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GIS: The Austrian TV licence fee [archive]

Updated: Jan 27, 2024

Please note that the GIS was replaced by the ORF Beitrag on 1 January 2024. Please see our new article. This article is kept for archive purposes only.


This is one of our most frequently asked topics. There are generally three questions which will be answered below:

But before we start: The current legislation will end on 1.1.24

The Austrian Constitutional Court ruled in July 2022 that the current legislation is unconstitutional. This current legislation states that people who only watch ORF online, and do not possess equipment capable of receiving TV and radio signals, do not have to pay the license fee.

The court ordered the government to find a solution by the end of 2023. The solution that has now been announced will be an ORF contribution of €15.30 per month payable by every household (Hauptwohnsitz only) regardless of whether or not they have a TV or watch Austrian TV. This fee has been fixed for three years from 2024 to 2026.


In future in addition to the 3.2 million households currently paying the GIS fee, a further 400,000 households will become liable for the fee. Around 400,000 households will be exempt for financial or health reasons, so if you are on a low income you may not need to pay it.

Businesses will also be required to pay With the fee depending on the number of employees.


In addition to the €15 fee provinces will still be able to add their own local tax although these rates will fall since more people are paying them. Carinthia currently has the highest local tax at €5.10. Upper Austria and Vorarlberg don't apply a local tax. Lower Austria has announced that it will no longer charge a local tax from 2024 and Salzburg is considering doing the same.


Other changes from 2024:

  • Online content will no longer be restricted to 7-day availability. Politics, culture, sports, can be available for 30 days. ORF's own films and series may remain online for 6 months. Contemporary and cultural history, children's and sports programs outside the premium segment can remain online indefinitely.

  • Under pressure from newspapers, text articles on ORF.at will be limited to 350 per week.

  • ORF will be allowed to produce audio and video exclusively for online media with a ratio of 30% text articles to 70% video. Since 350 text articles will be allowed this means that over 800 videos can be published online per week.

  • There will be new advertising restrictions on ORF radio and online.

  • ORF salaries for anyone earning more than €170,000 must be published annually


So we know that the system will definitely change in 2024. Bearing this in mind, let's return to those three FAQs:


The FAQs

1. If I have a TV but only use it for Netflix etc. and never to watch Austrian TV, do I still have to pay the GIS?

Yes you do. If you have a device which can receive TV and radio broadcasts you have to pay the licence fee. This includes cable receivers and satellite receivers.

Car radios are not subject to GIS registration and fees.


2. I’ve heard that you can get the receiver card removed from a TV. Is it true and where can it be done?

One website advertising this service is https://www.krillit.at/de/ [website now closed]. Note that it will cost you between €100 (in Vienna) and €178, and the law will change from 2024.

For other local services for receiver removal, google “tv-tuner ausbauen [+ location]”. Confirm that the service provider will give you a certificate to prove that the receiver has been removed. You will need to register this with GIS using the form in the links below.

Remember also that removing the receiver will almost certainly invalidate any guarantee that your equipment might have.


3. Can I buy a TV without a receiver card?

Yes, it is possible to buy a “NOGIS” TV but be aware that the law will change from the end of 2023 so from 2024 you will probably have to pay anyway (see above).

One source of NOGIS TVs is https://nogis.at/shop [website now closed].


Other questions

How much is the licence fee?

The fee depends on your province. The TV fee is much higher than the radio only fee. There is a table of fees (per day) here: https://www.gis.at/gebuehren/uebersicht. If you click on the province heading you will see the monthly fee.


Do I have to pay the licence fee for my second home?

Yes, if you have equipment there which is capable of receiving TV or radio signals.


Are there any exemptions from paying the licence fee?

Yes, people on a low income or who are physically handicapped may be exempt but they must still register their equipment. See: https://www.gis.at/english


What can happen if I don’t register with GIS, or register with incorrect information?

If you are caught you can be charged with an administrative violation. The maximum fine is €2,180.


Do I have to let representatives of GIS into my home?

GIS representatives only conduct “information gathering visits” and not “monitoring visits”. They have no right to enter your home so simply answer their questions but do not allow them into your property. See: https://www.derstandard.at/story/2000136317766/irritierender-gis-besuch-insistieren-ist-keinesfalls-standard-sagt-ihr-geschaeftsfuehrer

How does the Austrian licence fee compare with those in the rest of Europe?

Those who complain about the high cost of a licence fee in Austria might have a point. Statistics show that Austria has one of the highest licence fees in Europe (2019):

Further information

GIS links


Sources and further reading

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