Austin is the capital city of the State of Texas. Located in the very heart of Texas, it is easily accessible by highway from Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other major cities across the state and the nation.

Just 8 miles from Austin’s city center, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) offers flights daily including non-stops from 50 cities and one-stop connections to hundreds more. ABIA is a modern and efficient facility with very good service to all parts of the United States and connection service to the rest of the world. More than a dozen airlines fly to ABIA daily. Airport transportation is available by taxi, charter and public transportation, including CapMetro’s Airport Flyer.

Each year, thousands of people travel to SXSW from outside the United States. We know international travel can be tricky, so we've gathered some travel information for you.

Flight Information

Austin-Bergstrom International Airport now offers non-stop service to London Heathrow, Mexico City, Frankfurt Germany, Cancun, Amsterdam, Vancouver, Toronto, Montego Bay, and San Juan.

Several carriers have domestic flights directly into Austin, but most international travelers will need to catch a connecting flight from the larger hubs around the US.

It is important to make sure that you’ll be allowed into the U.S. when you arrive for SXSW. For many attendees, simply registering for the The VISA Waiver Program (VWP) through the ESTA website will be sufficient, but some travelers may need or want to have U.S. visas issued prior to travel to the U.S. Check out the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs for the most up-to-date information on how to apply for your U.S. VISA.

The Visa Waiver Program enables most citizens or nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less, without first obtaining a visa. Travelers must have a valid Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval prior to travel.

Delays for U.S. visas are currently very unpredictable, and in some cases very long. However, if you need or prefer to have a visa in your passport, you may apply for a visitor (B) VISA through a U.S. consulate or embassy. Individuals applying for a visa will first need to submit an electronic application form, known as the DS-160 Non-Immigrant Visa Electronic Application form. Once that form is completed, you will need to schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate; once you schedule this interview, you may be notified that the interview requirement is waived and you may apply for the visa by post.

For Support Letters from SXSW—which can be used to seek a visa or can be used to facilitate VWP entry to the US—please contact SXSW with the subject line: "VISA Support Letter for [Name of Panelist, Film or Band]"

• SXSW Conference: sessions@sxsw.com
• SXSW Film: filmfest@sxsw.com
• SXSW Music: musicfest@sxsw.com

If you believe that you may need an employment-based visa, for more information see www.artistsfromabroad.org. For pro bono legal guidance regarding U.S. visa requirements, please contact www.tamizdat.org/avail.

Questions?

Contact our International Representatives:

SXSW UK & IRELAND
Una Johnston
Phone/Fax: +353 505 36039 (Ireland), +44 20 7183 0259 (UK)
E-Mail: una@sxsw.com

SXSW EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA & ASIA
Mirko Whitfield
Phone/Fax:+49-(0)7071-943-8420
E-Mail: mirko@sxsw.com

SXSW JAPAN
VISIONGRAPH, Inc.
E-Mail: japan@sxsw.com

SXSW KOREA
Sunny Kim
Phone: 82 2 546 6836
E-Mail: sunny@sxsw.com

SXSW BRAZIL
Tracy Mann
Phone: +1-917-498-1825
E-Mail: tmann@sxsw.com

SXSW MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
Arturo Vargas
Phone: +1-512-949-9335
E-Mail: arturo@sxsw.com

SXSW AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
Andrew Watt
Phone: +61 419 110062
E-Mail: awatt@sxsw.com

SXSW CHINA
China Media Management Inc.
E-Mail: china@sxsw.com