How to Apply for an Austria Schengen Visa?

How to Apply for Austria Schengen Visa: Steps

• Step 1: Determine your Purpose for travelling to Austria, which will determine the Type of visa you should apply for.
• Step 2: Determine how many Entries to Austria/the Schengen area you need.
• Step 3: Gather your Required Documents.
• Step 4: Schedule a Schengen Visa appointment (if applicable).
  • In most cases, you must schedule an appointment in order to lodge an application at an Austrian consulate/visa center and/or to submit biometric data (fingerprints). Alternatively, you may be able to drop off your application without prior arrangement, so long as you do so during normal operating hours. Contact your consulate/visa center directly to find out if you need to schedule an appointment in order to submit your application.
• Step 5: Fill out your application.
  • Different Austrian Consulates/visa processing centers provide different ways of accessing applications-depending on where you are applying from, you may have to download, complete, and print out an online form, available here. Submit this paper copy to whichever Austrian Consulate/visa center you are applying through.
• Step 6: Submit your Austrian Schengen visa application (at least 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months).
  • Different Austrian consulates/processing centers have different procedures for submitting applications. In almost all cases, applications must be submitted in person to the consulate/center you are applying through.
  • When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit your fingerprints. Children younger than 12 years are likely exempt from having their fingerprints collected. However, facial photo capturing will be required irrespective of the age.
• Step 7: Pay the application fee.
  • You will likely be asked to pay your visa fee when you submit your application in person.

When to Apply

Submit your application at least 15 days prior to the day you intend to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before you leave.

Where to Apply

Applications for Schengen visas to Austria should be submitted at either an Austrian Consulate/Embassy or a visa application center that has a relationship with Austria.

You must lodge your application for Austrian Schengen visa in the country where you legally reside/are a citizen.

Click here to find an Austrian Consulate/Embassy where you live.

In countries where there is no Austrian consular presence, applications may be lodged via the consulate of a Schengen state representing Austrian consular interests.

Processing Time for Austria Schengen Visa

The Austrian Schengen visa processing time is generally 15 days, although it can take up to 45 days in certain cases.

If your visa was approved:

Collect your visa and make sure the information it contains is valid and complete.

If your visa was denied:

If you receive a Schengen visa rejection for Austria, you have the right to file an appeal with the Austrian Federal Administrative Court, via through the Consulate which issued your visa rejection.

The detailed steps of the appeal process are outlined in your standard issued-visa refusal form, which also describes why your request was denied.

If you choose to proceed with your appeal, you will likely pay an appeal fee, which is generally non-refundable regardless of the outcome of the appeal (positive or negative).

Finally, once you obtain your Schengen Visa for Austria, please note the following:

Your visa may be revoked if you do not notify the Austrian Consulate/visa application center of any changes to your trip itinerary that occur after you have submitted your application.

Being approved for an Austrian visa does not guarantee you entry to either Austria or the general Schengen area – you can still be refused entry to both places upon arrival.

Alternatively, you may have to show additional documents regarding your finances or accommodation in order to enter Austria/the Schengen area.