Visa Requirements For Tourists Visiting Austria

Austria is one of the 29 countries that make up the Schengen Area, which allows residents to travel freely within its borders. Whether or not you need a tourist visa to enter Austria depends on your nationality, the duration of your stay, and whether you will be using Austria as a transit stop. If you are a resident of a country within the Schengen Area, or the EEA/EU, you won't need a visa for Austria. US citizens, as well as those from Canada, New Zealand, and Australia, can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa. However, if you plan on staying longer than 90 days, or working in Austria, you will need to obtain a visa.

Do US citizens need a tourist visa to Austria?

US citizens do not need a tourist visa to visit Austria for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. However, they are not permitted to take up any employment during this time. If you are planning on staying for more than 90 days in Austria, you will need to apply for a visa. Additionally, if you are planning on working in Austria during your stay, you will need a visa and a work permit.

If you exceed the 90-day limit and continue your stay in Austria, you may be subjected to fines, arrest, and deportation. You can calculate your stay with the online Schengen calculator.

To apply for a visa, you must submit your application at the VFS Visa Application Center in Los Angeles and San Francisco, or the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles, depending on your state of residence. The application must be lodged within a period of six months and no later than 15 calendar days before the intended start of the trip.

The requirements for a visa include:

• A valid passport (not older than 10 years, valid for three months after the expiry of the visa, and with two free pages)
• An ICAO-compliant passport photo
• Proof of financial means to cover the costs of your stay (e.g. recent bank statements)
• Proof of travel insurance
• Biometric data in the form of fingerprints
• A visa application form
• The visa fee

How long can I stay in Austria without a visa?

The length of time a person can stay in Austria without a visa depends on their nationality and the reason for their visit.

Citizens of EU member states, the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland do not need a visa to enter Austria. Nationals of other countries may require a visa to enter the Schengen Area or Austrian territory.

Nationals of countries that do not require a visa to enter Austria are permitted to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This includes citizens of the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. During this visa-free period, it is not permitted to take up any employment.

If you are a resident of a country that has a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area, you won't need a visa either. Here is a list of countries that can visit Austria visa-free for 90 days:

• Albania (biometric passports)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (biometric passports)
• Moldova (biometric passports)
• Monaco (biometric passports)
• Montenegro (biometric passports)
• North Macedonia (biometric passports)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Serbia (biometric passports)
• Ukraine (biometric passports)
• United Arab Emirates

If you are planning on staying in Austria for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a visa. Prospective residents or anyone intending to stay longer than 90 days must obtain the appropriate visa. A visa D entitles the holder to stay in Austria for up to six months.

If you are planning on working in Austria during your stay, you will need a visa and a work permit.

What are the requirements for entering Austria without a visa?

If you are a citizen of an EU member state, the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you do not need a visa to enter Austria. Nationals of other countries may require a visa to enter the Schengen Area or Austrian territory.

If you are from the US, Canada, New Zealand, or Australia, you do not need a visa for stays in Austria of up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. During this visa-free stay, you are not permitted to take up any employment. You will need a visa if you plan on staying for more than 90 days in Austria or if you plan on working in Austria during your stay.

If you are a resident of a country that has a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area, you won't need a visa. Here is a list of countries that can visit Austria visa-free for 90 days:

• Albania (biometric passports)
• Bosnia and Herzegovina (biometric passports)
• Moldova (biometric passports)
• Monaco (biometric passports)
• Montenegro (biometric passports)
• North Macedonia (biometric passports)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Serbia (biometric passports)
• Ukraine (biometric passports)
• United Arab Emirates

If you are travelling without a visa, you must present proper travel documentation. This can be a passport, residence permit, or personal ID. All travel documents need to be up to date. If you are travelling with children, they should also have their valid passports or personal IDs. If a child is travelling alone, with only a parent, or with adults who are not their legal guardians, they must have a signed permission certificate from their parents/legal guardians.

Do I need a visa to transit in Austria?

Whether or not you need a visa to transit in Austria depends on several factors, including your nationality, the length of your stay, and whether you will be leaving the international transit zone.

If you are a citizen of the following countries, you will need a transit visa when passing through Austria, even if you do not leave the transit zone:

• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iran
• Iraq
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka
• Syria

However, there are a few exemptions from the transit visa requirement. You may be exempt if you:

• Hold a valid visa for the Schengen Area or are a resident within the Schengen Area.
• Hold a valid visa for the EEA/EU Area or are a resident.
• Hold a diplomatic passport.
• Are a resident of Japan, Canada, the US, the Republic of San Marino, or the Principality of Andorra.

It is important to note that transit visas must be obtained in your country of origin before you depart. They cannot be obtained at the border.

If you are a resident of a country within the Schengen Area, the EEA, or the EU, you will not need a visa to enter Austria. Residents of the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia are also exempt from visa requirements for stays of up to 90 days.

If you are a citizen of a country that has a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area, you will not need a visa to enter Austria. Additionally, citizens of certain countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Serbia, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates, can visit Austria visa-free for up to 90 days.

However, if you plan to stay in Austria for more than 90 days, you will need to obtain a visa. This also applies to US citizens. Additionally, if you plan to work in Austria during your stay, you will need both a visa and a work permit.

Visa Requirements and Exemptions

The requirements for obtaining a visa vary depending on the type of visa needed. For a Schengen visa, you will need to provide:

• A completed and signed application form
• A passport photo that meets ICAO criteria
• A valid passport with at least two free pages and a validity of at least three months beyond the duration of the visa
• Biometric data in the form of fingerprints
• Proof of means of transport (reservation or booking)
• Travel, health, and accident insurance

For a work visa, you will need to provide additional documentation, such as proof of employment or self-employment.

It is important to note that there is no legal entitlement to a visa, and each application is subject to a case-by-case examination by the competent Consulate.

What is the cost of a tourist visa to Austria?

The cost of a tourist visa to Austria depends on the profile of the individual who applies for the visa. The visa fee must be paid in cash, "certified check" or "money order".

• Schengen Visa Fee for an adult: €90
• Schengen Visa Fee for children between the ages of 6 and 12: €45
• Schengen Visa Fee for children under the age of 6: free
• Schengen Visa Fee for citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, and Georgia: €35

If you are a student who will stay in Austria for less than six months, you can apply for a Visa C (for stays of up to 90 days) or a Visa D (for stays of 91 days up to a maximum of 6 months). These visas are free of charge.

If you are a U.S. citizen who intends to remain in Austria for a period exceeding 90 days or who wishes to be gainfully employed in Austria, you must obtain an Austrian visa.

Frequently asked questions