Would you like to invite a foreign guest to Austria who needs a visa for Austria? Or are you the applicant wanting to know how to submit an invitation letter or a declaration of commitment for your business or visitor visa for Austria? In our article, you’ll find all the information you need about the invitation letter for a Schengen visa, what the invitation should look like, what an electronic declaration of commitment is, and where to obtain it in Austria. With these details, nothing should stand in the way of your visit to Austria.
What is an invitation letter, and who needs it?
All non-European citizens requiring a visa who want to apply for a Schengen visa for Austria must submit specific documents for their visa application. Depending on the type of visa (C-visa or D-visa) and the purpose of the stay, different documents are required. For a classic C-visa – whether for a family visit, business purposes, or a language course – you will always need proof of where you will stay during your visit, what you plan to do in Austria, and you must also ensure that you have sufficient financial means for your travel period.
If you are staying in a hotel, simply provide your booking confirmation. However, if you’re staying privately with your aunt in Vienna, you will need an invitation letter. The same applies if you are attending a business conference or are enrolled in a language school in Austria. Ask the organizers/language school for a brief invitation letter for submission with your Austria visa, confirming your participation.
Visa Austria Invitation Letter Example: What does the letter look like?
There is no specific format for an invitation letter to Austria. Instead, the focus is more on the content. Whether you are drafting an invitation for visitors from abroad or international business partners, the following elements should be included in your invitation to Austria:
- Information about the inviting person: full name, address, and contact details (including phone number and email) of the host or the inviting company
- Information about the person being invited: full name of the invited guest, passport number, their address, and date of birth
- Purpose of travel: reason for the visit/business visit
- Details of the relationship between the inviting and invited person
- Travel dates: date, duration in days
- Financial information about the trip: who is covering the costs?
- Date and signature of the host/company representative
Feel free to elaborate on the reason for the visit in the invitation letter for the Austria visa. Explain the exact relationship or mention how long you have known each other and perhaps why the visit is scheduled for this particular time. A business visit should also be justified!
Does the invitation letter for an Austrian visa need to be submitted in the original form?
A copy of the invitation, sent by fax or email, is sufficient. However, the following documents must be submitted in the original when applying for the visa:
- Visa application
- Work or study certificate
- Proof of financial means (bank statement, certificate of money exchange, traveler’s checks)
- Insurance (both the original and a copy)
What is a declaration of commitment, and who needs it?
In addition to your accommodation and plans during your stay in Austria, you must demonstrate sufficient financial means to prove to the Austrian state that you can finance your stay in Austria without issues. If this is not the case, theoretically, you cannot apply for a visa for Austria unless you have relatives or acquaintances in Austria, or an organization or company that provides you with an electronic declaration of commitment.
With a declaration of commitment, the inviter agrees to cover all costs that may arise during your stay in Austria. The declaration of commitment for Austria thus serves as an invitation with cost coverage. Even if you have financial means but cannot demonstrate them as required (for example, if you don’t have a bank account accessible in Austria), a declaration of commitment as an invitation to Austria is a suitable way to obtain a visa.
Important: To issue an electronic declaration of commitment and invitation for Austria, you must be registered with your primary residence in Austria!
Where do I apply for a declaration of commitment for a visa?
With a declaration of commitment, you formally agree to cover all costs that may arise from your guest’s stay in Austria – even beyond the invitation period. Whether you are a private individual, a company, or an association, you can apply for a declaration of commitment at the responsible state police directorate in your place of residence in Austria. An electronic declaration of commitment (EVE) must always be completed in person at the foreign police and is free of charge.
Checklist for applying for a declaration of commitment in Austria:
- Schedule an appointment with the state police directorate by phone
- Gather the required documents
- Ask for the passport number of the visa applicant (you’ll need this for the declaration of commitment)
- Fill out the electronic declaration of commitment (EVE) at the foreign police
- Credit check of the inviter
- You will receive an ID number, which you should share with your guest
- The guest and visa applicant can provide the ID number to the Austrian representation in their home country (48 hours after applying for the declaration of commitment) to retrieve it
Good to know: If there is no Austrian embassy in the applicant's country, and Austria is represented by another Schengen state, an ID number for an electronic declaration of commitment cannot be retrieved there. In this case, contact the consular department of the relevant Austrian representation to discuss the further procedure for submitting an EVE.
What documents do I need for a declaration of commitment for Austria?
Depending on whether you are inviting someone privately, for business, or as an association, you will need to present different documents during your appointment with the immigration police. If you are unsure, you can ask again when arranging the appointment by phone to confirm what you need to bring for submitting the declaration of commitment.
For private invitations to Austria (Visitor Visa)
- Identity document
- Registration certificate
- Proof of sufficient income (e.g., pay stubs, income tax return, recent profit and loss statement)
- Rental contract or similar;
- If applicable, proof of existing obligations and loans
- Possibly a credit report from a credit protection association or similar
- Documents related to the relationship with the visa applicant
For business invitations to Austria (Business Visa)
- Identity document of the representative
- Company registration / trade license
- Proof of the company’s creditworthiness (e.g., an annual financial statement, income and expense statement, or a report from a credit protection association)
- Possibly a power of attorney if not evident from the documents (to be issued on company letterhead and include a company stamp and signatures of the authorized company representatives)
For invitations by an association to Austria
- Identity document of the representative
- Association registration extract
- Statutes
- Proof of association activities and financial stability (e.g., balance sheet, statement from an accountant)
- Possibly a power of attorney (to include the signatures of the authorized representatives of the association)
- If creditworthiness cannot be clearly proven, a KSV report can be submitted later
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Would you like to invite a foreign guest to Austria who needs a visa for Austria? Or are you the applicant wanting to know how to submit an invitation letter or a declaration of commitment for your business or visitor visa for Austria? In our article, you’ll find all the information you need about the invitation letter for a Schengen visa, what the invitation should look like, what an electronic declaration of commitment is, and where to obtain it in Austria. With these details, nothing should stand in the way of your visit to Austria.
What is an invitation letter, and who needs it?
All non-European citizens requiring a visa who want to apply for a Schengen visa for Austria must submit specific documents for their visa application. Depending on the type of visa (C-visa or D-visa) and the purpose of the stay, different documents are required. For a classic C-visa – whether for a family visit, business purposes, or a language course – you will always need proof of where you will stay during your visit, what you plan to do in Austria, and you must also ensure that you have sufficient financial means for your travel period.
If you are staying in a hotel, simply provide your booking confirmation. However, if you’re staying privately with your aunt in Vienna, you will need an invitation letter. The same applies if you are attending a business conference or are enrolled in a language school in Austria. Ask the organizers/language school for a brief invitation letter for submission with your Austria visa, confirming your participation.
Visa Austria Invitation Letter Example: What does the letter look like?
There is no specific format for an invitation letter to Austria. Instead, the focus is more on the content. Whether you are drafting an invitation for visitors from abroad or international business partners, the following elements should be included in your invitation to Austria:
- Information about the inviting person: full name, address, and contact details (including phone number and email) of the host or the inviting company
- Information about the person being invited: full name of the invited guest, passport number, their address, and date of birth
- Purpose of travel: reason for the visit/business visit
- Details of the relationship between the inviting and invited person
- Travel dates: date, duration in days
- Financial information about the trip: who is covering the costs?
- Date and signature of the host/company representative
Feel free to elaborate on the reason for the visit in the invitation letter for the Austria visa. Explain the exact relationship or mention how long you have known each other and perhaps why the visit is scheduled for this particular time. A business visit should also be justified!
Does the invitation letter for an Austrian visa need to be submitted in the original form?
A copy of the invitation, sent by fax or email, is sufficient. However, the following documents must be submitted in the original when applying for the visa:
- Visa application
- Work or study certificate
- Proof of financial means (bank statement, certificate of money exchange, traveler’s checks)
- Insurance (both the original and a copy)
What is a declaration of commitment, and who needs it?
In addition to your accommodation and plans during your stay in Austria, you must demonstrate sufficient financial means to prove to the Austrian state that you can finance your stay in Austria without issues. If this is not the case, theoretically, you cannot apply for a visa for Austria unless you have relatives or acquaintances in Austria, or an organization or company that provides you with an electronic declaration of commitment.
With a declaration of commitment, the inviter agrees to cover all costs that may arise during your stay in Austria. The declaration of commitment for Austria thus serves as an invitation with cost coverage. Even if you have financial means but cannot demonstrate them as required (for example, if you don’t have a bank account accessible in Austria), a declaration of commitment as an invitation to Austria is a suitable way to obtain a visa.
Important: To issue an electronic declaration of commitment and invitation for Austria, you must be registered with your primary residence in Austria!
Where do I apply for a declaration of commitment for a visa?
With a declaration of commitment, you formally agree to cover all costs that may arise from your guest’s stay in Austria – even beyond the invitation period. Whether you are a private individual, a company, or an association, you can apply for a declaration of commitment at the responsible state police directorate in your place of residence in Austria. An electronic declaration of commitment (EVE) must always be completed in person at the foreign police and is free of charge.
Checklist for applying for a declaration of commitment in Austria:
- Schedule an appointment with the state police directorate by phone
- Gather the required documents
- Ask for the passport number of the visa applicant (you’ll need this for the declaration of commitment)
- Fill out the electronic declaration of commitment (EVE) at the foreign police
- Credit check of the inviter
- You will receive an ID number, which you should share with your guest
- The guest and visa applicant can provide the ID number to the Austrian representation in their home country (48 hours after applying for the declaration of commitment) to retrieve it
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