According to the rules, all nations with the exceptions of the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom) and the ten highest placed finishers in the 2003 contest are required to qualify from the semi-final in order to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final progress to the final. As Austria finished sixth in the 2003 contest, the nation automatically qualified to compete in the final on 15 May 2004.
According to the rules, all nations except the host country, the "Big Four" (France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and the top ten performers in the 2003 contest are required to qualify from the semi-final to compete for the final; the top ten countries from the semi-final advance to the final. As Austria finished sixth in the 2003 contest, the nation automatically qualified to compete in the final on May 15, 2004.