carried every time you cross the border, even when travelling to the EU or Schengen states. This also applies to short journeys abroad. The passport is such an official travel document and is required when travelling abroad (unless you have another accepted travel document such as an identity card). Further information can be found at oesterreich.gv.at

The QR code is an additional security feature in the passport. Like the other security features, the QR code serves to make Austrian ID documents even more secure. The QR code can be securely read and checked using the specially developed, free CHECK-AT app.

The QR code contains the personal facial image and the information of the machine-readable zone. Specifically, it contains: Facial image, name, gender, citizenship, date of birth, issuing country, document type, passport number and the validity period. In addition, the QR code also contains information on digital security: a signature, a random number and a signature ID. The signature corresponds to the cryptographic signature value of the QR code data. The random number is used to strengthen the long-term security of the QR code. The signature ID serves as a reference for the CHECK-AT app to select the appropriate certificate for verifying the digital signature of the QR code.

No, the app can be used without registration. It can be downloaded free of charge from the official App Store for iOS or the official Play Store for Android. To prevent the distribution of scams and illegal duplicates of the app, it can only be downloaded from these two official stores.

The app requires authorisations for the camera and the Internet.

The new security features protect the passport on several independent levels. Modern security features such as the polycarbonate data page, elaborate UV printing, laser tilt images or the see-through window with tilt effect already ensure a high level of security. In addition, the new passport is protected on a digital level with the QR code and the chip. This bundle of security measures offers the highest level of protection against tampering and counterfeiting.

At startup, the app retrieves the current certificates for the cryptographic check and the instructions for the manual check (check steps). Nothing is retrieved during a scan.

The CHECK-AT app can be downloaded free of charge from the official App Store (iOS) or the official Play Store (Android). In order to prevent the distribution of scams and illegal duplicates of the app, the download is only possible from these two official stores.

No. The digital CHECK-AT app is a tool for checking the new passport and ID card. The CHECK-AT app is not a digital passport or ID card.

The CHECK-AT app is compatible with Android version 8.0 (or newer) and iOS version 15 (or newer). The CHECK-AT website (https://check-at.gv.at/) can be used on PCs or laptops via common browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge. For mobile devices, Google Chrome (Android) and Apple Safari (iOS) are supported. To ensure a flawless display, we recommend using the latest version of the browser you are using.

The same data is stored on the chip of the new generation of passports as on the previous passports: It contains (apart from the signature and the passport holder's height) the same data that can be seen on the data page of the passport. In addition, from the age of 12, the fingerprint images of two fingers are also stored on the chip. In this way, the new passport is still clearly assigned to its owner and offers strong protection against identity theft and forgery.

Facial image, name, gender, citizenship, date of birth, issuing country, document type, passport number and validity period. When the app is started, certificates and check steps are checked to ensure they are up to date and downloaded again if necessary. During this process, the IP address and the user agent (name and version of the app) are also logged. No cookies, sessions or market research data are collected.

No. In principle, the QR code in the new passport can be read with any QR code scanner. However, the content is not displayed correctly when read with other QR code scanners.

No. The physical passport serves as proof of personal identity and Austrian citizenship. The digital CHECK-AT app makes it easy to check the new Austrian passport and other Austrian documents with a corresponding QR code (e.g. identity card). The app provides citizens with an uncomplicated way to check supported documents.

Please check the FAQ section to see if there is an answer to your question. If you still have further questions, please contact the information address bmi-III-A-5-a@bmi.gv.at.

The personal data is stored directly in the QR code. After scanning the QR code, the content of the code is displayed by the CHECK-AT app. There is no retrieval from the Internet or an official register, as all data is contained directly in the QR code. As a security measure, special certificates are required to verify the signature, which the CHECK-AT app automatically loads onto the user's own device. The verification of this signature and all necessary calculations are carried out on the device itself.

When the QR code is scanned, the data shown in the QR code is only displayed on the checking device, but is never forwarded via the app. The CHECK-AT app does not include a technical option for forwarding critical data via an interface.

No. The scanning process only takes place on the verifying device. There is no retrieval from the Internet or from an official register, as all data is contained directly in the QR code. Therefore, there is no check as to whether the document has been reported stolen or lost.

No. The digital CHECK-AT app is a tool for checking the new passport. The CHECK-AT app is not a digital passport.