Austria Visa - Definitive Guide

For citizens travelling from countries other than from the Schengen region, Switzerland, and other visa-exempt countries, you require a permit to enter Austria. For example, India is not among the free-entry countries. As a result, Indians will have to apply for an Austrian Visa in India. Since Austria is a part of the Schengen region, the visa issued is valid in all other Schengen countries. Largely, the visas are classified as short term and long term visas. Similar to other Schengen visas, these are again classified based on the purpose of visit and come in the form of a vignette in the passport.   

Before applying for a permit, it is necessary to determine the type of visa you require, and also to check your eligibility for that particular visa. Once you have done this, you can proceed to apply for the visa in the following way - 

1. Collect all the relevant documents as per your permit type. 
2. Download the Austria Schengen visa application form from the Austrian embassy website.
3. Fill in the form with your details, and affix a passport size photo, and then sign at the respective places.
4. Book a visa appointment at the Austrian embassy or an Austria visa application centre (VAC). You can do this by directly calling them or online. 
5. With your application form and the documents, visit the respective centre or the embassy for your document and biometric submission. 

If you have submitted your biometrics to a VAC in the past 5 years, you may not have to submit it again. Also, note that you cannot send the application via post/courier. You will have to submit it in person, or through a travel agency provided that you submit a declaration and undertaking corresponding to that.

Please ensure that your application is made with the right information and genuine documents. Submission of fake documents or wrong data can lead to a visa rejection.

Based on the duration of the visa and the purpose of the visit, the Austria visa can be mainly classified into the following  - 

• Schengen Visa (C) - Also known as the short term permit, this type is issued for a maximum duration of 90 days in a 180 day period. Known more commonly as the Austria Schengen Visa, based on the purpose of visit, it can be sorted out into the following - 
  1. Tourist - Provided for the sole purpose of sightseeing, adventure activities, and other tourism-related purposes. 
  2. Business - Issued for the purpose of taking part in business-related activities such as signing contracts, MICE activities, etc.
  3. Visitor - Usually issued for people visiting their family/friends living in Austria.
  4. Student/Research/Internship - Issued for students and other people who are taking part in short-term academic activities.
  5. Sports/Religious/Cultural - This is the one required if you are travelling for the purpose of sports-related activities, take part in religious or cultural activities, etc. 
  6. Film crews/Artists - Issued to people travelling as a part of the film crew.
  7. Work Purpose - These are issued for people who will be taking part in employment activities for a short duration of fewer than 90 days.
  8. Transit - Provided for travellers who will only be passing through Austria as a part of their main journey.

• National Visa (D) - Also known as the long term permit, this is issued for people who want to stay in the country for a duration of more than 90 days, but less than 180 days. Even though it is called a national visa, people on this type are still free to travel to other Schengen countries. The following are the major types of this permit - 

1. 1. Student - This is issued for students visiting the country to take part in studies that last more than 90 days, but less than 180 days.  
   2. Work - Issued for people wanting to work in Austria for more than 90 days. 
   3. Visitor - This is issued for visitors travelling to meet their family or friends for a longer period of up to 6 months.

Please note that if you wish to stay longer than 6 months, you will have to apply for a residence permit. 

As per the Austria Schengen Visa requirements, the following are the list of Austria visa documents that you will have to submit for the application - 

• A passport valid for at least 6 months from the expected date of travel 
• Covering letter stating the details of the applicant, as well as all the details of the travel
•  Travel itinerary 
• Confirmed round trip flight tickets 
• Proof of accommodation 
• Travel medical insurance covering 30000 Euros  
• Proof of occupation 
• Proof of civil status 
• Financial documents to show sufficient funds

As per the regulations, Austria visa photo specifications are as follows - 

• Dimensions:  35mm X 45mm
• Colour: Coloured
• Head must occupy the central position
• Must be captured within the last 3 months
• Background: Solid, plain white or grey
• 80% face coverage
• Neutral expression
• Glasses: Non-thick framed and prescription are permitted
• Headgears are allowed only for religious reasons
• Facial hair is permitted

The fees for this permit is totally dependent on the Austria Visa types. It also depends on the number of entries, biometric charges, express processing charges, as well as any other service charges. It is vital to ensure that you know the right amount before applying.

The Austria Schengen Visa processing time is normally around 15 days. However, depending on several factors, this can vary. These include the type of the visa, the duration of the permit, the number of entries, express processing, etc. As a result, it is suggested to apply well in advance. 

The Schengen visa application Austria is done offline. There is no online procedure as of yet. The application must be submitted either at one of the VACs situated across the country or at the Austrian Embassy in India.

Since the process can be quite complicated, you can even apply through professional visa services. If you opt for a visa agency, you may not have to do the processes yourself and rest assured, there will be comparatively much less probability for errors in your application. It is essential that there are no errors, else there are chances that the visa may get rejected.

 There are a few ways for you to track Austria visa status. You can check it by entering your reference number and name on the VAC website, or you can also do it by emailing or calling the embassy. However, you will receive updates via SMS by paying charges for the same while your application is being processed.