Austria is one of the 29 European countries that belong to the Schengen Area, that allow their residents to travel freely without restrictions within their borders.
Whether an Austria visa is required or not depends on several factors, such as your nationality, the duration of your stay, or the purpose of the visit. Here you can find out if you are required to apply for a visa, what kind of visas are there, what documents are necessary, and how to apply for a visa.
Do I Need A Visa to Visit Austria?
You won’t need a visa to visit Austria if:
- You are a citizen from any of the countries in the Schengen Area or EU/EEA.
- You are from a country that has a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen Area.
- You’re from the US, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and your stay won’t pass over 90 days
With the exception of residents within the Schengen Area, EEA/EU here is a list of countries that can visit Austria visa-free for 90 days:
- Albania (biometric passports)
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina (biometric passports)
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Georgia
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Kosovo
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova (biometric passports)
- Monaco (biometric passports)
- Montenegro (biometric passports)
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia (biometric passports)
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia (biometric passports)
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine (biometric passports)
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- United Kingdom
If you don’t need a visa to enter Austria then you must present proper travelling documentations. This can either be a passport, residence permit, or personal ID. All your travelling documents need to be up to date. Please note that a driver’s license, tax note, or bank statements are not valid documents.
Types of Austrian Visas
There are two different types of visas for Austria: short-term and long-term visas. These depend on the purpose of your visit.
- The Airport Transit Visa. This type of visa is issued to a person who is traveling through Austria and they need to make a transit stop until they can travel to their destination. A transit visa is always issued from your country of origin, you won’t be able to get a visa at the border so please make sure to check if you’ll need one before you plan your trip.
- Tourist Visa.
- Business Visa.
- Short Stay Student Visa.
- Medical Visa.
- Work Visa.
- Student Visa.
- Family Visa.
- Residence Permit for Retirement
Austria Visa Requirements
In order to apply for an Austria visa you need to prepare a few documents:
- Passport/ Traveling Document. Your passport needs to have at least two blank pages and it needs to be valid for at least six months and issued within the last decade.
- Visa Application Form. You need to fill this in and get it signed. You can find the form here. Make sure to follow the instructions on how to fill in the application form.
- Recent Pictures. These photos need to follow the Schengen visa photo rules as set by ICAO.
- Visa Fee. You need to pay a certain amount in order to apply for your visa. The fee depends on the type of visa (see below).
- A Letter of Purpose. You need to present a cover letter, in which you should clearly state the reason for your visit.
- An Itinerary. You must provide correct dates for your flights and your plans during the trip.
- Travel Insurance. You must have Schengen travel insurance that covers any medical and emergency issues up to 30,000€.
- Civil Status Documents. This can include birth certificates or your marriage license.
- Proof of Accommodation. You need to provide your hotel reservation or proof for any other type of accommodations you’ve secured.
- Proof of Financial Means. You need to provide proof that you have enough means to finance your travels to Austria.
- Copies of Previous Schengen Visa. Applicable only if you’ve had a Schengen visa before.
How to Apply for a Visa to Austria?
For an Austria visa, you need to apply in your local embassy or consulate. Visas are issued by an institution of the Austrian government in your country. You can find them through the online generator. It’s best to submit your application two weeks before you’re planning to travel the latest. Be sure not to apply three months prior, since applications that early will not be considered.
The steps for applying for an Austria visa are:
- Make sure you have a clear idea of what type of visa you need. Even though the application process is the same, the required documents differ depending on the visa.
- Find an embassy/consulate or official representative of the Austrian government in your country.
- Call the embassy to set a date for your application.
- Prepare all the necessary documents.
- After you’ve prepared all the documents, hand them over at the embassy/consulate.
Austria Visa Fees
Here are the fees that you need to pay when applying for an Austrian visa:
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Schengen Visa for adults | €90 |
| Schengen Visa for children (6-12) | €45 |
| Schengen Visa for children under 6 | Free |
| Schengen Visa Fee for citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Moldova, and Georgia | 35€ |
| Transit Visa (A visa) | €90 |
| Transit Visa for children (6-12) | 40€ |
| Transit Visa for children under 6 | Free |
| D Visa for individuals under 6 | 75€ |
| D Visa for individuals over 6 | 150€ |
| Visa for individuals under 35 but over 6 of family members who have sought asylum in Austria | 200€ |
| Visa for individuals under 6 of a family member who has sought asylum in Austria | 100€ |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take to Process the Visa Application?
As a rule of thumb, it takes up to 15 business days to process your application. However, sometimes it may take up to 30 days or 60 days.
What if my Visa Application Is Rejected?
Your visa application may be rejected for a number of reasons. You might have missed a few documents, your passport may be outdated, or some of your documents are not in order. Whatever the reason for the rejection, you can appeal against the decision.
You can also re-apply again after your visa has been rejected but take note of the previous reasons for your rejection. For the most part the embassy/consulate will notify you why your visa was refused but they might not do so, it’s best you contact the embassy after you’re notified of their decision.
Keep in mind that the fee you paid is non-refundable.
Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Austria?
Technically speaking, US. citizens don’t need a visa to go to Austria for trips up to 90 days. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
- You will need a visa if you are planning on staying for more than 90 days in Austria.
- You will need a visa and a work permit if you are planning on working in Austria during your stay.
Do I Need a Visa to Transit in Austria?
There are a few countries whose residents are required to have a transit visa when passing through Austria even if they don’t leave the transit zone:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
*Please note that citizens from this country list will need a transit visa for any other country within the Schengen Area and not just Austria.
Transit Visa Exemptions
There are a few exemptions from the transit visa:
- You hold a valid visa for the Schengen Area, or you are a resident within the Schengen area.
- You hold a valid visa for the EEA/EU Area or are a resident.
- You have a diplomatic passport.
- You are a resident of Japan, Canada, the US., the Republic of San Marino, or the Principality of Andorra.
It’s very important to remember that transit visas are always issued in your country of origin. You won’t be able to get a transit visa at the border, please make sure to check before you depart whether you’ll need one.
Can You Extend an Austria Visa?
Yes, you can extend a visa but it’s not that simple. To get an extension on your visa, you need to prove that you have a really good reason for the extension, such as:
- You entered the country later than the date you were supposed to. Meaning if your visa was valid 1 week prior to when you entered the country you can apply for an extension for the same amount of time.
- You faced a force majeure. For instance, during your stay, there was an unexpected natural disaster or for example, a border lockdown due to a pandemic, you can apply for an extension.
- You have strong personal reasons. You can ask for an extension if you have a previous personal engagement that you need to take part in, for example, a family wedding.
- You have humanitarian reasons for staying. The Schengen visa policy allows for an extension if you can prove that you are staying to help someone. This can be any kind of help, such as emotional support for a loved one, medical support, or financial support.
How Long Can I Stay in Austria Without a Visa?
If you are a resident of any of the countries that don’t need a visa to enter Austria (see above), then you are allowed to stay up to 90 days within 180 days. Keep in mind that if you visit any other country in the Schengen Area that time is also counted.
After your 90 days period is over, then you must leave Austria or otherwise you’ll be subjected to paying fines or might be arrested. You can use our Schengen calculator to count your remaining days in Austria or in any Schengen Country.
How Long Can I Stay in Austria with a Visa?
With an Austria Schengen Visa, you can stay for 90 days during any rolling 180 day period. You can also move freely within any country in the Schengen Area during this time.
With a long-term visa, you can stay from 6 months up to a year. Depending on the type of long-term visa you may also stay up to two years.
If you’re not sure how much time you’ve got left you can use the Visa Calculator.