Apply for a tourist visa for Austria: All information at a glance

Are you a third-country national planning a holiday in Austria or a European tour, with Austria as your first entry? Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa for Austria. If your holiday in Austria and the Schengen Area is no longer than 90 days, you can apply for a tourist visa for Austria in the form of a Schengen Visa. This visa is for short stays only and is not extendable. Here are some helpful tips on how to apply for a tourist visa for Austria.

Who needs a tourist visa for Austria?

All EU citizens and citizens of EFTA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland) can move freely within the Schengen Area and do not need a visa to enter Austria. They only need a valid ID card. The same applies to tourist stays up to 90 days for third-country nationals with a visa liberalization agreement with Austria and other Schengen states. However, visa-exempt third countries will need to apply online for the ETIAS entry permit before entering Austria from 2022. All other citizens from non-EU and non-Schengen countries, who are not exempt from visa requirements, need an Austria visa for vacation and travel purposes. The list of visa requirements for Austria is available on the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.

Examples of visa requirements:

• Tourist visa for Austria required for Turks necessary: Since Turkey is not part of the EU or Schengen Area and has not signed a visa liberalization agreement (only Turkish special passports are visa-free)
• Tourist visa for Austria not required for US citizens not necessary: As a third country, the United States has a visa facilitation agreement with the EU. US citizens can enter Austria visa-free for up to 3 months.

What are the visa categories in Austria?

To understand which type of visa you need, here is a brief explanation of the different visa types in Austria. Besides the airport transit visa (known as Visa A), you can mainly choose from the following visas for Austria:

1. Airport transit visa
   (also called Visa A, Schengen Visa A)
   Foreign nationals generally do not need a visa if they do not leave the transit zone of an Austrian airport. Only nationals of the following countries need an airport transit visa to transit through Austria: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria
    
2. Short-stay visa
   (also called Visa C, travel visa, or Schengen Visa)
   This is the classic tourist visa for Austria. With a tourist visa for Austria, you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period in Austria and throughout the Schengen Area. Note: A visa for "tourism" purposes can be applied for and issued for a maximum of 90 days per half-year. A longer visa is generally NOT available for tourism purposes.
    
3. Long-stay visa
   (also called Visa D, Austrian residence visa, or Schengen Visa D)
   With a D-visa for Austria, you can stay for up to 6 months, and in some cases up to 12 months, in Austria with valid reasons. You can also travel to other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period with a D-visa.
    
4. Residence permit for Austria
   (distinguishable between residence permit or settlement permit)
   If you want to stay in Austria for more than 6 months, you must apply for a residence permit. If you are not visa-free for entry into Austria, you must also apply for a D-visa to collect your residence permit.

Where can I travel with a tourist visa for Austria?

If you have received a tourist visa for Austria, you can travel not only in Austria but also in all other Schengen countries within a period of 90 days in a half-year, as long as there is no contrary note on your visa label in your passport.

You can travel to the following countries in addition to Austria without an additional visa: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, as well as non-EU members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.

How do I apply for a tourist visa for Austria?

In general, you can only apply for visas for Austria in person in your home country at the Austrian embassy or consulate. Also, Austria must be your main travel destination. You can find a list of all Austrian embassies on the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

If you plan a European tour with no main destination, then apply for your Schengen Visa C in the country of your first entry. If this is Austria, contact the Austrian authorities abroad.

If you are planning to travel to a non-Schengen country (unless it's an airport transit), please note that you must apply not only for a single-entry visa but also for a double-entry visa or possibly even a multi-entry visa. A single-entry visa allows only one entry into the Schengen Area, while a double-entry visa allows two entries. A multiple-entry visa permits unlimited entries as long as your visa is valid. However, it is rare for first-time applicants to receive a multiple-entry visa.

Tourist Visa for Austria Step-by-Step Guide

1. Submit your visa application for your entry into Austria on time! You can apply for a travel visa up to 3 to 6 months (depending on nationality) before your planned trip to Austria, but no later than 15 days before.
2. Ensure you have a valid passport (issued within the last 10 years, valid 3 months beyond departure, 2 blank pages)
3. Schedule an appointment at the visa office
4. Fill out the application form for a tourist visa for Austria
5. Gather all necessary documents for your visa application
6. Attend your visa appointment in person and submit your complete application at the Austrian embassy or consulate
7. Provide your fingerprints at your appointment (if you have not done so in the last 59 months)
8. Pay the visa fee
9. Your visa application will be reviewed: Is your application complete, plausible, and does it indicate that you intend to leave the Schengen Area?
10. After a processing time of usually 15 days, you can collect your passport along with the tourist visa for Austria

Good to know: processing times for tourist visas can take up to 45 days in certain cases. You should also expect a longer processing time if you have not completed your application correctly. Generally, tourist visas are issued within 15 days.

What documents do I need for a travel visa?

To apply for a tourist visa for Austria, you must submit the following documents completely at your visa office appointment.

• Valid travel document
• Visa application form: Indicate "tourism" as the main purpose
• Indication of frequency of entry: Typically, a tourist visa is issued as a single-entry visa, meaning you can enter the Schengen area only once. If you need a double-entry or multiple-entry visa, you must justify it.
• Passport photo (portrait format 35 x 45 mm) following the current passport photo requirements
• Proof of a Schengen travel health insurance that covers all risks and is valid for the entire duration of your trip
• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the trip and return travel expenses (e.g., with salary statements)
• Proof of your planned trip (round-trip ticket, hotel bookings, reservation confirmations)
• Invitation letter, if applicable, if you are not staying in hotels but with friends or family residing in Austria
• You must not be subject to a residence ban or have a listing by any Schengen state

Good to know: If you lack sufficient financial means for your trip to Austria, a friend or relative from Austria can issue a declaration of commitment. With a declaration of commitment, the person residing in Austria agrees to cover any potential costs. You can find details on how to issue a declaration of commitment for a visa on our website.

What does the Austrian tourist visa cost?

When you submit your visa application for your vacation in Austria, you will also need to pay the visa fee.

The Austrian tourist visa for 3 months costs:

• 80 euros for adults
• 40 euros for young people between 6 and 12 years old
• Usually 35 euros for citizens of countries that have signed the EU visa facilitation agreement

The Austrian tourist visa is free for:

• Children under 6 years old ● Pupils, students, postgraduate students, and accompanying teachers
• Researchers traveling for research purposes or seminars
• Representatives of non-profit organizations up to 25 years old attending events

How can AXA assist with my tourist visa application?

To apply for a tourist visa for Austria, you will need a travel and health insurance that covers all 27 Schengen area countries (even those you do not plan to visit). If you fail to provide this, your application will be rejected. Furthermore, the visa travel insurance must cover accident and illness expenses with a minimum amount of €30,000. AXA offers various insurance policies for European travel that meet all the criteria for a classic Schengen visa and are accepted by all embassies and consulates.

You can choose between a cost-effective option, which costs only €22 per travel week, or a comprehensive multi-trip insurance for a whole year or longer. If you plan to travel outside the Schengen area with your Austrian tourist visa, you can use our Europe Travel insurance. The insurance certificate for a Schengen visa application will be sent to you directly by email, allowing you to complete your visa application immediately.

Other articles you might be interested in

• What should an invitation letter for an Austrian visa look like?
• How to apply for a work visa for Austria?
• How to apply for a student visa for Austria?
• How to apply for an Austrian visa in Turkey?
• How to apply for an Austrian visa in Russia?

How long can I stay in Austria with a tourist visa?

The exact validity of your travel visa can be found on your visa sticker. However, with a tourist visa, you can stay for a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period in Austria and throughout the Schengen area.

Can a tourist visa be extended?

The Schengen Visa C, which is the standard tourist visa available for all Schengen countries, cannot be extended. Only in emergency situations can a tourist visa be extended on-site. Overstaying the visa does not qualify as an emergency!

Can I work in Austria with a tourist visa?

No. Employment of any kind is prohibited with a tourist visa. This rule also applies to non-EU citizens who are allowed visa-free entry due to agreements. If you wish to work in Austria, you must obtain a work permit and a residence permit for employment purposes beforehand. The only exceptions are for seasonal workers.