Hey guys! Here is everything you need to know about Austria Visa Requirements. People visit Austria for a variety of reasons. However, regardless of why you go, if you are a foreigner, you will need an Austrian visa. Whether you need an Austrian visa depends on several factors.
These factors include your nationality, the duration of your stay, or the purpose of your visit. You can learn if you need to apply for a visa, what kinds of visas are available, what documents are necessary, and how to apply for an Austrian visa here.
Do I Need A Visa To Travel To Austria?
This is one of the questions that so many people have been asking us. However, to put the answer straight, see below.
You will not need a visa to visit Austria if you meet the following criteria:
- You are a citizen of one of the Schengen countries or the EU/EEA.
- You are from a country that has a visa-free regime with the Schengen Area.
- You are from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, or Canada, and your stay will not exceed 90 days.
Aside from that, you’ll certainly need a visa to travel to Austria. You can find a list of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Austria here.
*Please keep in mind that due to COVID restrictions, not all embassies issue visas. Meanwhile, you can check with your local office.
Different Types of Austrian Visas
In Austria, majorly, there are two types of visas: short-term and long-term. However, the reason for your visit determines the type of visa.
- A visa; is also known as a transit visa. This type of visa is issued to someone who is traveling through Austria and needs to make a transit stop before continuing on to their destination. A transit visa is always issued from your country of origin; you will not be able to obtain one at the border, so please check if you will need one before planning your trip.
- Schengen visa (known as C Visa). This is a 90-day visa that allows you to stay in Austria for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. There are different types of Schengen Austria visas, viz:
- Austria Business Visa.
- Austria Tourist Visa.
- Austria Medical Visa.
- Austria Short Stay Student Visa.
- D Visa – also known as a resident visa because it is a long-term visa. It allows you to stay in Austria for 91 days to six months. Within those six months, the D Visa enables you to apply for an Austria Residence Permit and permanently settle in Austria. The following types of D visas are available in Austria:
Complete Austria Visa Requirements
To apply for an Austria visa, you must prepare the following documents:
- Traveling Document/Passport: Your passport must have at least two blank pages, be valid for at least six months, and have been issued within the last decade.
- Visa Application Form: You must fill out this form and have it signed.
- Visa Fee: You must pay a fee in order to apply for a visa.
- Recent Photograph: These photos must adhere to the ICAO’s Schengen visa photo requirements.
- Travel Insurance: You must have Schengen travel insurance that covers medical and emergency situations up to 30,000€.
- A Letter of Intent/Purpose: You must clearly state the purpose of your visit.
- Civil Status Documents: Birth certificates and marriage licenses are examples of such documents.
- Evidence of Financial Means: You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to fund your trip to Austria.
- Accommodation documentation: You must present your hotel reservation or proof of any other type of accommodations you have booked.
- Previous Schengen Visa Copies: Only applicable if you have previously held a Schengen visa.
More so, additional documents may be required depending on your visa and the purpose of your visit. Some of the documents are as follows:
- Employment contract.
- University records (if you’re a student).
- Proof of pension (if you’re retired).
- Bank statement.
- Business license (if you’re self-employed).
- Medical records (if you’re seeking medical help).
- Proof of invitation (if you are visiting family or applying for a residence permit for family reunification).
Furthermore, for a minor traveling to Austria, you’ll need a few other documents:
- Birth certificate.
- Copies of travel documents for both parents.
- Austria application form signed by both parents.
- Family court permission if one parent has custody.
- Official Parental Authorization in case the child is traveling alone.
Austria Entry Requirements – Austria Visa Requirements
Non-EU nationals must present some travel and identification documents to the Austrian border officer when they arrive at the Austrian port of entry. The following are the documents:
- A visa: If you need a visa to enter Austria.
- Valid passport or travel document: This passport must have been issued in the last 10 years and be valid for at least 3 months after your departure date.
Please keep in mind that the Austrian border officer has the final say on whether or not you are allowed to enter Austria. The border official will inspect your documents and may inquire about your trip to Austria, such as:
- the purpose for visiting Austria?
- How long do you plan to stay in Austria?
- Where will you be staying in Austria? And so on.
If everything appears to be in order, you will be permitted to enter Austria as well as the Schengen Area.
When entering the Schengen area, please ensure that the Austrian border officer stamps your passport. You could be fined or detained if you do not have a stamp.
Who Is Required to Have a Schengen Visa to Enter Austria? Who Needs Visa To Enter Austria?
Due to the Schengen zone’s common visa rules, which Austria is a part of, the following people will need to obtain a visa when visiting Austria for a short period of time:
- Third-country nationals who have not reached a visa-liberation agreement with the Schengen states
- Nationals of third-country countries who have reached a visa-liberalization agreement with the Schengen states but have been refused entry into Austria or any other Schengen country.
How To Apply For Austria Visas
The following are the steps for applying for an Austria visa:
- Make sure you understand what type of visa you require. Despite the fact that the application process is the same, the documents required vary depending on the type of visa.
- Find an Austrian embassy/consulate or official representative in your country.
- Call the embassy to schedule your application.
- Gather all necessary documents ready.
- After you’ve completed all of the necessary paperwork, present it to the embassy/consulate.
How To Apply For An Austrian Short-Stay Visa?
First and foremost, you must meet up with all the Austria Visa Requirements.
To complete the application process for a short-stay visa to Austria, you must do the following:
- Find out where you can apply for an Austrian visa.
- Select the appropriate Austrian visa type. Choose the appropriate visa type based on the purpose of your trip to Austria.
- Gather the necessary documents for an Austrian visa. Make sure you have all of the necessary documents for the type of Austrian visa you are applying for, and that they all meet the requirements established by the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
- Make an appointment with the Austrian Embassy/Consulate or a visa application center in your home country.
- Attend the visa interview at the Austrian Embassy/Consulate/VAC of your choice.
When Can I Apply for an Austria Visa?
It’s best to apply at least two weeks before your trip. Make sure not to apply three months in advance, as applications received that early will not be considered.
Where to Apply for an Austrian Visa?
You must apply for a short-stay visa to Austria through the Austrian body in charge of visa admission in your country of residence. This can be one of the following:
- The Austrian Embassy
- An Austrian consulate
- A Visa Application Center to which Austria has outsourced visa submission
- The Embassy or Consulate of another Schengen country to which Austria has outsourced visa submission
How Long Does It Take to Process an Austrian Visa?
In a normal situation, that is if you meet up with all the Austria Visa Requirements, the processing time for an Austrian Schengen visa can take up to 15 days. Due to the volume of applications received by the Austrian embassy/consulate or the uniqueness of your case, this period may be extended up to 30 days in some cases.
Exceptional applications, on the other hand, may take up to 60 days to be processed by the Austrian embassy/consulate. As a result, you should apply for your Austrian short-stay visa as soon as possible, but no later than three months before your trip.
How Much Does An Austrian Visa Cost? Austria Visa Fees
These are the fees that you need to pay when applying for an Austrian visa:
- Schengen Visa for adults: €80
- Schengen Visa for children between ages 6 and 12: €40
- Schengen Visa for children under the age of 6: free
- Transit Visa (A visa): €80
- Schengen Visa Fee for citizens of the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, and Georgia: €35
- Transit Visa for children between ages 6 and 12: €40
- Transit Visa for children under the age of 6: free
- D Visa for individuals under the age of 6: €75
- D Visa for individuals over the age of 6: €150
- Visa for individuals under the age of 6 of a family member who has sought asylum in Austria: €100
- Visa for individuals under the age of 35 but over the age of 6 of family members who have sought asylum in Austria: €200
What Should I Do if my Visa Application Is Rejected?
Your visa application could be denied for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons include:
- You may have overlooked a few documents,
- your passport may be out of date,
- or some of your documents are incorrect
However, whatever the reason for the rejection is, note that you have the right to appeal the decision.
You can also reapply after your visa has been denied, but keep in mind the previous reasons for your rejection. The embassy/consulate will usually notify you as to why your visa was refused, but they may not always do so; it’s best to contact the embassy after you’ve been notified of their decision.
Remember that the fee you paid is not refundable.
How Long Can I Stay in Austria Without a Visa?
If you are a national of a visa-free country, you may stay in Austria for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The day you arrive in Austria is considered day one, and the day you depart is considered day zero. Remember that time spent in other Schengen Area countries is also counted in this period.
Please ensure that you are aware of the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule. Do not break this rule, even for a single day, because you may face consequences for overstaying in the Schengen territory.
If, on the other hand, you are a national of a country that has not yet reached a visa-free agreement with Austria and the other Schengen members, you will be denied entry into Austria.
Can I Extend an Austria Visa?
The answer is simply “Yes”.
A visa can technically be extended, but it’s not that simple. To obtain a visa extension, you must demonstrate that you have a compelling reason for the extension.
You can extend your Austria visa if you meet the following criteria:
- You arrived in the country later than you were supposed to. That is, if your visa was valid one week before you entered the country, you can apply for a one-week extension.
- You were subjected to a force majeure. If there is an unexpected natural disaster or a border lockdown due to a pandemic during your stay, you can apply for an extension.
- You have compelling personal reasons. If you need to attend a previous personal engagement, such as a family wedding, you can request an extension.
- You’re staying for humanitarian reasons. The Schengen visa policy allows for extensions if you can demonstrate that you are staying to assist others. This can include anything from emotional support for a loved one to medical or financial assistance.
Do A US Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Austria?
When traveling to Austria for tourism or business, US citizens are not required to obtain an Austrian visa. However, US citizens must have a valid US passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the duration of their stay in Austria.
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