Internal Rules for the Parliament Buildings (IR)

The President of the National Council shall have authority over the Parliament Buildings and determine the internal rules of the house after deliberation in the President's Conference (§ 14 para. 1 of the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council). The currently applicable version of the Internal Rules for the Parliament Buildings (IR) have entered into force on May 1, 2025.

Please also note the guidelines and terms of use that were issued on the basis of the Internal Rules for the Parliament Buildings:

Guidelines Establishing Exemptions from the Access Requirements to the historic Parliament Building (§ 11 para. 3 IR)

Guidelines for the Access of Media Representatives to the National Council Chamber (§ 16 para. 6 IR)

Guidelines Concerning Sound and Image Recordings during Sittings of  the National Council or the Federal Assembly (§ 21 clause 1 IR)

Guidelines Concerning Sound and Image Recordings in Rooms of the Parliament Buildings Which Are Not Open to the General Public (§ 23 para. 2 IR) 

Part 1: General

§ 1. Scope

§ 2. Authority over the Parliament Buildings

§ 3. Flag display on the historic Parliament Building

Part 2: Allocation and use of rooms

§ 4. Allocation of rooms for longer-term use

§ 5. Allocation of rooms for temporary use

§ 6. Rooms of the Federal Council

§ 7. Rooms of the Parliamentary Groups

§ 8. Announcements and notices

Part 3: Access to the Parliament Buildings

§ 9. Access

§ 10. Permanent access authorization (permanent authorization card)

§ 11. Authorization for individual access (individual access ticket)

§ 12. Attendance at sittings

§ 13. Taking animals into the Parliament Buildings

§ 14. Bringing objects

§ 15. Parking of bicycles and the like

Part 4: Access to sitting areas and committee rooms during sittings

§ 16. Access to the sitting area of the National Council

§ 17. Access to the sitting area of the Federal Assembly

§ 18. Access to committee rooms

Part 5: Rules of conduct

§ 19. General rules of conduct

§ 20. Prohibition of telephoning during sittings

§ 21. Sound and image recordings during sittings

§ 22. Sound and image recordings in allocated rooms

§ 23. Sound and image recordings in the other rooms of the Parliament Buildings

§ 24. Conduct in office premises

§ 25. Use of information and communication technology (ICT) facilities

Part 6: Guided tours, Parliamentary Library, parliamentary archives, and parliamentary documentation

§ 26. Guided tours

§ 27. Terms of use for the Parliamentary Library, parliamentary archives, and parliamentary documentation

Part 7: Amendment, announcement and entry into force of the Internal Rules

§ 28. Amendment and interpretation of the Internal Rules

§ 29. Deviating regulations to the Internal Rules

§ 30. Announcement

§ 31. Entry into force

(1) The Parliament Buildings and the associated properties shall serve the federal legislative bodies for the performance of their duties. These Internal Rules shall apply in the Parliament Buildings and on their outdoor areas (terraces, balconies, rooftops) including the associated properties.

(2) For the purposes of the Internal Rules, the Parliament Buildings shall mean the historic Parliament Building, the federal premises dedicated for parliamentary purposes, and premises rented or provided for that purpose.

(1) The President of the National Council shall have the authority over the Parliament Buildings and their outdoor areas (terraces, balconies, rooftops) including the associated properties (Article 30 paras. 3 and 6 of the Federal Constitutional Law, § 14 para. 1 of the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council). In this, he or she is assisted by the Parliamentary Administration.

(2) Verbal and written instructions issued by the President of the National Council or the persons responsible for order and security tasks on the basis of the Internal Rules shall be complied with without delay.

(3) Persons who violate provisions of the Internal Rules or guidelines based thereon may, if necessary, be expelled from the Parliament Buildings and their outdoor areas (terraces, balconies, rooftops) including the associated properties. The persons responsible for order and security tasks are authorized to demand proof of identity from these persons.

(4) In the event of serious or repeated violations within the meaning of para. 3, the President of the National Council may

1. withdraw the permanent authorization card from the person concerned;

2. impose on the person concerned a ban from the Parliament buildings and the associated properties.

(5) A person who has been banned from the Parliament buildings and the associated properties pursuant to para. 4 subpara 2 shall be given the opportunity to submit a statement on the matter within an appropriate period of time. If a statement is submitted on time, the President of the National Council shall reassess and, if necessary, adjust the ban from the Parliament Buildings and the associated properties, taking into account the specific circumstances that have been put forward.

(1) The following flags are displayed on the historic Parliament Building:

1. the federal service flag on the gable mast of the central Building;

2. the flag of the federal province currently holding the Presidency of the Federal Council on the front-side gable mast on the side wing facing the Rathausplatz;

3. the flag of the European Union on the front-side gable mast on the side wing facing the Schmerlingplatz.

(2) On days of sittings of the National Council, the Federal Council or the Federal Assembly, the flag of the Republic shall also be hoisted on the flagpoles in front of the historic Parliament Building.

(1) The President of the National Council shall decide on the allocation of rooms of the Parliament Buildings for longer-term use and the duration of such allocation. In particular, he or she shall allocate rooms for longer-term use for parliamentary purposes to the Parliamentary Groups, the Members of the National Council or Members of the Federal Council who do not belong to any Parliamentary Group represented in the National Council or the Federal Council, and to the Parliamentary Administration. In principle, no legal claims may be derived from such an allocation.

(2) When allocating rooms, the President of the National Council shall also decide on the furnishings and technical equipment to be provided.

(3) The rooms allocated and the furnishings and technical equipment provided shall be treated with care. In principle, any damage shall be reported to the Parliamentary Administration without delay. Substantial changes to rooms, furnishings or technical equipment are permitted only with the express written consent of the Parliamentary Administration.

(4) The President of the National Council may revoke an allocation at any time. The revocation of rooms allocated to Parliamentary Groups shall be made only under the conditions set forth in the last sentence of paragraph 5.

(5) The allocation of rooms to the Parliamentary Groups shall, in principle, be made for the duration of one legislative period of the National Council and is renewed at the beginning of a new legislative period without separate allocation by the President of the National Council. If this is necessary - in particular due to changes in the relative strength of the Parliamentary Groups represented in the National Council - the President of the National Council shall reallocate the rooms after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference. A premature revocation of the allocation during a legislative period of the National Council shall take place only if this is necessary for special reasons (such as in the case of a change in the space situation) or due to changes in the relative strength of the Parliamentary Groups represented in the National Council - while retaining appropriate minimum areas.

(6) The Parliamentary Administration shall be informed if an event is to be held in rooms allocated to Parliamentary Groups or to Members of the National Council or Members of the Federal Council who do not belong to a Parliamentary Group represented in the National Council or the Federal Council, which goes beyond the scope of an ordinary political meeting or which is to be held outside of the opening hours of the Parliament Buildings as determined and announced by the President. The President of the National Council may prohibit admission to or order the departure from such an event if

1. prior informing of the Parliamentary Administration about the event has not been provided, or

2. the holding of the event violates the purpose of § 1 para. 1 or interferes with the performance of the duties of the legislative bodies, or

3. this is necessary for the maintenance of peace, order and security or the dignity of the parliamentary bodies, or

4. the authorized user(s) of the allocated room in question so request(s) due to disturbances of peace and order or other violations of the provisions of the Internal Rules.

A measure pursuant to subparas 1 to 3 shall be dispensed with if an expedient procedure can be found with the representatives of the Parliamentary Group concerned. 

(7) After revocation or expiration of the term of the allocation, the rooms as well as the furnishings and technical equipment shall be returned in proper condition and without delay.

(8) The President of the National Council shall decide on the reallocation or renewal of the allocation of rooms for longer-term use to external users in supplement to § 1 para. 1 (in particular catering facilities, ORF City Studio) after deliberation in the President‘s Conference.

The allocation for temporary use (such as for events) of rooms of the Parliament Buildings that have not been allocated for longer-term use in accordance with § 4 shall be carried out by

1. the Parliamentary Administration with regard to rooms primarily designated for holding meetings of committees, subcommittees, investigating committees, parliamentary hearings and commissions of inquiry. These rooms may be temporarily allocated for other purposes in each case only if they are not required for holding meetings;

2. the President of the National Council with regard to the other rooms.

(1) By way of derogation from § 4 para. 1, the following rooms shall be allocated to the Federal Council:

1. the salon of the Federal Council and the offices of the President of the Federal Council and the Vice-Presidents of the Federal Council for exclusive use;

2. the Federal Council Chamber for priority use for the holding of sittings of the Federal Council.

(2) By way of derogation from § 5, the allocation of the rooms referred to in para. 1 for temporary use (such as for committee meetings or events) shall be the responsibility of the President of the Federal Council.

(1) The requirements for access to the rooms allocated to the Parliamentary Groups for longer-term use pursuant to § 4 para. 2 shall be determined by the respective group. § 14 para. 1 shall be observed.

(2) In these rooms, the chairperson of the respective group shall ensure that the provisions of these Internal Rules are complied with and that the guidelines and instructions based thereon are followed. If disturbances of peace and order or other violations of the provisions of the Internal Rules occur in these rooms, the intervention of the persons responsible for order and security tasks may be requested.

Announcements and notices may be posted in the generally accessible areas of the Parliament Buildings only with the consent of the Parliamentary Administration. This also applies to the outside areas of the Parliament Buildings.

(1) Access to the historic Parliament Building shall be granted to Members of the National Council, Members of the Federal Council, and persons having

1. a permanent access authorization (§ 10) or

2. an authorization for individual access (§ 11).

The President of the National Council shall determine the rooms or zones of the historic Parliament Building to which the respective access authorizations apply.

(2) Access to the other Parliament Buildings shall be granted to Members of the National Council, Members of the Federal Council, persons having a permanent access authorization (§ 10), and persons entering with their consent or accompanying them in person. The last sentence of para. 1 applies accordingly.

(3) The President of the National Council may, in justified cases, temporarily order a restriction of general access to the Parliament Buildings.

(4) Proof of access authorization must, in general, be worn visibly in the Parliament Buildings. The proof of access authorization must be presented at the request of the persons responsible for order and security tasks.

(1) The following persons have a permanent access authorization:

1. the Federal President, Members of the Federal Government, State Secretaries, the President of the Court of Audit, Members of the Ombudsman Board and the Provincial Governors;

2. Austrian Members of the European Parliament;

3. former Federal Presidents and former Presidents of the National Council and the Federal Council;

4. Employees of the Parliamentary Administration and persons to be held equal to them who are not only occasionally working in the Parliament Buildings (such as permanent contractors);

5. Employees of the Parliamentary Groups and parliamentary assistants and persons to be held equal to them (such as permanent contractors) upon written request of the respective Parliamentary Group or the respective Member of the National Council;

6. Presidents of the Austrian highest courts.

(2) Permanent access authorization may also be granted to members of the Association of Parliamentary Editors and to persons who have a contractual relationship with the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (Österreichischer Rundfunk) as host broadcaster. Such persons shall furnish proof of their membership or their contractual relationship and shall undergo an annual security check pursuant to §§ 55 et seqq. of the Security Police Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 566/1961, as amended.

(3) In addition, permanent access authorization may also be granted to persons who are not only occasionally present in the Parliament Buildings for professional or other reasons. The Parliamentary Administration may also make the granting of a permanent authorization card to such persons subject to an annual security check pursuant to § 55a para. 1 subpara 2 of the Security Police Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 566/1991, as amended; this shall not apply to federal and provincial employees who hold a senior executive position (such as heads of a directorate-general in a federal ministry) and to senior officials of self-governing bodies pursuant to Article 120a of the Federal Constitutional Law.

(4) A permanent authorization card shall be issued to the persons referred to in paras 1 to 3 as required. This card shall remain the property of the Parliamentary Administration and may not be passed on to other persons. Any loss of a permanent authorization card must be reported to the Parliamentary Administration in writing without delay. In the event of loss, the Parliamentary Administration may claim compensation for the costs incurred in producing a replacement card or for any other damage resulting from the loss.

(5) If the conditions for issuing a permanent authorization card are no longer met, the card shall become invalid and the holder shall be obliged to return it.

(1) Persons who do not have a permanent access authorization may be granted an authorization for individual access upon proof of their identity by depositing a photo ID in digital form (ID scan).

(2) For security reasons, a personal and baggage check must be carried out before access.

(3) The President of the National Council may, after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference, set in guidelines

1. more detailed provisions in this context (such as on the issuing, duration and revocation of access authorizations and on the proof of identity required) and

2. exemptions from the obligation to prove the identity by depositing a photo ID in digital form (ID scan) and from carrying out personal and baggage checks.

(1) Attendance at sittings of the National Council, the Federal Council and the Federal Assembly shall be permitted to persons who have reached the age of ten. Persons from the age of ten to the age of 14 are permitted to attend only if accompanied by an adult. In justified cases, the Parliamentary Administration may grant an exemption.

(2) Visitors to sittings of the National Council, the Federal Council or the Federal Assembly shall require authorization, which shall be indicated on the individual access ticket. Authorizations shall be issued by the Parliamentary Administration on a space-available basis.

(3) The President of the National Council and the President of the Federal Council shall, in agreement with the Parliamentary Groups represented in the National Council or the Federal Council, determine the number of authorizations under para. 2 available to the respective groups. The Parliamentary Administration may allocate unused authorizations to other visitors.

Taking animals into the Parliament Buildings is prohibited, with the exception of assistance animals for people with disabilities.

(1) It is not allowed to bring into the Parliament Buildings:

1. weapons with the exception of those carried by organs of the public security service for official reasons;

2. ammunition and explosive substances or liquids;

3. other dangerous objects.

(2) Outerwear (such as coats and jackets) must be handed in at a checkroom, unless other arrangements have been made for larger groups. The same applies to items that are likely to disturb parliamentary activities or peace and order or to offend the dignity of parliamentary bodies.

Bicycles, scooters as well as e-bikes, e-scooters and other electrically powered vehicles (with the exception of those belonging to people with disabilities) may be parked only in designated or otherwise suitable places.

(1) The sitting area of the National Council consists of the National Council Chamber, the couloir, the balcony and the gallery together with adjoining rooms.

(2) Access to the National Council Chamber is permitted during sittings of the National Council for:

1. persons entitled to access under the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council;

2. employees and contracted staff of the Parliamentary Administration on official business;

3. employees of the Parliamentary Groups on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council;

4. media representatives, if this is necessary for the technical execution of image and sound recordings, on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council.

(3) The couloir is the corridor surrounding the National Council Chamber. Access to the couloir is permitted during sittings of the National Council for:

1. persons entitled to access the National Council Chamber;

2. Members of the Federal Council;

3. media representatives in the designated areas;

4. employees of the Parliamentary Groups;

5. parliamentary assistants for the purpose of contacting Members of Parliament.

(4) Access to the balcony is permitted during sittings of the National Council for the following persons, and separate areas shall be provided for each of them:

1. the Federal President;

2. Members of the Federal Council and Members of the European Parliament elected in Austria;

3. guests of the Presidents of the National Council, of the President and Vice Presidents of the Federal Council and of members of the Federal Government;

4. members of the diplomatic corps;

5. media representatives;

6. other persons on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council;

7. visitors with a corresponding authorization (§ 12 para. 2).

(5) Access to the gallery is permitted during sittings of the National Council for visitors with the appropriate authorization (§ 12 para. 2).

(6) The President of the National Council may issue guidelines for the access of media representatives to the National Council Chamber and the couloir after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference.

(7) The exclusion of the public shall be governed by Art. 32 para. 2 of the Federal Constitutional Law in conjunction with § 47 para. 2 of the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council.

(1) The sitting area of the Federal Assembly consists of the Federal Assembly Chamber, the couloir, the balcony and the gallery together with adjoining rooms.

(2) Access to the Federal Assembly Chamber and the couloir is permitted during sittings of the Federal Assembly for:

1. persons entitled to access under the Federal Constitutional Law;

2. employees and contracted staff of the Parliamentary Administration on official business;

3. employees of the Parliamentary Groups on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council;

4. media representatives, if this is necessary for the technical execution of image and sound recordings, on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council.

(3) Access to the balcony is permitted during sittings of the Federal Assembly for the following persons, and separate areas shall be provided for each of them:

1. Members of the European Parliament elected in Austria;

2. guests of the Presidents of the National Council, of the President and Vice-Presidents of the Federal Council and of members of the Federal Government;

3. members of the diplomatic corps;

4. media representatives;

5. other persons on the basis of an authorization by the President of the National Council;

6. visitors with a corresponding authorization (§ 12 para. 2).

(4) Access to the gallery is permitted during sittings of the Federal Assembly for visitors with the appropriate authorization (§ 12 para. 2).

(5) The President of the National Council may issue guidelines for the access of media representatives to the Federal Assembly Chamber and the couloir after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference.

When accessing meetings of the committees and subcommittees of the National Council, the committees of the Federal Council as well as hearings and commissions of inquiry, employees of the ministries, the Court of Audit and the Ombudsman Board as well as invited informants and experts shall prove their written official assignment or their written summons.

(1) Order and the dignity of the parliamentary bodies shall be maintained in the Parliament Buildings and on their outdoor areas (terraces, balconies, rooftops). Any behavior that could disturb sittings or meetings, general parliamentary business or other work in the Parliament Buildings shall be avoided.

(2) Visitors to sittings of the National Council, the Federal Council, the Federal Assembly or public parts of committee meetings or commissions of enquiry shall refrain in particular from interfering in the deliberations and from any signs of approval or disapproval. Eating and drinking is not permitted on the balcony or the gallery.

(3) Smoking is not permitted in the Parliament Buildings, except in the areas specifically designated for this purpose.

In sittings of the National Council and the Federal Council, their committees and subcommittees, in hearings and commissions of enquiry, as well as in sittings of the Federal Assembly, telephone calls are permitted only to the extent necessary for parliamentary business.

Responsible for authorising sound and image recordings to be made during sittings, subject to the provisions of the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council and the Rules of Procedure of the Federal Council, shall be

1. for sittings of the National Council or the Federal Assembly: the President of the National Council, who may also, after consultation with the members of the President’s Conference, issue guidelines in lieu of approval in the individual case;

2. for sittings of the Federal Council and its committees: the President of the Federal Council, who may also, after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference, issue guidelines in lieu of approval in the individual case;

3. for meetings of committees, subcommittees, hearings and commissions of enquiry of the National Council: the chairperson;

4. for meetings of the EU Committee of the Federal Council: the Committee.

Recording the contents of personal documents, screens or other displays is prohibited.

(1) Sound and image recordings in rooms allocated to the Federal Council for exclusive or priority use shall require the approval of the President of the Federal Council.

(2) Sound and image recordings in rooms allocated to Parliamentary Groups or individual persons for longer-term use shall require the consent of the respective group or person to whom the respective rooms have been allocated.

(1) Sound and image recordings in the generally accessible rooms of the Parliament Buildings are permitted under the following conditions:

1. preservation of the dignity of parliamentary bodies;

2. avoiding any disturbance of parliamentary business;

3. compliance with legal requirements (in particular copyrights, personality rights and data protection) and fire safety regulations;

4. prohibition of any recording of the contents of personal documents, screens or other displays; 

5. prohibition of any recording of security equipment in the Parliament Buildings and of the workplaces of the persons responsible for order and security tasks located in the entrance areas of the Parliament Buildings.

The President of the National Council may prohibit sound and image recordings in justified cases.

(2) Sound and image recordings in the other rooms, which are not open to the general public, shall require the approval of the President of the National Council, who may also, after consultation with the members of the President‘s Conference, issue guidelines in lieu of approval in the individual case.

(1) Persons working in the Parliament Buildings shall lock the rooms assigned to them and close the windows at the end of their working day, unless otherwise ordered.

(2) The chairperson of a Parliamentary Group may lift the locking obligation for rooms allocated to the Parliamentary Group for longer-term use. The Parliamentary Administration shall be notified thereof expressly and in writing in advance.

(3) Electronic devices must be switched off at the end of the workday unless otherwise instructed. Electronic devices - with the exception of official work laptops in docking stations - may not be charged after the end of the workday for fire safety reasons.

When using ICT systems of the Parliamentary Administration, the guidelines issued by the President of the National Council regarding conditions of use and information security must be observed at all times. The (mobile) data terminals provided and all technical equipment of the Parliament's internal ICT data facilities shall be treated with care.

(1) The Parliamentary Administration shall conduct public guided tours of the historic Parliament Building and Palais Epstein to promote understanding of parliamentarianism and parliamentary institutions.

(2) Guided tours conducted by Members of the National Council or Members of the Federal Council or on their behalf shall be notified in advance to the Parliamentary Administration. On days of sitting of the National Council, the Federal Council or the Federal Assembly, such tours may be conducted only taking into account parliamentary business and subject to available time slots. Persons conducting guided tours shall ensure compliance with the Internal Rules and the guidelines and instructions based thereon.

(3) Visitors shall not be permitted to sit at the President’s desk in the National Council Chamber, the Federal Council Chamber or the Federal Assembly Chamber, nor shall they be permitted to sit on the government bench or on the seats of the Members of Parliament in the Federal Assembly Chamber.

(4) The President of the National Council may, in view of parliamentary business and security interests, order that guided tours may temporarily not take place or may take place only on a restricted basis. With regard to the rooms allocated to the Federal Council for exclusive or priority use, this right shall lie with the President of the Federal Council.

(1) The requirements and modalities for the use of the Parliamentary Library and the parliamentary archives shall be laid down by the President of the National Council in terms of use.

(2) If it appears expedient, the President of the National Council may issue terms of use for the use of the parliamentary documentation.

(3) The terms of use shall be published on the Parliament’s website and shall be available for inspection by users

(1) Amendments to the Internal Rules shall be issued by the President of the National Council after deliberation in the President‘s Conference pursuant to § 8 para. 3 subpara 1 of the Federal Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Council.

(2) Questions concerning the interpretation of the Internal Rules shall be discussed in the President’s Conference if one of its Members so requests.

The President of the National Council may, for a limited period of time, issue deviating regulations to the Internal Rules if this is necessary, in particular, for reasons of safety or for the protection of health, because of constructional measures or to maintain the smooth running of parliamentary business. The members of the President’s Conference shall be informed immediately by the President of the National Council of the issuance of deviating regulations to the Internal Rules.

(1) The Internal Rules, amendments thereto and deviating regulations to the Internal Rules shall be published on the Parliament's website.

(2) The President of the National Council may order that, in addition, an announcement be made by other means (such as by posting in the Parliament Buildings).

These Internal Rules enter into force on May 1, 2025.