Entrance to the Museum, to both Auschwitz I and Birkenau parts, is possible only with a personalized entry pass booked in advance. Reservations can be made at visit.auschwitz.org or on the spot at the cashier. The number of entry passes available is limited.

As of March 1, 2026, it is no longer possible to enter the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum without a pre-booked online reservation. The museum implemented a strict "online-only" policy to combat the unethical practices of unauthorized tour operators and to manage the heavy flow of nearly 2 million annual visitors. In the past, individuals could sometimes wait in long lines to secure a same-day entry pass at the gate, but this "on-site" ticket window has been permanently closed. All visitors, whether they wish to join a paid guided tour with a museum educator or secure one of the limited free individual entry cards (available for late-afternoon visits), must book through the official visit.auschwitz.org portal. Individual entry cards can be reserved up to seven days in advance, while guided tours are often available three months out. If you arrive at the site in Oświęcim without a digital reservation on your phone or a printed pass, security will not allow you to enter the grounds, as the museum now operates with a hard cap on hourly capacity to ensure a respectful and organized atmosphere.