Schengen Visa: Is It Needed For Entry To Austria?

Austria is a member of the Schengen Area, which allows residents to travel freely between 27 European countries without border controls. If you are a citizen of a country within the Schengen Area or the EEA/EU, you do not need a visa to enter Austria. However, if you are a citizen of a non-EU country or plan to stay in Austria for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a visa. The type of visa required depends on the purpose and duration of your visit. Short-term visas, or C Visas, are for stays of up to 90 days, while long-term visas, or D Visas, are for stays of 91 days to six months.

Who needs a Schengen visa for Austria?

Whether or not you need a visa to enter Austria depends on several factors, including your nationality, the duration of your stay, and the purpose of your visit.

If you are a citizen of any of the countries in the Schengen Area or the EU/EEA, you will not need a visa to enter Austria. The same applies if you are from a country that has a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area, or if you are from the US, New Zealand, Australia, or Canada and your stay will not exceed 90 days.

However, if you are a citizen of a non-EU country that has not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the EU, or if you have been rejected from entering Austria or any other Schengen country visa-free, you will need to apply for a visa.

• Central African Republic
• Republic of the Congo
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Sao Tome and Principe

The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose of your visit. There are two main types of visas for Austria: short-term and long-term visas. Short-term visas, or C Visas, allow you to stay in Austria for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Long-term visas, or D Visas, allow you to stay in Austria from 91 days up to six months and enable you to apply for an Austrian Residence Permit.

Short-term visas:

• Tourist Visa
• Business Visa
• Short-Stay Student Visa
• Medical Visa
• Airport Transit Visa
• Visitor Visa
• Visa for Official Visit
• Visa for Cultural, Sports, and Film Crews

Long-term visas:

• Work Visa
• Student Visa
• Family Visa
• Retirement Visa
• Job Seeker Visa
• Working Holiday Visa

The application process for a Schengen visa to Austria involves checking if you need a visa, understanding the type of visa you need, determining where to lodge your application, completing and downloading the application form, scheduling an appointment, preparing the required documents, attending the appointment, and then waiting for the visa to be processed. The standard processing time is 15 days, but it can take up to 30 or 60 days in certain cases.

How long can you stay in Austria with a Schengen visa?

A Schengen visa permits you to stay in Austria for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This is also known as a short-term visa or a C Visa. The 90 days do not have to be consecutive and can be spread out within the 180-day period.

The C Visa is intended for tourism, business, visiting purposes, or short-term study. It is not possible to work or engage in self-employment with a C Visa.

The Schengen visa is valid for all 27 countries in the Schengen Area. This includes Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

If you wish to stay in Austria for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a D Visa, which is a long-term visa.

What are the requirements for entering Austria with a Schengen visa?

To enter Austria with a Schengen visa, you must meet the following requirements:

Purpose of Travel

Your travel purpose must be credible and traceable. The Schengen visa covers tourism and recreation, business purposes, visiting friends or family, cultural and sporting events, airport and seafaring transit visits, official visits, medical treatment, short-term study, and research purposes.

Proof of Funds

You must provide proof of funding for living and travel expenses. This can be demonstrated through your own income or assets, or by submitting an Electronic Guarantee Letter by a resident of Austria.

Willingness to Leave

You must demonstrate the willingness to leave the Schengen Area before the expiry of your visa. This can be done by providing proof of return travel arrangements or by showing that you have sufficient funds to purchase a return ticket.

Travel Medical Insurance

You must have travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 that is valid for the entire Schengen Area and throughout your stay. The insurance must include COVID-19 cover.

Valid Passport

Your passport must have at least two blank pages and be valid for at least three months beyond the validity of the requested visa. Passports issued over 10 years ago are not accepted.

Visa Application Form

You must complete and sign the visa application form, providing correct and verifiable information.

Passport-Size Photographs

You need to submit one or two recent passport-size photographs that meet the ICAO standards and are not older than three months.

Proof of Accommodation

You must provide proof of accommodation, such as hotel bookings or a signed invitation letter and passport copy of the tenant/owner if staying in private accommodation.

Proof of Financial Means

You need to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your living and travel expenses during your stay. This can be done through bank statements, payslips, or other relevant documents. Cash is not accepted as proof of financial means.

Proof of Transportation

You must provide proof of confirmed transportation to and from the Schengen Area, such as flight, train, or ferry bookings.

Visa Fee

You must pay the applicable visa fee, which varies depending on your age and country of origin.

Additional Documents

Depending on your specific situation, you may be required to provide additional documents such as proof of civil status, recent bank statements, letters of invitation, or proof of previous Schengen visas.

How do you apply for a Schengen visa for Austria?

To apply for a Schengen visa to Austria, you need to follow these steps:

Check if you need a visa

Whether you need a visa to enter Austria depends on your nationality. You will need to apply for a visa if you are:

• A citizen of a non-EU country that has not reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU.
• A citizen of a non-EU country that has reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU, but you were rejected from entering Austria or any other Schengen country visa-free.

You are exempt from applying for a visa to enter Austria if you are:

• A citizen of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
• A holder of a passport from the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, or any other country with a visa liberalisation agreement with the EU.
• A possessor of a valid residence permit from any country within the Schengen area.

Understand the type of visa you need

The Schengen visa for Austria is a uniform visa, which may be issued for the following purposes:

• Airport Transit Visa: For transiting through Austrian airports to reach a destination outside the Schengen Area.
• Tourist Visa: Designed for those wanting a vacation or sightseeing experience in Austria.
• Visitor Visa: Intended for individuals with family or friends in Austria who are aiming to visit them.
• Business Visa: Tailored for business professionals participating in business-related activities in Austria.
• Visa for Official Visit: Applicable to delegations travelling to Austria on official visits.
• Visa for Medical Reasons: For patients requiring medical care in Austrian hospitals or clinics.
• Visa for Study Purposes: For those seeking to study at an educational institution in Austria for up to three months.
• Visa for Cultural, Sports, and Film Crews: Suited for individuals attending cultural, sports, or film events in Austria.

Determine where to lodge your visa application

The submission location for your visa application depends on your country of residence. Refer to the details below to determine whether you should apply at a visa application centre, embassy, or consulate:

• If you are a resident of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, Russia, Turkey, or the United Kingdom, you must submit your application through VFS Global.
• If you are a resident of Kosovo, you must submit your application through the Swiss TLS Contact in your country.
• If you are a resident of Albania, Cyprus, Georgia, North Macedonia, Serbia, or Ukraine, submit your application to the Austrian Embassy or Consulates in these countries.
• If you are a resident of Slovenia, submit your application to the Slovenian Embassy.
• If you are a resident of Hungary, submit your application to the Hungarian Embassy.
• Residents in all other European countries not mentioned above must submit their applications to the Austrian embassy or consulate in their country of residence.

Complete and download the application form

Once you know where you should lodge your application, you must complete the visa application form. You will need to print, sign, and submit the form with the other required documents. You must provide the following information in the corresponding sections:

• Personal information
• Passport information
• Number of entries requested
• Financial information
• Employment and education history
• Previous visa and travel history

You can download the application form from the official website of the Austrian embassy in your country of residence.

Schedule your visa appointment

After completing the application form, schedule a visa appointment to submit your documents, pay the fee, and submit your fingerprint scans. You can set up the appointment via one of the following options based on your place of residence:

• Book an appointment with VFS Global by selecting Austria as your destination country and choosing your current location.
• Book an appointment with VisaMetric if you live in Tajikistan.
• Book an appointment with the Austrian Embassy/Consulate by sending an email to the official website of the Austrian representation in your country.

Prepare the required documents

Before your appointment, collect the documents required for a Schengen visa. This includes your passport, the printed and signed visa application form, travel insurance, accommodation, and proof of financial means, among others. Make sure you have all the necessary documents, as missing documents can lead to delays or rejection of your application.

Attend your appointment

After scheduling your appointment, arrive on time at the designated visa centre or embassy. Bring all the necessary documents in their original format, along with any photocopies or supporting materials, as well as the money to pay the visa fees. At your appointment, you will be asked to provide your biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs.

Attend the visa interview

This is a crucial step where you will meet with a consular officer to discuss your application. Be prepared to talk about your travel plans, finances, and ties to your home country. The officer will ask questions to verify the information and ensure your visit aligns with your application.

Pay the application fee

Adult applicants must pay €90 to submit the visa application, while the fee is reduced to €45 for minors and nationals of certain countries. If you apply at a visa application centre, you may be charged an extra service fee ranging from €30 to €40.

Wait for the visa to process

The standard processing time for an Austrian visa application is 15 days. In certain cases, the processing time can take up to 30 or even 60 days, so plan your application accordingly.

Track your application

If you applied through VFS Global, you can track your application online through their website.

Can you extend a Schengen visa for Austria?

In most cases, extending a Schengen Visa during your trip is not allowed, except under exceptional circumstances. If you wish to prolong your stay, you must exit the Schengen Area and apply for a new visa to return and continue your visit. Obtaining an extension for a Schengen Visa is a rare occurrence and is typically granted only in extraordinary situations.

To be eligible for a Schengen Visa extension, you should have spent less than 90 days in the Schengen Area within the last 180-day period, and your visa should still be valid. Additionally, you must be in the Member State in which you are currently staying, even if the visa was issued by another Member State.

The reasons deemed justifiable for seeking an extension fall under the scrutiny of competent authorities and include:

• Force majeure: Situations beyond your control that prevent an immediate return to your home country, such as natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, civil disturbances, or major political events.
• Humanitarian grounds: Deeply rooted in the personal circumstances of the visa applicant, often relating to medical emergencies or significant family events affecting close relatives residing in a Schengen State.
• Professional complications: If circumstances beyond your control impeded your business endeavours within the Schengen Area.
• Important personal reasons: It is possible to extend your visa for personal reasons, but this is difficult, and the final decision rests with the immigration authorities/officers.

The procedure for applying for a Schengen Visa extension varies significantly between the different Schengen countries. In general, you will need to attach the following documents to your application file:

• A visa extension application form, correctly completed and signed.
• Your passport showing the Schengen Visa with which you entered.
• A written and reasoned request.
• One or two standard passport photos.
• Supporting documents concerning the reason for your request: a medical certificate, a death certificate of a close family member, etc.
• Proof of means of subsistence covering the possible extension of your stay, such as a certificate of accommodation.
• Confirmation of a new plane ticket for the return.
• Proof that the applicant has taken out or extended travel insurance that covers the extended duration of the stay.

You must also pay a visa extension application fee of €30. You may be exempted from the fees if your request is motivated by a reason of force majeure.

Frequently asked questions