Booking An Austria Visa Appointment: A Simple Guide

Planning ahead for your Austrian Schengen visa application is essential, as there may be potential delays and unexpected embassy requests. While some recommend starting preparations six months in advance, it is still possible to obtain an Austrian visa with less preparation time. To book an appointment, you will need to contact the Austrian Consulate General in your jurisdiction. For instance, if you are in the UK, you can book an appointment through VFS Global, the official partner of the Austrian Embassy in the UK.

How to book an appointment for an Austria Visa

Where to book your appointment: Austrian Consulate General or Embassy

When applying for an Austrian visa, you will need to book an appointment at either the Austrian Consulate General or the Austrian Embassy. The location where you will need to book your appointment depends on your location and the type of visa you are applying for.

Austrian Consulate General

The Austrian Consulate General handles visa matters for specific regions. For example, in the United States, the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles handles visa matters for the Honorary Consulate of Austria in Anchorage, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, and Houston. Meanwhile, the Austrian Consulate General in New York handles visa matters for the Honorary Consulate of Austria in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Therefore, depending on your location, you would need to contact the respective Austrian Consulate General to schedule your appointment.

Austrian Embassy

The Austrian Embassy is another location where you can book your visa appointment. In some cases, you may need to attend a meeting at the Austrian Embassy for certain types of visas. For instance, if you are applying for a long-term or tourist visa in the United States, you will need to complete the application form and attend a meeting at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC. Additionally, in the United Kingdom, the Austrian Embassy has outsourced its visa services to VFS Global, which has application centers in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. You can schedule an appointment through the VFS Global website by selecting your country of residence, choosing the "Schengen Visas" option, and then booking a date and time that works for you.

It is important to note that the availability of appointment slots may vary between different locations. For instance, Edinburgh may offer more consistent availability, while London provides fewer but larger slot releases. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly check for openings and be prepared to act quickly when slots become available.

Booking an appointment in the UK: VFS Global

To book an appointment for an Austrian visa in the UK, you can use VFS Global, the official partner of the Austrian Embassy in the UK. VFS Global has application centres in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh.

• Go to the VFS Global website and select "Austria" as your destination.
• Register for an account or log in if you already have one.
• Choose your visa type and fill out the online form. You will need to provide your passport number, visa type, and other personal details.
• Select a convenient date and time for your appointment. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to find available slots during peak travel seasons, so book well in advance if you are travelling during a busy time.
• Pay the applicable fees.
• Once your appointment is confirmed, you will receive an email with the details. Keep this information handy, as you will need to bring it with you on the day of your appointment.

After booking your appointment, VFS Global will guide you through the document submission and biometric data collection process. They offer document verification services to ensure that your documents are complete and ready for submission. Biometric data, including fingerprints and photographs, will also be collected at VFS Global centres.

Booking an appointment in the US: Austrian Embassy in Washington

To book an appointment at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, you must first determine your purpose of travel and visa type. The Austrian Embassy in Washington offers Work, Tourism, and Student visas.

If you are applying for a long-term or tourist visa, you will need to complete an application form and attend a meeting at the Austrian Embassy in Washington, USA. You will have to contact the Embassy directly to schedule this meeting.

The jurisdiction of the Austrian Embassy in Washington includes the following states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. If you are a resident of one of these states, you must apply for your visa at the VFS Visa Application Center of the Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C.

However, it is important to note that not all consulates can issue visas. If you are applying for a "Job Seeker Visa," you cannot file your application at a VFS Visa Application Center. Instead, you must file your application at the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles.

Additionally, if you are not a resident of the United States (for example, if you are a tourist), you cannot apply for an Austrian visa in the United States. You must apply for the visa at the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

Booking an appointment in the US: Honorary Consulate of Austria

To book an appointment for an Austria visa in the US, you must first determine your consular district. The Austrian Consulate provides consular services in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC, and to a limited extent in San Francisco. The Honorary Consulates in the US also provide consular services, depending on your location.

Austrian Consulate General Los Angeles

• Consular District: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the US Pacific Islands
• Address: 11859 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 501 Los Angeles, California 90025
• Phone: (310) 444-9310
• Fax: (310) 477-9897
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Austrian Consulate General Los Angeles
• Visa applications can be submitted at the VFS Visa Application Centers in Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Austrian Consulate General New York

• Consular District: Bermuda, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin
• Address: 31 East 69th Street New York, NY 10021
• Phone: (212) 737-6400
• Fax: (212) 772-8926
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Austrian Consulate General New York
• Visa applications can be submitted at the VFS Visa Application Centers in Chicago and New York City.

Consular Section of the Embassy of Austria in Washington, DC

• Consular District: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, the US Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas
• Address: 1025 Vermont Ave NW, Floor 2, Washington, DC 20005
• Phone: (202) 895-6720
• Fax: (202) 895-6773
• Email: [email protected]
• Visa applications can be submitted at the VFS Visa Application Centers in Houston, Miami, and Washington, DC.

Once you have determined your consular district and the corresponding consulate, you can book an appointment through the VFS website. You will need to provide a passport valid for travel to the United States and, if applicable, required documents based on your visa class. It is recommended to apply for your visa well in advance of your intended travel, even if your travel plans are not finalized.

Documents required for your appointment

To book an appointment for a visa application, you must first determine your visa type. For instance, if you are a US citizen, you will need to obtain a US visa, which will be placed in your passport. If you are a US citizen applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you can go directly to the online application for the DS-160. For immigrant visas, go to the USCIS site for the relevant forms. If you are unsure, you can use the Visa Wizard to help you determine your visa type.

Once you have determined your visa type, you can schedule an appointment. For US citizens, the Austrian Embassy in Washington, DC, and the Consulate Generals in Los Angeles and New York are available for visa matters. You can also contact the Honorary Consulate of Austria in cities like Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Honolulu, and Houston, which are open by appointment only.

For UK citizens, the Austrian Embassy has outsourced its visa services to VFS Global, which has application centres in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. To book an appointment, go to the VFS Global site for Austria visa applications, choose your country of residence, click on the "Visa Type" dropdown and select "Schengen Visas," then click on the "Schedule an Appointment" button.

After scheduling your appointment, make sure to have all the documents required for your particular visa type. The required documents may vary depending on your visa class, but here is a general list of documents that you may need for your appointment:

• A valid passport with a validity date of at least six months beyond your intended stay.
• Travel insurance certificate issued in the UK, covering the intended period of stay with a minimum coverage of €30,000 for emergency medical and repatriation in case of death. If your bank covers your travel insurance, provide a recent letter from your bank.
• Fully paid and confirmed return travel tickets, showing proof of payment.
• Fully booked accommodation reservation or original invitation letter from the host.

Frequently asked questions