Visa Requirements For Uk Citizens Visiting Austria

If you're a UK citizen travelling to Austria, you don't need a visa for short-term holidays, business trips, or to visit friends and family (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). However, there are several requirements you must meet, including having a valid passport, proof of sufficient funds, and travel insurance. For longer stays, work, or study, you may need a visa or permit. From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will require an ETIAS travel authorisation.

UK citizens don't need a visa for holidays in Austria (up to 90 days in a 180-day period)

UK citizens don't need a visa for holidays in Austria. They can stay in the country for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This rule applies to UK citizens travelling for tourism, to visit friends and family, or for business purposes (without receiving payment in Austria). However, if you're travelling for business, it's important to note that only certain activities are permitted under this visa exemption, including internal or external meetings, fact-finding, conference attendance, and some types of short-term training.

To enter Austria, your passport should meet the following requirements:

• Be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)
• Have at least 3 months' validity remaining (although 6 months is strongly recommended)
• Have two blank pages

At the Austrian border control, you may be asked to:

• Show proof of your accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation
• Prove that you have enough money for your stay
• Show a return or onward ticket
• Show proof of travel insurance

From spring 2025, travellers from the UK will need an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation to enter Austria.

UK nationals may need a visa for stays longer than 90 days

As a UK national, you do not need a visa to enter Austria if you're going on holiday, visiting friends and family, or travelling for business for less than 90 days in any 180-day period. This is known as visa-free travel.

However, if you're planning to stay in Austria for longer than 90 days, you may need to apply for a visa or residence permit, depending on the purpose and duration of your visit. Here are some important things to consider:

Types of Visas

Austria follows the Schengen area rules, which allow visitors to stay in the country for up to 90 days without a visa. If you wish to stay longer, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa or residence permit. The two main types of visas for longer stays in Austria are:

• Visa C: This visa is for short-term stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. It permits entry into all Schengen countries and allows free movement within these countries.
• Visa D: This visa is for longer stays, ranging from 91 days up to a maximum of six months. It entitles you to enter and stay in Austria specifically. Holders of a Visa D can also travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days, provided they meet the general entry conditions.

Visa Requirements and Application Process

To obtain a visa for a longer stay in Austria, you will need to meet certain requirements and follow a specific application process:

• Purpose of Stay: Clarify the purpose of your extended stay in Austria. Different types of visas are required for activities such as work, study, or business endeavours.
• Valid Passport: Ensure your passport is valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date from the Schengen area. It should also have been issued within the previous ten years.
• Proof of Funds: You will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your living costs during your stay in Austria. This can be done through bank statements, proof of income, or other relevant documents.
• Accommodation Proof: Provide confirmation of your accommodation arrangements in Austria, such as hotel booking confirmations or proof of address for a second home.
• Travel Insurance: Obtain appropriate travel health insurance that provides sufficient coverage for various health issues. The insurance should be valid in Austria and the entire Schengen area.
• Application Timeline: Start the visa application process early. It is recommended to apply at least four weeks before your intended travel date to Austria.
• Competent Authority: Submit your visa application to the competent Austrian representative authority, such as the Austrian embassy or consulate, in your country of residence.
• Supporting Documents: Gather all the required supporting documents, including proof of accommodation, travel insurance, return or onward tickets, and proof of financial means.

Please note that the specific requirements and procedures may vary, so it is always best to consult the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Austrian Embassy in the UK for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

UK citizens need a valid passport to enter Austria

As a UK citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Austria. However, you will need a valid passport that meets the following requirements:

• Your passport must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
• Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of your arrival in Austria. If you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years old.
• Your passport must be less than 10 years old, even if it has more than six months left until its expiry date.

Please note that these requirements are subject to change, so it is recommended that you check with your travel provider to ensure that your passport and other travel documents meet all the necessary requirements.

In addition to a valid passport, there are a few other things to keep in mind when travelling to Austria as a UK citizen:

• You may need to show proof of sufficient funds, a return or onward ticket, travel insurance, and your accommodation information at the Austrian border control.
• You can stay in Austria without a visa for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This applies if you are visiting family or friends, attending business meetings or cultural/sports events, or engaging in short-term studies or training.
• If you plan to work in Austria, the requirements are different, and you may need to obtain a visa or work permit.
• It is recommended that you get your passport stamped on entry and exit to prove that you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit.
• Starting in the spring of 2025, travellers from the UK will require an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel authorisation to enter Austria.

UK citizens may need to show proof of sufficient funds when entering Austria

UK citizens do not need a visa to enter Austria if they are travelling for tourism, business, or short-term study or training purposes, as long as their trip does not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. This rule is valid until the end of 2023.

However, at Austrian border control, UK citizens may be asked to show proof of sufficient funds for their stay. This could include a return or onward ticket, as well as proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home.

It is important to note that different rules may apply to non-UK family members of UK citizens. Additionally, UK citizens intending to stay longer than 90 days, or planning to work or study in Austria, may need to apply for a visa or permit.

UK citizens may need to show proof of a return or onward ticket when entering Austria

As a UK citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Austria for a short-term holiday or business trip (up to 90 days in any 180-day period). This is because UK passport holders can visit countries in the Schengen area—which includes Austria—without a visa. However, you will need to meet certain requirements when entering Austria.

Firstly, your passport must meet the following criteria:

• Have a 'date of issue' less than 10 years before the date you arrive.
• Have an 'expiry date' at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
• Have 2 blank pages.
• Be less than 10 years old.

Additionally, you may need to provide the following at Austrian border control:

• Proof of your accommodation, such as a hotel booking confirmation or proof of address for a second home.
• Proof of travel insurance.
• Proof of a return or onward ticket.
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay.

It is important to note that these rules are subject to change. Therefore, you should always check the latest entry requirements and consult official government sources before travelling.

Frequently asked questions