Austria Visa Guide

Procuring an Austrian Visa

Overview

Austria is home to scenic mountains and natural beauty. The country may not have any beaches, but it is the perfect place to visit for tranquillity. It is not just an excellent tourist destination but also a perfect place to visit for business. Austria is ranked among the wealthiest countries in the world based on its GDP per capita.

Why is Austrian Visa Needed?

Indian citizens require a visa to visit the nation of Austria. The reasons for visiting Austria range from tourism to business, and even studies.

Austria Visa Eligibility

The eligibility requirements for an Austrian visa are dependent on the purpose, nature and duration of your visit. There are primarily two types of visa:

Schengen Visa C: This type of visa allows you a stay of 90 days in a six-month duration. Since this type of visa is issued for Schengen, it allows you to visit and stay in other Schengen states including Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, France, Portugal, Latvia, Slovakia, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Greece, Finland, Norway, Czech Republic, Malta, Lithuania, Switzerland, Estonia, Luxemburg, and Poland. Additionally, no restrictions are placed on the number of times you can visit or enter any of the above mentioned Schengen states. Therefore, the Schengen Visa C is issued not just for a single entry but also for double and multiple entries.

National Visa D: This type of visa allows you a stay of 91 days to 180 days in six-month duration. Visa D can be issued for many reasons including but not limited to Seasonal worker, researcher, guest researcher, short term worker, volunteer and student among others.

Transit Visa: A transit visa is different compared to the two types of visas mentioned above. One of the prime elements of a transit visa is that it is not issued for a long duration. Commonly, it is only issued for a few days at maximum. The reason that transit visas are issued is to facilitate the travel of passengers. For example, if you have a connecting flight from one of the airports in the Schengen area but your next flight is after a few hours or a couple of days, then you apply for the transit visa.
The other eligibility requirements are common for both types of visa. The only difference between the two types of visa pertains to the requirement of documents based on the purpose and nature of the visit. The following could be the reasons for travelling to or visiting Austria:

Tourism

One of the most common reasons for visiting Austria is tourism. The serenity of the natural scenery of the nation is famous throughout the world, and people from all over the world visit the nation for some much-needed tranquillity.

Visiting Friends or Family

This type of visa is for Individuals who have family members or friends legally dwelling or citizens of Austria or the Schengen region. However, the visitors would need a referral letter from the friend or family member staying in Austria. Furthermore, they will need to present the same at the time of the visa application process.

Business

This type of visa is for individuals who need to travel to Austria for the purpose of business. It also includes people who have been employed by companies and organisations operating in Austria or the government. Such visas are issued for individuals who intend to travel to Austria for medical purposes and enjoy the benefits of the medical services in the nation.

Medical reasons

Such visas are issued for individuals that intend to travel to Austria for medical purposes and enjoy the benefits of the medical services in the nation.

Study Purposes

This type of visa is only for individuals who intend to enrol or are already enrolled in any of the educational institutions of the nation.

Cultural, Sports and Film Crews

This type of visa is issued to individuals who are not citizens of any of the nations in the Schengen region but wish to travel to the nation to attend or participate in activities related to culture, sports or religion.

Other Purposes

If the purpose and nature of your visit are not covered under any of the categories mentioned above, then you need not worry. All you need to do while applying for the visa is to ensure that you mention the reasons during your application process.

Austria Visa Application Process

How to Apply for Austrian Visa:

Applying for an Austrian visa is a very straightforward process. The first thing that you should do is check the eligibility requirements for an Austrian visa. You can apply for an Austrian visa by submitting it to The Embassy of Austria at New Delhi. However, it should be noted that you will not be able to send your visa application through courier or post, as the Austria Visa Application Centre in New Delhi cannot process those. In order to submit or collect the applications, you have to do it in person, or you will have to send your travel agent or an authorised representative.

The following will be considered as authorised representatives of the applicant:

• If you are applying as a group or family, then any one individual from the group..
• If you are applying as a group or family, then any one individual from the group
• A person that has been authorised by the government can collect it on the government's behalf. He or she will need a letter from the government to prove the same.
• An official representative of a company but he or she will require a letter from the concerned party at the company. Additionally, he or she will also need to present the official ID of the company.

In all the cases mentioned above, the individual who will be collecting the documents would need to present the following:

• Original and a photocopy of any Government issued ID Card
• Original ICR
• A letter from the applicant where the individual has to be authorised by the applicant

In order to apply for the visa, the first thing that you will need to do is choose the visa category depending on the nature and purpose of your visit and go over the requirements for the same.

The second thing that you need to do is book an appointment before you submit your visa application. Once you arrive at the visa application centre, you need to take a token from the entrance and then proceed to the waiting area. You will be called to the visa application submission counter to submit your application and the required documents. The documents along with your photograph and passport will be scrutinised and verified for their authenticity and validity.

Lastly, you will receive a receipt for the services and fees charged during the process. Do ensure you carry all the originals of your documents.

Where to Apply for Austria Visa?

In order to apply for a visa to Austria, you will need to visit The Embassy of Austria in New Delhi. Additionally, as mentioned on the Embassy of Austria website, you can also visit the offices of VFS Global Services in Delhi, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Ahmadabad, Chandigarh, Kochi, Goa, Hyderabad, Pune, Puducherry, and Trivandrum. The addresses are given below:

You can also clarify any doubts that you may have by contacting them on:

Phone Helpline: +91 22 67866008

Email Id: info.ausin@vfshelpline.com