Austrian Embassy in New Delhi Visa Process

The Schengen visa C is intended for touristic, business or visiting purposes (without gainful employment) for a maximum stay of 90 days per 180 days.

If a stay of more than 90 days is planned, you should apply for a visa D, which entitles the holder to stay in Austria up to six months.

Each application for a visa is subject to a case-by-case examination by the competent Consulate.

Holders of a Schengen visa are in principle entitled to enter and stay in the Schengen States presumed that the requirements of Art. 6 Schengen Borders Code are fulfilled and the visa is not subject to territorial restrictions.

The Schengen States are:

• Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the non-EU members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Travellers can obtain the visa application form free of charge at the respective Consulate, or find the link to download the application form under section “Forms” (see "How do I make an application" in the left Navigation). 

There are special provisions for family members of EEA citizens and Swiss citizens entitled to freedom of movement. Please find the respective information under the following link.

In principle, foreigners who do not leave the international transit zone of an airport during a stopover, a flight segment or international flights do not require a visa.

However, nationals of the countries listed in the following require a visa (category “A”) also to stay in the international transit zone of an Austrian airport unless they are covered by an exemption: 

• Afghanistan, Bangladesch, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria

Further information on visa requirements and exemptions can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Visa D are subject to Austrian national legislation entitling holders to stays of 91 days to 6 months in Austria and can be issued for one or more entries.

Please note that an extension of a D visa in Austria is not possible. In the case of an intended stay in Austria for more than 6 months, a residence permit must be applied for.

The issuance of a visa D depends on the information provided by the applicant and thus on whether the intended stay in Austria for more than 90 days seems to be sufficiently documented. In exceptional cases, it is also possible to issue a visa D with a validity up to 12 months (for example on the basis of an international agreement).

A visa D issued by Austria or another Schengen State entitles the holder,to move freely in the territory of the other Schengen States for up to 90 days per 180 days, given that the holder does not plan to take up employment, is in possession of a valid travel document  fulfils the relevant conditions of the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6 (1) (a), (c) and (e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 establishing a Community Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders) and is not on the national list of alerts of the Member State concerned.

Please note that rights acquired in one Schengen State on the basis of national regulations cannot automatically be transferred to another Schengen State. For example, study permits and work permits are in principle limited to the issuing Schengen State only.  

The visa requirements for Schengen visa are laid down in the EU Visa Code, the provisions for visa D are laid down in the Aliens’ Police Act (FPG). The competent Consulate examines the visa applications if the conditions for issuing a visa are fulfilled. The competent Consulate decides on each application individually, taking into account all the circumstances of the individual case.

There is no legal entitlement to a visa.

A visa application is admissible if:

• the visa application has been lodged at the competent Consulate,

• the visa application has been lodged within a period of six months and not later than 15 calendar days before the intended start of the trip,

• a correctly completed visa application form is presented,

• a valid passport not older than 10 years, valid for three months after expiry of the visa and with two free pages, is presented,

• an ICAO-compliant passport photo is presented,

• consent is given to the collection of fingerprints (unless already stored within the last 59 months), and

•  the visa fee has been paid.

Once admissibility has been established, the Consulate examines the visa application and the following conditions for issuing a visa must be positively established for each individual visa applicant:

• Plausibility and verifiability of the purpose of the trip to Austria,

• Means of substance for living and travel expenses from own assets or income,

• Willingness of the visa holder to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires,

• Presentation of an adequate and valid travel medical insurance, covering the period of the intended stay, or, if a multiple-entry visa is applied for, the period of the first intended visit with a minimum coverage of € 30,000.

If it is not possible to prove financing by funds from one’s own assets, financial resources can be proven by an electronic declaration of sponsorship submitted by a person residing in Austria. Please visit the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior for further information on the possibility of submitting a declaration of sponsorship.

Persons whose entry into Austria and the Schengen area would endanger security or public order or who do not fulfil one or more of the above-mentioned requirements, a visa will not be granted.

Applicants, whose visa application were refused, can file a legal remedy at the competent Consulate (“Vorstellung”) respectively submit an appeal to the Federal Administrative Court. Please read the information on the appeal procedure on the refusal form. For further information visit the website of the Federal Administrative Court.

In general, supporting documents have to include a German translation at the request of the Consulate. When submitting English language documents, a translation into German is not required. Please contact the responsible Consulate directly to clarify the need for an appropriate translation of the documents into German. 

In principle, the following supporting documents and information are necessary:

• A fully completed and personally signed application form

• Passport photo according to ICAO criteria (colour, 35x45 mm)

• Passport (at least 2 free pages, not older than 10 years, valid for at least three months beyond the duration of the applied for visa)

• Recording of biometric data in the form of fingerprints if not collected within the last 59 months in the course of a decision on a Schengen visa application (ten fingerprints, taken with flat fingers and digitally recorded)

• Copy of the passport data sheet (the page on which the photograph is located)

• Copies of previous Schengen visa

• Proof of the means of transport (reservation OR booking; presentation of a paid ticket is not required)

• For travel by car: Driving licence, green insurance card, registration certificate

• Travel, health and accident insurance (minimum coverage € 30,000, including repatriation for medical reasons) valid for the Schengen area. Family members of EEA citizens and Swiss citizens exercising their right to freedom of movement are exempt from this obligation

• For visiting trips, an informal letter of invitation may be presented

• If the applicant cannot provide proof of sufficient own financial means: eight-digit ID number of the Electronic Declaration of Sponsorship (the inviter can submit an electronic declaration of sponsorship to the police department locally responsible for his/her place of residence)

• Certified power of attorney from parents for underage children travelling unaccompanied by parents

• Evidence of the applicant’s economic, family and social roots in his or her home country (e.g. ownership of property in the country of origin, employment, confirmation of studies, pension entitlement, proof of family ties) 

Business trips:

• Invitation signed by the inviting Austrian company on company paper in the original (or company fax/mail to the Consulate), stating the purpose of the trip, dates of travel, name and date of birth as well as the passport number of the person invited

• Proof of employment (if required)

• For self-employed people: Excerpt from the company register or similar document 

Airport transit:

• Copy of visa for the onward journey (if required)

• Copy of flight tickets 

Specific information on supporting documents, you can find under "How to make an Application".