Austria

Visa Austria

Europe · Europe de l’Ouest

In Austria, visas fall under the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA). The official page consulted on 2026-09-17 distinguishes the visa A (airport transit), the visa C (short stay) and the visa D (national visa). The application is filed with the Austrian consulate responsible for the country of residence, sometimes through an external service provider. The page states the expected documents, the fees in euros and the announced processing times.

The information on this page helps prepare a case. Only the competent authority decides; always check the official source before filing an application.

Machine-assisted draft, reviewed by a person on 23 September 2026. Only the authority cited is authoritative.

Published on 23 September 2026 · Reviewed by vg_admin on 23 September 2026 · Sources consulted on 17 September 2026

At a glance

Authority: Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA) — Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
Submission channel: Austrian consulate responsible for the country of residence; some consulates use an external service provider, for a fee
Electronic visa: Not stated on the portal consulted
Portal language: German and English (English version consulted)

Do you need a visa?

Your nationality

Choose a nationality to see the recorded entry rule. No answer is shown until reviewed data exists.

Documented visa types

"Visa A" — airport transit visa: For a stay in the transit area of an Austrian airport, according to the page consulted. Official page (new tab)
"Visa C" — short-stay visa: For tourism, business or a visit without salaried activity; the page states a stay of 90 days at most per 180-day period. Official page (new tab)
"Visa D" — national visa: For a stay of 91 days to 6 months in Austria; the page mentions a validity of up to 12 months in exceptional cases. The application may be filed only with the Austrian consulate responsible. Official page (new tab)

Where and how to apply

The official page states that the application is filed with the Austrian consulate responsible, located in the country where the applicant legally resides. Some Austrian consulates allow filing with an external service provider, for a fee; the page states that this provider plays no role in the decision.

For the visa D, the page states that the application may be filed only with the Austrian consulate responsible. It also points to a search tool for Austrian representations and to a page devoted to representation by a Schengen partner.

Steps in the procedure

Identify the Austrian representation responsible for the country of legal residence.
File the application with that consulate or, where the consulate provides for it, with the external service provider it designates.
Submit the personally signed form and the documents requested.
Have your fingerprints taken if they have not been taken within the last 59 months.

Documents mentioned by the authority

Application form completed and signed personally.
Photograph compliant with ICAO standards, in 35 × 45 mm format.
Passport with at least two free pages and valid at least three months beyond the expiry of the visa.
Copy of the passport data page.
Fingerprints, if they have not been taken within the last 59 months.
Proof of transport: booking or ticket.
Travel, health and accident insurance covering a minimum of 30,000 euros.
Proof of means of subsistence or the identifier of an electronic declaration of sponsorship.
Evidence of economic, family or social ties in the country of origin.
For a business trip: invitation from the company and proof of employment.
For a minor traveling alone: certified parental power of attorney.

The exact list depends on the visa type and on the situation; only the official page is authoritative.

Stated fees and processing times

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: Schengen visa 90 euros; Schengen visa 45 euros for children aged 6 to 12; visa D 195 euros above 6 years of age and 97 euros below 6 years of age. The page mentions exemptions, notably for children under 6, pupils and students on study trips, researchers, representatives of non-profit organizations aged 6 to 25, as well as under European Union agreements.

According to the same portal consulted on 2026-09-17, the processing of a Schengen visa should as a general rule not exceed 15 calendar days, and may be extended to 45 calendar days where additional checks are necessary; for the visa D, the page states a maximum of 6 months. These times are those displayed by the authority.

After the decision

The decision rests with the Austrian representation responsible. The page points to the Federal Administrative Court as well as to information on establishment and residence in Austria.

The page distinguishes the visa, issued by the consulate, from establishment and residence permits, handled by other services to which it refers.

Published procedures

No reviewed and published procedure for Austria to date. We prefer an empty page to an invented requirement.

Explore procedures

Frequently asked questions

Is a visa required to travel to Austria?

It depends on nationality and on the purpose of travel; the rule reviewed by VisaGuideline is shown with the nationality selector on this page. Always check with the authority.

Where is the application filed?

With the Austrian consulate responsible for the country of legal residence, or with the external service provider that consulate designates where applicable.

What is the difference between the visa C and the visa D?

According to the official page, the visa C covers a stay of 90 days at most per 180-day period, whereas the visa D covers a stay of 91 days to 6 months, with a validity of up to 12 months in exceptional cases.

What fees are stated?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: 90 euros for a Schengen visa, 45 euros for children aged 6 to 12, 195 euros for a visa D above 6 years of age and 97 euros below.

What processing times does the authority announce?

According to the portal consulted on 2026-09-17: as a general rule 15 calendar days for a Schengen visa, up to 45 days where additional checks are needed, and a maximum of 6 months for a visa D.

Is there an electronic visa?

Not stated on the portal consulted.

Official sources

Visa — ministère fédéral des Affaires européennes et internationales (new tab) Authority

Consulted sources

Official pages read to write this guide, with the date they were read. A page may have changed since: check it before taking any step.

Visa – BMEIA - Außenministerium Österreich (new tab) read on 17 September 2026

What this guide does not know yet

Points the official source does not specify and which this guide therefore left blank. Ask the competent authority about them before filing an application.

The page does not detail the appointment-booking procedure, which depends on each representation: a reviewer must state whether VisaGuideline points to the directory of representations.
The external service provider's fees are not quantified on the page consulted.
The linked pages on establishment and residence, working holiday and representation by a Schengen partner were not consulted.

Prepare my case

This method is the same for every destination. It does not list any document as an official requirement: only the authority’s source is authoritative.

Describe your situation

Nationality, residence, purpose and dates. The checker tells covered routes apart from situations that are still unknown.
Check at the source

Open the destination’s official source and compare it with your situation before starting a procedure.
Track what is left to do

Your space keeps your answers and your declared checklist. A complete checklist does not announce a favorable decision.

Check my route Open my case