visit/austria

A tourist visa is for those visiting Austria either for tourism or any other non-business related reason. A visitor visa, on the other hand, is for those visiting friends or family in Austria. Do keep in mind that if you plan on going to Austria on a visitor visa, the person who has invited you will have to provide a guarantee on your behalf.

Visitors will, however, need a letter of reference from a friend or family member staying in Austria. In addition, at the time of the visa application process, they would need to present the reference letter.

A short-stay visa, Schengen visa allows the visa holder to travel to any of the members of the Schengen Area for a 90 days period per stay for business or tourism.

Schengen Area includes 26 countries – Austria, Denmark, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, France, Greece, Iceland, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Latvia, Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Estonia, Italy, Slovakia, Finland, and Liechtenstein.

You are not free to apply for the Schengen visa for any country, you must apply in the mission or embassy of the country where you are planning to stay for the longest duration. If it is difficult to determine this, especially if you are taking a cruise or a bus tour, you can apply for the visa for the country which is the first point of entry. This is provided you are spending equal number of days in all the countries.

Do keep in mind that all visa applications for Austria will be assessed by the Embassy of Austria at New Delhi only.

The applications have to be submitted and collected in person.

Step 1: Choose the right visa for you.

Step 2: Book a prior appointment for submission of application.

Step 3: Submitting documents at the visa application centre.

Step 4: Collection of passport.

You will need to fill out the Schengen Visa application form and include the following documents: two recent passport-style images, a passport or other travel documents less than 10 years old and valid for at least three months after the date of your departure from the Schengen region. You will also need travel and medical insurance to cover up to €30,000 in expenses.

You should have a flight itinerary and proof of accommodation during your stay, proof of your civil status, such as a marriage certificate, and proof that you have means of subsistence during your stay, you should have a cover letter specifying your itinerary and the intent of your visit.

Type C – for less than 90 days

Type D – beyond 90 days

If you wish to visit the country for tourism and leisure, business purposes, visiting friends or relatives, official visits, medical care, short-term study and research purposes, you need to apply for an Austrian Schengen Visa.

The Schengen Consulate may issue you a single, double or multiple-entry visa valid for 90 days, depending on your reasons for visiting the Schengen Region and the frequency of your visits.

Usually, the processing time for Type C visas is about 15 to 20 days.

When there are many applications being processed simultaneously, the processing time can go up to 30 days as well.

In exceptional cases, even 60 days might be needed for processing.

The processing period can be extended to 30 days because of the number of applications received by the Austrian embassy/consulate or the uniqueness of your situation.

It can take up to 60 days for exceptional applications to be processed by the Austrian embassy/consulate.

As in certain cases the processing time can go up to 60 days, the recommended course of action is to apply for your Austrian short-stay visa as soon as possible, but not earlier than 3 months before your scheduled visit.