Why apply for the Austria Tourist Visa?

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.

Step 1: Choose the right visa for you.

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

Step 3: Submit documents at the visa application center.

Step 4: Collect your passport.

To apply for a Schengen Visa, fill out the application form and attach the required documents: two passport-style photographs, a passport or other travel document that is less than ten years old and valid for at least three months after your departure from the Schengen area. You’ll also need travel and medical insurance to cover charges up to €30,000.

You should have a flight itinerary and proof of lodging during your stay, as well as proof of your civil status, such as a marriage certificate, and proof of your ability to support yourself during your stay. You should also have a cover letter that details your itinerary and the purpose of your visit.

An Austrian visa for Indians is a Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) that allows visa holders to travel to Austria and 29 other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within 180 days, primarily for tourism, family visits, or short business trips. Indians planning to visit Austria must apply for a tourist visa at least 6 months before their intended travel plans.

Yes, Indian passport holders require a visa to visit Austria. You will need to apply for a short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) that allows Indians to stay in Austria for up to 90 days for tourism, family visits, and even short business trips. You can apply for the Austrian tourist visa at the nearest VFS Global centre, which typically takes about 15 days to process. 

The Austrian tourist visa is a Schengen visa, as Austria is part of the Schengen Area. With an Austrian visit visa, you can travel to 29 Schengen countries during the 90-day limit in 180 days. You can apply for the Austrian tourist visa at the nearest Austrian embassy or consulate if Austria is your primary destination.

You can stay in Austria for 90 days within 180 days on a Schengen visa. You can visit your family, or travel for tourism or other business purposes, to Austria or any other Schengen country for a total of 90 days. If you wish to extend your stay in Austria for more than 90 days but less than 6 months, you will need to apply for an Austrian National Visa (Visa D).

The average processing time for an Austrian visa from India is around 15 days from the date of application submission. The processing time may also take 30 to 40 days in some cases, especially during peak seasons or in exceptional circumstances. Some other factors that could influence the processing time of your Austria visit visa application include submitting incorrect documents, missing required documents, or being asked for additional documents.

Indians applying for an Austrian tourist visa will be required to pay a fee of €90, roughly translating to ₹8,000–₹9,000 for adults. Children aged 6 to 12 will be required to pay €45, while those under 6 are exempt from visa fees.

The documents required to apply for an Austrian tourist visa from India are as follows:

• Visa application form (fully-filled and signed)
• Two copies of your recent passport-sized photographs
• Valid travel and health insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000
• You complete travel plans (if you plan on visiting more than just 1 place)
• Flight reservations
• Proof of accommodation (hotel reservations)
• Proof of sufficient funds (bank statements of the last 3 months)
• A cover letter stating your purpose of visiting Austria
• A Leave Sanction Letter or a No Objection Certificate (NOC) (If employed or self-employed)
• Birth certificate and a written consent from the parents (when children are applying)

No fixed bank balance is required for an Austrian tourist visa. However, you must have sufficient funds for at least €100–€120 per day for each day of your trip, plus funds to cover your accommodation and flight costs. It is recommended that you have at least 1.5-3 lakhs in funds to cover a 15-day trip to Austria. You will be required to submit the last 3 months of bank statements as proof of your funds.

Yes, you will need travel and medical insurance for an Austria visit visa, as it is one of the main requirements while applying for a Schengen visa. You must have a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 that will cover your medical expenses, repatriation, and hospitalization charges. The medical insurance must be submitted along with your Austria visit visa application.

You can apply for an Austrian Schengen visa at least 3-4 weeks before your intended trip; however, you can also submit your Schengen visa application 6 months before your travel date.

Yes, you can visit other Schengen countries with a Austria visit visa. The Type C or Type D Schengen visa allows you to travel to the other Schengen countries without restrictions for a maximum of 90 days in 180 days, as long as the visit visa is not restricted to Austria alone. You can also plan visits to countries like Italy, France, and Germany with a single visa.

The Austrian visa can be issued as a single-entry or multiple-entry visa, depending on the consulate, your travel history, and visa application. With a single-entry visa, you are allowed one visit. In contrast, with a multiple-entry visa, you can enter and exit the country multiple times throughout the validity of your visa, which is generally 90 days within 180 days.

No, you do not need confirmed flight tickets before applying for an Austria visit visa. You will, however, be required to show proof of flight reservations or a dummy ticket that details your travel dates, including your entry dates and exit dates from the Schengen area.  A dummy ticket is a reserved itinerary with a valid PNR number.

No, a visa interview is not required for an Austria tourist visa. The decision on whether to take an interview depends on the consulate you are applying to. You will be required to submit your biometrics in person at the nearest VFS Global centre for document and biometrics submission. For the biometrics submission, you will be required to attend a formal visa interview that will be scheduled only if they have questions regarding your visa application.  

Extending your Austria visit visa is generally not allowed, as the 90 days within 180 days is the only timeframe you are allowed to stay in Austria on a visit visa. While visa extensions are not allowed, it may be possible under exceptional circumstances, wherein you are facing unforeseen or sudden emergencies, medical urgencies, unavoidable personal reasons, or on humanitarian grounds, provided you submit strong proof or evidence to prove your claim.

Some of the most common reasons for an Austrian visa rejection are as follows:

• Lack of sufficient funds to cover your stay in Austria
• Not submitting strong ties to your home country (employment or property ownership)
• An incomplete or inaccurate visa application
• Not stating a clear purpose or intent of visiting Austria
• Fake documentation, such as fake hotel bookings or flight reservations
• Invalid travel or medical insurance
• A history of visa violations
• Expired passport

Yes, you can apply for an Austrian tourist visa online, but the entire process cannot be completed online and includes offline procedures. While you can apply for a visit visa online, you will need to submit your biometrics in person at the nearest consulate. As a part of the online process, you will be required to fill out the visa application online and schedule a visa appointment through the official VFS Global or reach out to trusted immigration companies like Y-Axis Overseas Careers, which can assist you with your Schengen visa application process.

You can submit your Austria visit visa application in India at the nearest VFS Global centre, which acts as the official service provider for the Austrian embassy. You will be required to pre-book an appointment at these visa application centres. Some of the major VFS application centres in India are as follows:

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Hyderabad
• Bengaluru
• Ahmedabad
• Pune
• Kochi

No, you cannot convert your Austrian Schengen visa (Schengen visa) into a work visa or a residence permit from within the country. In general, you would be required to exit the country and apply for a work permit, such as a Red-White-Red Card, via an Austrian embassy or consulate in your native country.  

The major difference between an Austrian Tourist visa and a business visa is the purpose of the visit. While a tourist visa is typically for tourism or visit purposes, a business visa allows you to attend business conferences, meetings, or events. However, both visas are short-stay visas that allow you to stay in Austria for 90 days.