Schengen Visa & Residence Permits

From 4 April 2012 onwards appointments have to be booked free of charge through VFS. To book an appointment, please click here

Should you experience technical difficulties whilst trying to book your appointment, please contact VFS at Feedback_PRS.UK(at)vfshelpline.com for further assistance

Should you wish to cancel or reschedule your appointment please contact the call centre team of VFS on 0871 376 2101.

After successful booking of your appointment, the application has to be lodged at the respective Visa Centres:

London: Austrian Embassy, 18 Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8HU 

Manchester: VFS Visa Application Centre, Citibase, 4 Floor, 40 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DE  

Edinburgh: VFS Visa Application Centre, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh EH1 3LH

Please note that VFS Visa Application Centres in Manchester and Edinburgh charge an additional service fee (approx. GBP 25), for further information see http://www.vfsglobal.com/austria/uk/index.html

Please be informed that all applications will continue to be assessed by the Austrian Embassy London.

Opening hours of the Austrian Embassy (for appointment holders only)  

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 12.00 am, closed on Austrian Public Holidays/Bank Holidays.

Please be aware that you will only be seen with a valid appointment.

Visa collection at the Austrian Embassy:

Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 11.30 am. The Austrian Embassy is closed on Austrian Public Holidays/Bank Holidays.

Costs of Visa:

Visa Fee currently: Adults: £ 51.00 (exact change would be appreciated), Children (aged between 6 – 12) £ 29.80 Exceptions:

Due to an agreement with the EC the Visa fee for applicants of the following countries: Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia[1], Montenegro[2], Serbia[3] and Moldova, is £ 29.80 Children under 6 years of age and spouses/civil partners, children and dependants of EU/EEA nationals exercising their right of free movement get the visa issued free of charge

Further exceptions are being made for:

School pupils, students, post graduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;

Researchers from third countries travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research as defined in Recommendation No 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005;

Representatives of non-profit organisations up to 25 years old participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organised by non-profit organisations.

Information on pending visa and residence permit applications

Monday to Friday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Tel. 020 7245 6689

or via email: visa.london-ob(at)bmeia.gv.at

[1]In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1244/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, nationals of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia holding biometric passports are exempt from the visa obligation (OJ L 336, 18.12.2009, p. 1); the VFA continues to apply to holders of non-biometric passports.

[2]In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1244/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, nationals of Montenegro holding biometric passports are exempt from the visa obligation (OJ L 336, 18.12.2009, p. 1); as non-biometric Montenegrin passports are no longer valid, the VFA is no longer applied in practice.

[3]In accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1244/2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 539/2001, nationals of Serbia holding biometric passports (excluding holders of passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate [in Serbian: Koordinaciona uprava]) are exempt from the visa obligation (OJ L 336, 18.12.2009, p. 1); the VFA continues to apply to holders of non-biometric passport holders and holders of passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate.