Entry Requirements For Austria
Beautiful Central European nation of Austria provides a great quality of life together with a rich cultural legacy and breathtaking natural surroundings. Austria offers enough to see and do, whether you wish to see the Alps, the Danube, or the charming villages or Vienna, the capital and a center of art and music.
But you have to know what admission rules apply to you before you make travel plans to Austria. For legal and secure entrance into Austria, you may require a visa, a passport, or other documentation depending on your nationality, reason for travel, and duration of stay.
Visa Requirements
Austria is a member of the Schengen Area, a collection of twenty-six European nations that permit unrestricted movement of persons and commodities across internal borders. This implies that you can visit other Schengen nations without obtaining a separate visa for each one if you have a current Schengen visa.
For entry into Austria, nonetheless, not all visitors require a Schengen visa. You can be qualified for visa-free travel or status exempt from a visa depending on your nationality.
Visa-Free Travel for Certain Countries
If you are a citizen of one of the following countries, you do not need a visa to enter Austria for tourism, business, or transit purposes, as long as your stay does not exceed 90 days within a 180-day period:
- Albania*
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Bosnia and Herzegovina*
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- El Salvador
- Georgia*
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- Kiribati
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova*
- Monaco
- Montenegro*
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia*
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Serbia*
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine*
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
*Only for holders of biometric passports
If you are a citizen of one of these countries, you only need a valid passport to enter Austria. However, you may need to provide proof of sufficient funds, health insurance, accommodation, and return or onward travel tickets.
Visa-Exempt Nationals
As long as you possess a current national identity card or passport, citizens of the following countries do not require a visa to enter Austria for any reason or stay length:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
These nations either have unique EU agreements that allow them to enter the Schengen Area without a visa, or they are members of the EU or the European Economic Area (EEA).
Schengen Visa for Travel to Austria
Unless you have a valid resident permit or a long-stay visa from another Schengen country, if you are a national of a country not mentioned above, you require a Schengen visa to enter Austria for tourism, business, or transit purposes.
A short-stay Schengen visa enables you to visit any Schengen country for up to 90 days during a 180-day period. Application for a Schengen visa can be made at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country or at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen nation where you want to spend the most time or where you enter the country initially.
Application Process
To apply for a Schengen visa, you need to follow these steps:
- Fill out the online application form and print it out.
- Make an appointment at the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate, or the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country that is your main destination or your first point of entry.
- Gather the required documents and pay the visa application fee.
- Submit your application and attend the interview at the embassy or consulate.
- Wait for the decision on your visa application and collect your passport and visa if approved.
Required Documents
The documents that you need to submit for your Schengen visa application may vary depending on your nationality, purpose of travel, and length of stay, but generally include the following:
- A valid passport that has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
- A completed and signed application form.
- Two recent passport-sized photos that meet the Schengen visa photo requirements.
- A travel itinerary that shows your planned dates and destinations of travel within the Schengen Area, as well as your entry and exit points.
- Proof of accommodation, such as hotel reservations, rental contracts, or invitation letters from hosts.
- Proof of sufficient funds, such as bank statements, pay slips, or sponsorship letters, that show that you can cover your expenses during your stay in the Schengen Area.
- Proof of health insurance, such as an insurance policy or certificate, that covers at least 30,000 euros for medical expenses and repatriation in case of emergency.
- Proof of return or onward travel, such as flight tickets, train tickets, or bus tickets, that show that you intend to leave the Schengen Area before your visa expires.
- A cover letter that explains the purpose and details of your trip, as well as your personal and professional background.
- Any additional documents that support your visa application, such as employment contracts, business letters, invitation letters, enrollment certificates, marriage certificates, birth certificates, or parental consent forms, depending on your specific situation and purpose of travel.
Duration and Validity
The duration and validity of your Schengen visa depend on the type of visa that you apply for, the number of entries that you request, and the discretion of the visa authorities. Generally, there are three types of Schengen visas:
- A single-entry visa that allows you to enter the Schengen Area only once for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
- A double-entry visa that allows you to enter the Schengen Area twice for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
- A multiple-entry visa that allows you to enter the Schengen Area multiple times for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period.
The validity of your Schengen visa is the period during which you can use your visa to enter the Schengen Area. It is usually indicated on your visa sticker as “from … until …”. The validity of your visa may be shorter or longer than the duration of your stay, depending on the visa authorities’ decision.
Passport Requirements
Unless you are an EU or EEA national who can use a national identity card in place of a passport, you must have both a visa and a passport to enter Austria. The Austrian authorities need your passport to fulfil specific criteria in order to accept it.
For at least three months after the day you want to leave the Schengen Area, your passport must be valid. This implies that your passport has to be valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival if you intend to spend ninety days in Austria.
The date on your passport expiring cannot coincide with the duration of validity for your Schengen visa. Accordingly, if your visa is good from January 1 to March 31, your passport cannot expire before April 1.
There ought to be two blank pages in your passport—one for the visa sticker and one for the entry and exit stamps. You might not be allowed admission or run across problems at the border if your passport is short on blank pages.
Entry for EU and EEA Citizens
Citizens of an EU or EEA nation are entitled to come, stay, work, and study in Austria without a visa or residence permit. This results from the EU and EEA’s application of the freedom of movement principle. To use your rights in Austria, though, you still have to fulfill a few criteria.
Freedom of Movement
Traveling to Austria with a valid passport or national identity card and staying there for up to three months is known as having freedom of mobility. As long as you follow Austrian labour and education rules, you can also work or study in Austria without a work permit or study visa.
To remain in Austria for longer than three months, though, you must register your address with the local authorities and have an Anmeldebescheinigung, or confirmation of registration. All you need for this easy and quick process are your identity card or passport and documentation proving your reason for being there, such a job contract, a certificate of enrollment for school, or a declaration of self-employment.
Residence Registration Requirements
To register your residence in Austria, you need to follow these steps:
- Go to the nearest registration office (Meldeamt) within three days of your arrival in Austria and fill out a registration form (Meldezettel).
- Go to the nearest immigration office (Fremdenpolizei) within four months of your arrival in Austria and apply for a confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung).
- Present your identity card or passport and a proof of your purpose of stay, such as an employment contract, a student enrollment certificate, or a self-employment declaration.
- Receive your confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) on the spot or by mail.
Your confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) is valid for an indefinite period of time, as long as you maintain your residence in Austria. You do not need to renew it or update it, unless your personal details change. You must carry your confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) with you at all times, as it may be requested by the authorities.
Access to Healthcare and Social Services
As long as you are covered by a health insurance plan either in Austria or your home country, you have the same access to social services and healthcare as Austrian nationals. In Austria, public healthcare services like doctors, hospitals, pharmacies, and emergency treatment are accessible with your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Nevertheless, according on the kind and degree of assistance, you could have to make some co-payments or taxes.
In Austria, you may also apply for social services like pensions, education grants, family benefits, and unemployment benefits provided you meet the requirements and pay into the social security system. If you do not work or live permanently in Austria, you might not be eligible for some benefits, such social assistance. Further details regarding your rights and responsibilities in Austria as an EU or EEA citizen can be found on the official European Union website.
Entry for Non-EU Citizens
Unless you have a valid residency permit or a long-stay visa from another Schengen nation, or you are exempt from the visa requirement, citizens of countries outside the EU or the EEA require a visa to enter Austria for any reason or length of stay.
Depending on the kind of visa you require, the procedure for applying for a visa to enter Austria and submitting the necessary paperwork are described in the sections that precede this one. The visa application fee and the embassy or consulate interview must also be paid.
Visa Categories
The reason and duration of stay of non-EU citizens wishing to enter Austria are determined by the several visa categories. The most often occurring visa categories are:
Tourist Visa
A tourist visa is a kind of short-stay visa that enables you to go to Austria for cultural, leisure, or sightseeing activities. If you possess a current passport, a trip schedule, proof of lodging, proof of adequate cash, proof of health insurance, and proof of return or further travel, you can apply for a tourist visa. As long as they supply documentation of their identification, place of residence, and financial support, you can also apply for a tourist visa if you have an invitation letter from a friend or relative who resides in Austria.
For an adult tourist visa, the application price is 80 euros; for children aged 6 to 12, it is 40 euros. Under six year olds are free of charge. An embassy or consulate’s workload, the intricacy of your case, and the necessity for further inspections can all affect how long it takes to process a tourist visa.
Business Visa
A business visa is a kind of short-stay visa that enables you to go to Austria for business-related events, such conferences, trade shows, or training programs. If you have a current passport, a trip schedule, proof of lodging, proof of enough money, proof of health insurance, and proof of return or further travel, you may apply for a business visa. A business letter, contract, invitation letter, or certificate of registration are examples of documentation of your commercial activity that you must also submit.
For an adult business visa, the application price is 80 euros; for children aged 6 to 12, it is 40 euros. Under six year olds are free of charge. Generally speaking, a business visa takes 15 days to process, although this can change based on the embassy or consulate’s workload, the intricacy of your case, and the necessity of more inspections.
Family Reunion Visa
A family reunion visa is a kind of extended stay visa that enables you to join your spouse, kids, parents, or grandparents—or any other legal residents of Austria. If you have a valid passport, documentation of your family relationship, documentation of your family member’s residency status, documentation of your sufficient income, and documentation of your health insurance, you can apply for a family reunion visa.
A family reunion visa application cost is 150 euros for adults and 75 euros for minors. An embassy or consulate’s workload, the intricacy of your case, and the necessity for further inspections may all affect how long it takes to complete a family reunion visa.
Residence Permits
A residence permit gives you specific rights and obligations, such access to healthcare, education, and social services, and permits you to remain in Austria for more than 90 days within a 180-day term. If you possess a current passport, visa, evidence of your intended stay, proof of enough money, evidence of health insurance, and proof of housing, you can apply for a residence permit.
Depending on their intention and duration of stay, non-EU citizens wishing to remain in Austria can get various kinds of residence permits. Residence permits come in the following most often:
- A temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) that is valid for a specific period of time, usually one year, and can be renewed or extended, depending on your situation and the immigration authorities’ decision.
- A permanent residence permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung) that is valid for an indefinite period of time, and grants you the right to settle in Austria permanently, as long as you comply with the residence requirements and do not pose a threat to public order or security.
- A long-term resident permit (Daueraufenthalt-EU) that is valid for an indefinite period of time, and grants you the right to live and work in Austria and other EU countries, as long as you comply with the residence requirements and do not pose a threat to public order or security.
The kind and length of validity of a residency permit determine the application cost. A resident permit’s processing period also varies according to the immigration office’s workload, the intricacy of your case, and the necessity for more investigations. More details on the several residence permit categories and their prerequisites can be found on the official Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior website.
Entry Requirements for Transit Passengers
Depending on your country, destination, and transit time, you might or might not require a visa to enter Austria if you are a transit passenger—that is, you are traveling through Austria on your way to another place.
Transit Visa Requirements
Even if you stay in the transit area or the airport, you must have a transit visa, sometimes referred to as an A visa, if you are a national of one of the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Syria
One kind of short-stay visa called a transit visa lets you go through the Schengen Area for up to 24 hours without going within the Schengen area. A transit visa may be obtained at the initial point of entry into the Schengen area or at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residency.
Except from the proof of lodging and the proof of return or onward travel, the application procedure and documentation requirements for a transit visa are the same as those for a short-stay visa. All that is required of you is documentation of your transit intent, such a bus, rail, or airplane ticket that indicates your ultimate destination and transit duration.
Adult transit visa applications cost 80 euros, while those aged 6 to 12 pay 40 euros. Under six year olds are free of charge. Generally speaking, a transit visa takes 15 days to process, although this can change based on the embassy or consulate’s workload, the intricacy of your case, and the necessity for more inspections.
Transit Without Visa (TWOV) Program
If you are a national of one of the countries not mentioned above, you can visit Austria for transit without a transit visa provided you fulfil the following criteria:
- You have a current passport, and if necessary, a current visa or residency permit for your ultimate destination.
- You arrive in Austria and, within 24 hours, receive a confirmed onward flight or ticket to your final destination.
- Except in cases when you must switch terminals or modes of transportation, you never leave the airport or the transit area.
The Transit Without Visa (TWOV) programme allows you to travel across Austria without a visa if you fulfil certain requirements. Presenting your passport and your onward travel documents, you might still have to pass immigration and security inspections at the airport or the transit area.
Transit Procedures at Austrian Airports
The transit protocols that apply to you as a transit passenger at an Austrian airport depend on your nationality, destination, and transit duration.
If you are a national of a nation that requires a transit visa to enter Austria, you must show your passport, transit visa, and your documentation for your next destination at the airport’s transit visa desk. Then you’ll get a boarding permit for your next aircraft or trip and a transit visa sticker in your passport. The transit area is where you can wait for your next flight or trip.
You don’t have to go through the immigration and security procedures at the airport if you are a national of a nation that does not require a transit visa to enter Austria and you are transiting through the same terminal or means of transportation. Simply wait for your next aircraft or other transport by following the instructions for the transit area.
If you are a national of a country that does not require a transit visa to enter Austria and you are moving between terminals or modes of transportation, you must show your passport and your onward travel documents at the airport to pass immigration and security. Your passport will then be stamped, and you will get a boarding pass for your next trip. Then you can head to the transit area and wait for your next trip or flight.
Customs and Immigration Procedures
Customs Declaration Forms
In order to enter Austria from a non-EU nation, you must complete a Zollanmeldung, or customs declaration form, and list all of the items—cash, valuables, and personal or business-related—that you are bringing in. The form must be turned in and any applicable taxes or charges paid to the customs officials at the border crossing or airport.
The customs declaration form may be accessed on the Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance’s website. Forms must be completed in either German or English and signed. The form has to be carried with you till you depart Austria.
What you can and cannot bring into Austria includes the following:
- Cash: You may bring without declaring up to 10,000 euros in cash or its equivalent in other currencies or instruments. Should you carry more than 10,000 euros, you must declare it and explain where and why you got the money.
- Alcohol: One litre of spirits, two litres of wine, four litres of beer, or sixteen litres of cider can be brought in duty-free. More than these sums must be declared and the relevant taxes and levies paid.
- Tobacco: No taxes or fees apply to up to 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, or 250 grammes of tobacco. More than these sums must be declared and the relevant taxes and levies paid.
- Food: You are free to carry up to ten kilogrammes of meat, animal products, milk, or dairy goods. Products of an animal origin, however, cannot be brought into nations where animal diseases like avian influenza or foot-and-mouth disease are prevalent.
- Medicines: You are free to bring up to three months’ worth of personal medication. But you cannot bring any drugs—narcotics, psychotropic drugs, steroids—that are prohibited, regulated, or require a prescription in Austria.
- Plants and animals: You may freely bring up to five plants or five animals for personal use. But anything that is endangered, protected, or subject to veterinary or health laws in Austria—like orchids, cacti, ivory, coral, or exotic pets—cannot be brought.
The Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance has further details on the limitations and restrictions on the items you are allowed to import into Austria on their official website.
Immigration Clearance Process
Should you be arriving in Austria from a non-EU nation, you must go through the immigration clearance procedure at the airport or border crossing and show the immigration officials your passport, visa, and travel documents. Along with answering some questions about your trip, such your reason for traveling, how long you plan to stay, and where you will be staying, you might also be asked to submit your biometric information, such as your fingerprints and photo.
The immigration officials will look over your paperwork to confirm your identification and right to enter Austria. Afterwards, if they so choose, they will stamp your passport and allow you to enter the nation, or they will refuse and send you back to your place of origin.
Depending on the intricacy of your case, the workload of the immigration officials, and the necessity for further inspections, the immigration clearance procedure may take longer than the typical few minutes.
Baggage Inspection and Regulations
Should you be arriving in Austria from a non-EU nation, you must receive your bags at the baggage claim area after passing through the baggage inspection and restrictions at the airport or border crossing. Any items you bring into the nation may also need to be declared and any applicable taxes or levies paid.
The green and red channels are the two for the baggage inspection and rules. The channel that works best for you will depend on the products you are bringing into the nation.
- Travelers that have nothing to declare—that is, who are not bringing any items that are subject to taxes, duties, or prohibitions or that exceed the permitted limits without declaration—should use the green channel. Unless the customs officials choose you at random for a spot check, you can leave the airport or the border crossing without any more examination if you choose the green channel.
- Travelers who have anything to declare—that is, those bringing any items subject to taxes, duties, or prohibitions or that exceed the permissible amounts without declaration—should use the red channel. Should you select the red channel, you must pay all applicable taxes or fees and present your products together with your customs declaration form to the customs officials.
Usually taking only a few minutes, the luggage inspection and rules may take longer according on the intricacy of your case, the workload of the customs agents, and the necessity for more inspections.
Travel Insurance Requirements
Should you be visiting Austria, you must have travel insurance that will pay for your medical bills and, in the event of an emergency, your return home. This is an essential need for visitors to Austria who require a visa, and an optional need for those who do not.
Mandatory Health Insurance
Should you require a visa to enter Austria, you must have health insurance that pays for medical bills and emergency repatriation of at least 30,000 euros. The insurance policy or certificate, whether in paper or electronic format, must be in German or English. after applying for a visa, you must present the insurance documentation to the visa authorities; after entering Austria, you must also present it to the border officials.
Should you hold a Schengen visa, your health insurance must be valid for the whole time you are in Austria and the Schengen Area. Should they arise, your health insurance must also pay for any chronic illnesses, pre-existing conditions, or pregnancy-related problems.
Health insurance can be purchased from any insurance company allowed to operate inside the Schengen Area, or from a tour operator or travel agency that provides packages including travel insurance. If you are an EU or EEA citizen, you may also use your national health insurance if it has a reciprocal arrangement with Austria, or your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Coverage Requirements
You do not have to have health insurance that satisfies the minimal standards for visa applicants if you are not need a visa to enter Austria. But you really need have travel insurance that covers other risks like cancellation, loss, theft, or damage of your possessions, personal liability, or legal help in addition to your medical costs and repatriation in case of emergency.
Should you intend to visit other Schengen countries, your travel insurance should be valid for the whole length of your stay in Austria as well as the Schengen Area. Should they arise, your travel insurance should also cover any chronic illnesses, pre-existing conditions, or pregnancy-related problems.
Travel insurance packages are available from travel agencies and tour operators, as well as from any insurance company that sells travel insurance products. If you are a national of the EU or EEA, you can also use your national health insurance if it has a reciprocal agreement with Austria, or your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
Traveling with Minors
Depending on your country, relationship with the kids, and reason for travel, you must adhere to certain extra rules and procedures if you are going to Austria with minors, that is, children under the age of 18.
Documentation for Minors Traveling Alone
If you are a minor traveling alone to Austria, you must have a current passport, a valid visa, or, if necessary, a valid residence permit, and a travel document, like a bus, rail, or plane ticket, indicating your final destination and transit duration. To enter Austria without your parents or legal guardians, you must also have a Reisevollmacht, or parental approval form.
Signed by both of your parents or legal guardians, or by the parent or legal guardian who has sole custody of you, the parental permission form must contain the following information:
- Your personal and contact details, such as your name, date of birth, passport number, and phone number.
- Your parents’ or legal guardians’ personal and contact details, such as their names, dates of birth, passport numbers, and phone numbers.
- The name and contact details of the person who will accompany you or pick you up in Austria, such as their name, address, phone number, and relationship to you.
- The purpose and duration of your trip, such as tourism, family visit, or education.
- The date and place of signature, and the signature of your parents or legal guardians.
The parental consent form, available in print or electronic format, must be in German or English. Both when you enter Austria and when you board your aircraft, you must present the parental consent form to the border officials.
Samples of the parental consent form are available on the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior’s official website. Inquire of your parents or legal guardians to complete the form online, then print it off or save it to your device.
Consent Requirements for Minors Traveling with One Parent
If you are a minor visiting Austria with one parent, you must have a current passport, if necessary a valid visa or residence permit, and a travel document that indicates your final destination and transit time, such a bus, rail, or plane ticket. To travel to Austria with one parent—rather than both—you must also get a Reisevollmacht, or consent paperwork.
The consent form must have the identical information as the parental consent form for children traveling alone and must be completed by the parent or legal guardian who has sole custody of you or by the other parent or legal guardian who is not traveling with you.
The consent form must be with you, either electronically or on paper, and in either German or English. Both when you enter Austria and when you board your aircraft, you must present the consent form to the border officials.
A sample of the consent form may be viewed on the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior’s official website. To complete the form online, print it out, or save it on your device, ask the parent or legal guardian who has sole custody of you or the other parent or legal guardian who is not going with you.
Additional Documentation for Guardianship
Should you be a minor visiting Austria with someone other than your parent or legal guardian—a relative, friend, or teacher, for example—you must have a current passport, a valid visa or, if necessary, a valid residence permit, and a travel document—such as a bus, train, or flight ticket—that displays your final destination and transit time. In addition, a Betreuungsvollmacht, or guardianship form, allowing the person accompanying you to serve as your temporary guardian in Austria, is required.
Your guardianship form must have the following information and be signed by either both of your parents or legal guardians, or by the parent or legal guardian who has sole custody of you:
- Your personal and contact details, such as your name, date of birth, passport number, and phone number.
- Your parents’ or legal guardians’ personal and contact details, such as their names, dates of birth, passport numbers, and phone numbers.
- The name and contact details of the person who will act as your temporary guardian in Austria, such as their name, address, phone number, and relationship to you.
- The scope and duration of the guardianship, such as the rights and responsibilities of the temporary guardian, and the period of time that the guardianship will be valid.
- The date and place of signature, and the signature of your parents or legal guardians.
The guardianship form must be with you, on paper or electronically, and in either German or English. Both when you enter Austria and when you board your aircraft, you must present the guardianship form to the border officials.
The guardianship form is published on the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior’s official website. Inquire of your parents or legal guardians to complete the form online, then print it off or save it to your device.
Entry for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders
Depending on your country, position, and reason for visiting, holders of diplomatic or official passports may be eligible for certain benefits and immunities when visiting Austria.
Diplomatic Visa Requirements
A diplomatic visa is a kind of visa granted to holders of diplomatic passports who are visiting Austria for official reasons, such attending international conferences, representing their nation, or carrying out diplomatic tasks. Generally speaking, a diplomatic visa is good for the length of the diplomatic assignment and several entries.
You must submit distinct paperwork and go through a different application procedure for a diplomatic visa than for a standard one. Diplomatic visas are free to apply for, and they typically process more quickly than ordinary visas.
Follow these procedures to apply for a diplomatic visa:
- Fill out the online application form and print it out.
- Make an appointment at the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate, or the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country that is your main destination or your first point of entry.
- Gather the required documents and submit your application at the embassy or consulate.
- Wait for the decision on your visa application and collect your passport and visa if approved.
The documents that you need to submit for your diplomatic visa application may vary depending on your nationality, status, and purpose of travel, but generally include the following:
- A valid diplomatic passport that has at least two blank pages and is valid for at least three months beyond your intended date of departure from the Schengen Area.
- A completed and signed application form.
- Two recent passport-sized photos that meet the Schengen visa photo requirements.
- A diplomatic note or a verbal note from your Ministry of Foreign Affairs or your diplomatic mission, that confirms your identity, status, purpose of travel, and duration of stay in Austria.
- A travel itinerary that shows your planned dates and destinations of travel within the Schengen Area, as well as your entry and exit points.
- A proof of accommodation, such as hotel reservations, rental contracts, or invitation letters from hosts.
- A proof of health insurance, such as an insurance policy or certificate, that covers at least 30,000 euros for medical expenses and repatriation in case of emergency.
- Any additional documents that support your visa application, such as accreditation letters, invitation letters, or official letters, depending on your specific situation and purpose of travel.
Official Visa Requirements
An official visa is a kind of visa granted to holders of official passports who are visiting Austria for official reasons, such attending a government-sponsored event, working for an international organisation, or carrying out official tasks. Usually, an official visa is good for the length of the official mission as well as for one, two, or more entries.
Except for the visa application cost, which is waived for applicants of official visas, applying for an official visa requires the same application procedure and submission of the same documents as applying for a regular visa. Though it may differ based on the complexity of your case, the workload of the embassy or consulate, and the necessity for extra inspections, the processing period for an official visa is often the same as for a regular visa.
Protocol Services for Diplomatic Missions
If you are a diplomatic or official passport holder who is traveling to Austria as part of a diplomatic mission, you may benefit from some protocol services provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs, such as:
- Airport assistance and VIP lounge access, upon request and availability, for heads of state, heads of government, ministers, and other high-ranking officials.
- Accreditation and registration, upon arrival and departure, for diplomatic agents, consular officers, and staff members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, and international organizations.
- Privileges and immunities, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, for diplomatic agents, consular officers, and staff members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, and international organizations.
- Diplomatic identity cards and car plates, upon request and approval, for diplomatic agents, consular officers, and staff members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, and international organizations.
- Protocol events and ceremonies, upon invitation and confirmation, for diplomatic agents, consular officers, and staff members of diplomatic missions, consular posts, and international organizations.
You can find more information about the protocol services and their requirements on the official website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs.
Overstaying and Penalties
Should you be able to enter and remain in Austria with a valid visa or residence permit, you must adhere to the terms of the document and depart before it expires. Depending on the cause, length, and immigration officials’ ruling, you can be subject to some severe fines and penalties if you overstay your visa or residence permit.
Consequences of Overstaying Visa
Should you overstay your Schengen visa, which permits you to remain in Austria for up to 90 days out of a 180-day period, you run the risk of the following penalties:
- The seriousness of your infraction and the immigration authorities’ discretion may result in a fine of up to 2,180 euros or a six-week jail sentence.
- Depending on how serious your offense was and at the immigration authorities’ discretion, you can be deported from Austria and prohibited from reentering the Schengen Area for a set amount of time.
- Because your overstaying will be documented in the Schengen Information System (SIS), a database shared by all Schengen nations, you might find it difficult to get a new visa or a residence permit for Austria or other Schengen countries.
Consequences of Overstaying Residence Permit
You run the following risk if you overstay your residence permit, sometimes referred to as a national visa or a D visa, which permits you to remain in Austria for more than 90 days out of 180:
- The seriousness of your infraction and the immigration authorities’ discretion may result in a fine of up to 2,180 euros or a six-week jail sentence.
- Depending on how seriously you broke the law and at the immigration authorities’ discretion, you can be deported from Austria and prohibited from entering the country again for a while.
- The Central Register of Foreigners (ZMR), a database run by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, will record your overstay, thus you might find it difficult to renew or extend your residence permit or to get a new visa or residence permit for Austria or other Schengen countries.
Change of Visa Status
You might be able to alter your visa status—from a tourist visa to a work visa or from a student visa to a family reunion visa—if you have a valid visa or residence permit to visit and stay in Austria.
Follow these procedures to modify your visa status:
- Go to the nearest immigration office (Fremdenpolizei) before your visa or residence permit expires and submit an application for change of visa status (Antrag auf Visumänderung).
- Present your valid passport, your valid visa or residence permit, and a proof of your new purpose of stay, such as a new employment contract, a new student enrollment certificate, or a new family reunion document.
- Pay the visa change fee, which is 150 euros for adults and 75 euros for children under 18.
- Wait for the decision on your visa change and collect your passport and visa if approved.
Generally speaking, your new visa or residence permit is issued for the same period as your old one, subject to the judgment of the immigration authorities and your new reason of stay. If the immigration officials determine that your new reason of stay is not legitimate, urgent, or properly documented, they may, nonetheless, refuse your visa change. In such scenario, you risk the penalties for overstaying if you leave Austria before your visa or residence card expires.
Entry for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
If you are a refugee or an asylum seeker—that is, you are leaving your home country because of persecution, violence, or abuses of your human rights—you might be entitled to enter and remain in Austria lawfully and safely, according to specific rules and processes.
Asylum Application Process
Following are the procedures to request for asylum in Austria:
Tell the border crossing or closest police station that you want to apply for asylum in Austria. After that, you will register, get fingerprinted, and have your biometric and personal information verified against the Eurodac database—a shared database among all EU members—to see if you have previously sought asylum in another EU member state.
If you haven’t already sought asylum in another EU nation or if you have good cause to seek asylum in Austria, you’ll be taken to a first reception facility where you can get basic necessities including food, housing, medical attention, and legal counsel.
The Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA)—the body in charge of handling asylum claims in Austria—will interview you within 20 days of your arrival. You will need to give an explanation of your family circumstances, travel plans, identification, nationality, and reasons for seeking refuge. Any paperwork or supporting evidence—such as identity, travel, or medical records—that bolsters your asylum application must also be supplied.
Using the facts of your situation and the pertinent rules and regulations, the BFA will decide on your asylum claim following the interview. You could be awarded one of the subsequent statuses by the BFA:
If you fit the 1951 Geneva Convention definition of a refugee—that is, if you are unable or unwilling to return to your country of origin or to seek protection from another country—you have a legitimate fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership of a specific social group.
If you are not a refugee but you are unable or unwilling to return to your country of origin or seek protection from another country and you actually run the danger of suffering grave injury there, such as the death penalty, torture, or armed conflict, you may be eligible for subsidiary protection status.
If you have humanitarian reasons—such as health issues, family links, or integration prospects—to remain in Austria but do not qualify for refugee or subsidiary protection status, you may apply for a humanitarian residency visa.
Rejection: in case you are not eligible for any of the aforementioned categories and have no legitimate reason to remain in Austria.
Should the BFA award you refugee status, subsidiary protection status, or humanitarian residence permit, you will be issued a residence card and a positive decision letter that will enable you to legally remain in Austria and enjoy certain rights and benefits including employment, education, health care, and social services. You will likewise be placed in a federal state, where you will need to settle down permanently and become a part of the community.
Should the BFA deny your asylum claim, you will be sent a letter of negative judgment and a return decision, which would mandate that you depart Austria in a given amount of time—typically 14 days. Furthermore, you will no longer be able to use the basic amenities or remain in the first reception area. The Federal Administrative Court (BVwG), which is in charge of examining asylum rulings in Austria, is where you may file an appeal. If you have strong grounds to think that returning would jeopardise your life or freedom, you may also ask for a suspension of the decision.
Temporary Protection Status
Under specific guidelines and processes, you might be qualified for temporary protection status in Austria if you are a refugee or an asylum seeker who is impacted by a mass influx situation, which is when a lot of people are leaving a crisis situation in a neighboring country, such as a war, civil unrest, or natural disaster.
The EU activates temporary protection status as a special measure in exceptional situations to offer refugees and asylum seekers who require international protection but are unable to access the standard asylum process because of the situation of mass influx with immediate and temporary protection. Usually granted for a set amount of time—one year—temporary protection status can be extended or canceled based on how the circumstances develop.
Following are the procedures to apply for temporary protection status in Austria:
- Indicate your desire to seek temporary protection in Austria at the closest police station or border crossing. After then, you will be registered, fingerprinted, and your personal and biometric information will be compared to the Eurodac database to ascertain, based on your nationality, arrival date, and prior applications for asylum or temporary protection in other EU countries, whether you are qualified for temporary protection status.
- Should you qualify for temporary protection status, you will be sent to a receiving center where you will get necessities including food, housing, medical attention, and legal counsel. In addition, you will get a temporary protection certificate that will let you to lawfully remain in Austria and enjoy specific rights and advantages like employment, education, health care, and social services. Assigned to a federal state, you will also need to settle down permanently and become a part of the community.
- Should you not be qualified for temporary protection status, you will be moved to a third country deemed safe for you under the Safe Third Country Concept, which permits the EU to return asylum seekers to a third country deemed safe for them, or to another EU country that is responsible for your protection under the Dublin Regulation, a regulation that specifies which EU country is responsible for examining an asylum application.
The official website of the European Commission has further details on the temporary protection status and its prerequisites.
