Austria Visa
Austria is frequently cited as one of the best places to live in Europe and it is not difficult to see why. Remarkably safe and clean, it offers plenty of affortable culture, natural beauty and elegant architecture as well as an efficient public transport system. Austria is also a place to relax and relish.
Located at the center of European traffic between east and west along the Danubian trade route and between north and south through the Alpine passes, the country remains a top tourism attraction in Europe.
Austria belongs to the Schengen region of Europe which means that you can apply to the Austrian embassy for a Schengen visa if you port of entry into Europe is Austria or if you are going to spend the most number of days in austria during a multi-country trip in Europe.
SCHENGEN AGREEMENT
Austria is a signatory state of the Schengen Agreement, which has lead to the abolition of internal border controls. With a Schengen visa, you may travel freely throughout the entire Schengen zone.
The following countries are members of the Schengen Agreement:
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Latvia
TYPES OF ASTRIA VISA
Along with understanding Austria visa requirements, it is good to know what are the different categories of visas available and which one you should ideally be applying for.
This is probably one of the most popular Austrian visas people apply for! This visa is meant for those looking to visit Austria for less than 90 days for non-business purposes.
This visa is given to those who are planning to visit Austria for temporary work related purposes. However, do keep in mind that this does not grant the applicant to take up new employment in Austria.
This is a special visa given to applicants who want to travel to Austria to participate in cultural or sporting events. In addition to that, film crew can also apply for a visa to get permission to shoot a film in Austria.
This category of visas is required only for applicants who are intending to study in an Austrian institution, conduct research or even undergo some kind of educational training and internship for less than 6 months.
As per Austria visa requirements, a transit visa is required if you foresee a layover of a few hours in Austria before heading to your destination. But only applicants from a few countries need to obtain this visa.
If the purpose of your travel is to attend intergovernmental meetings, consultations, negotiations or events, this is the visa you will need.
Two kinds of work visas are issued by the Austrian embassy – short term and long term. Short term work visas are for those who want to travel to Austria for work for less than 90 days, while long term work visa allows the applicant to work upto 6 months in Austria.
AUSTRIA VISA REQUIREMENTS
Each types of visa has some additional documents requirements but all must follow a general visa requirements first. All applicants for a visa to enter Austria must submit biometric data (ten fingerprints). Therefore, all applicants need to schedule an appointment at the Austrian Embassy and must appear in person.
General austria visa requirements:
- Correct application form duly filled out
- Valid passport
- 2 passport-sized photographs
- Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000
- Round-trip flight reservations or a complete travel itinerary
- Hotel reservation or proof of accommodation
- Letter of no objection from employer
- Bank statements from the previous 3 months
Austria visa requirements vary from one category of visa to another. When applying for a specific visa, make sure you check the list of documents to be submitted thoroughly.
In addition to the general requirements, each category of visa application has different addional documents required as below.
Tourist visa – the following documents are required to be submitted especially for a tourist visa application to the embassy:
Invitation letter with the address and phone number from family member or sponsor – if applicable
Bank statement from the last 6 months
Passport copies
Business visa – The documents required for applying for a business visa are:
Invitation letter from the Austrian company you will be visiting and their detailed address along with your travel dates
A letter from your employer stating/allowing your business travel
Bank statement from the last 6 months
Proprietorship/Partnership documents
The invitation letter must also mention how the expenses of the applicant is going to be covered during his/her travel. It must be made clear whether it will be sponsored by the employer or the Austrian company.
Visa for cultural activities, sports or film crew – Documents required to be submitted to fulfil Austria visa requirements for this category are:
Invitation letter from the concerned authorities with details of the nature of events or activities. This letter must also mention the purpose of visit as well as how expenses will be covered
List of names of all travelling crew members
Duration of stay
Travel itinerary
Student visa – The documents required to be eligible for this visa are the following:
An enrollment certificate of an offer letter showing acceptance into a course or training program
Certificate of completion or courses attended earlier
Financial sustenance or proof of sponsorship/scholarship
Transit visa – In order to get an airport transit visa in Austria, you will need to submit a copy of your valid visa for your final destination. For all other countries not mentioned on this list, a transit visa is not required if you plan to stay within the international transit area in the airport.
Official visit visa – The following documents will have to be shown to the embassy in order to be eligible for this visa:
The official invitation copy
Identity of applicant
Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations)
Duration of stay
Details of accommodation
Work/employment visa – Austria visa requirements for this category are:
Permission by the Austrian Labor Market Authority “AMS”
Letter of support from the Austrian employer and/or copy of work contract
Further documentation may be required on a case-by-case basis.
HOW TO APPLY FOR AN AUSTRIAN VISA
In order to complete the application process to obtain a visa to Austria, you should follow these steps:
Collect the required documents for a visa to Austria. Make sure you collect the right documents for the type of Austrian visa you are applying for and they all comply with the criteria as defined by the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
Make a visa appointment with the Austrian Embassy/Consulate or a visa application center in your country of residence.
Attend the visa interview at the appropriate Austrian Embassy/Consulate/VAC and submit your visa application.
After your visa is issued you will be notified about it. Collect your visa on time.
AUSTRIA VISA FEES
The Schengen visa application costs include the visa fees payable at the corresponding embassy/consulate when applying.
|
Schengen Visa Category |
Fee in EUR |
Fee in USD* |
|
Adult |
60€ |
70$ |
|
Child between 6-12 years of age |
35€ |
41$ |
|
Child younger than 6 years of age |
Free |
Free |
|
Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports traveling for official purposes |
Free |
Free |
|
Family member of a EU/EEA national |
Free |
Free |
|
Pupils, students and accompanying teachers during a school trip |
Free |
Free |
|
Researchers traveling to perform scientific research |
Free |
Free |
|
Nationals from, Georgia, Kosovo, Russia, and Ukraine. |
35€ |
41$ |
Despite of the fact that these fees are static and unchangeable until the Schengen members decide otherwise altogether, there are some categories exempt from paying this amount.
The visa fees may also be waived for participants aged 25 years or less in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organized by non-profit organizations. The decision will be made case by case according to the relevance of the event.
AUSTRIA VISA APPLICATION FORM
You can obtain the visa application form from the Autria Consulate in your country of residence or you can download Autria Visa Application form free here.
AUSTRIA VISA PROCESSING TIME
The processing time for an Austrian Schengen visa may take up to 15 days, in a normal situation. In some cases, this period may be extended up to 30 due to the number of applications the embassy/consulate of Austria is receiving, or the uniqueness of your case.
VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
1. When should I apply for a visa?
Applications can be submitted no more than 3 months before the start of the intended visit. It is recommended to submit applications not later than 15 calendar days before the start of the intended visit.
2. Do I have to apply personally at the competent Austria VFS Application centre or can my application be submitted by a third party?
No. Applicant needs to come in person to submit his / her application form.
3. Could the Embassy and Consulate request me to provide additional documents or information?
Yes, the Embassy and Consulate reserve the right to call applicants in for necessary verification or a personal interview at a later time. Likewise, the Embassy reserves the right to request additional documents not contained in the harmonized list of documents, when necessary.
4. Who decides if I will get a visa?
The Austrian Embassy/Consulate assesses and decides all visa applications. The VFS Application Centre staff are not employees of the Australian Government and do not have the authority to assess or decide applications.