Entry and Residence Permits
Visa Information Service
New Telephone-based System to Improve Service for the Public
To facilitate timely and accurate dissemination of information to the public regarding applying for a visa, the Austrian Consulate General in Chicago has launched a new Visa Information Service on April 29, 2009.
Applicants will be able to call the service to obtain information regarding applying for entry and residence permits and will be able to make an appointment at the Austrian Consulate General.
The benefits of the new service are that the applicant:
- may speak with an operator who will be able to answer questions about visa requirements and application procedures from the convenience of their home or office.
- may schedule an appointment at the Austrian Consulate General for a date and time that is convenient for them.
- may prepare and plan ahead for their appointment.
To access the service, applicants will need to call +1/312/628-1297 from Chicago or +43/1/229-7210 from Austria and either provide a Visa or MasterCard credit card for a fee of 12,73 Euros. By paying this fee, the caller will be connected to an operator who will be able to schedule an appointment and provide the information that will be required by the Austrian Consulate General during the appointment.
The Visa Information Service is available in German and English. Operating hours will be from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm CST, Monday through Friday.
Information about Austrian visa information may also be obtained from the Austrian Foreign Ministry website at http://www.bmeia.gv.at/.
CSC Visa Information Service: FAQ
General Information
The following overview should give you an idea of whether or not you will need an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit to enter Austria.
U.S. citizens do not need an entry permit (visa) to stay in Austria as either tourists or on a business trip for a period of up to three months. If you enter Austria under the Visa Waiver Program, you are not allowed to take up any employment there.
As of January 1, 2006, it is the length of your stay in Austria that determines whether you should apply for either an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit.
If you plan to take up employment in Austria, even if it is just temporary or short-term, please make sure that you obtain all the necessary work authorization papers in advance and (if you are not self-employed) a letter from your employer. Without proper papers, neither a visa nor a residence permit will be issued.
Jurisdictions
Austrian Consulate General, Chicago
400 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 707
Chicago, IL 60611
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
If you do not reside in one of these states, you must apply at the office of the Austrian representation responsible for your state. We only accept applications within the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate (see above). Beside the Austrian Embassy, Consular Section, there are two more Austrian Consulates General in the United States. As each one serves clients from a particular region, please contact the appropriate office for assistance.
Austrian Embassy, Washington, D.C. - Consular Section
3524 International Court, NW
Washington, D.C. 20008
http://www.austria.org/
Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, U.S. Virgin Islands and Commonwealth of the Bahamas.
Austrian Consulate General, New York
31 East 69th Street
New York, N.Y. 10021
http://www.austria-ny.org/
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Bermudas.
Austrian Consulate General, Los Angeles
11859 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 501
Los Angeles, CA 90025
http://www.austria-la.org/
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Pacific Islands.
An entry permit (visa) is issued to individuals who plan to go to Austria on a temporary basis. The stay must not exceed six months (in most cases) and you do not intend to take up any employment in Austria. An entry permit is, in general, not a work authorization. However, starting January 1, 2006, some exceptions to this rule - mainly concerning certain temporary job assignments - come into effect.
If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you will most likely need an entry permit (visa) to enter Austria:
- Do you pass through Austria in (airport) transit?
- Do you intend to temporarily visit Austria as a tourist or to see friends or relatives who live in Austria?
- Are you on a (short-term) business trip to Austria?
- Will you take part in a conference or a seminar in Austria?
- Will you attend a German language course (up to six months)?
- Do you plan to study or to do an internship in Austria for up to six months?
- Will you be working as a guest professor at an Austrian university for one semester?
A residence permit is issued to foreign nationals who plan to stay in Austria for more than six months.
If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you will most likely need a residence permit in order to both come to and stay in Austria:
- Do you plan to move to Austria permanently because you are retiring or you are married to an Austrian citizen?
- Will you be transferred to your company's office in Austria for more than six months?
- Do you plan to study at a university/college or to attend school (grade 1-12) in Austria for a period exceeding six months?
- Will you be working as a researcher (as stipulated by Austria's "Alien Employment Act") at an Austrian university for more than six months?
- Do you plan to take up a one-year-job as an "au-pair" in Austria?
Last update: 29 Apr 2009
