How to Apply for a Visa
How to Schedule a Visa Appointment
The Austrian Embassy does have a telephone-based appointment scheduling system for Visa and Residence Permits.
The service is available via a local UK number 020 300 259 36 and a local Austrian number 0043 1 229 7210. Operating hours for the Visa Information Service are Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. In order to access the service you need a credit card, which will be charged with the equivalent of 12,50 Euros for the call. Information is available in English and German.
The Visa Information Service is operated on behalf of the Austrian Foreign Ministry by CSC.
Applicants who do not wish to make use of this service will be able to make appointments directly at the Austrian Embassy on Wednesdays between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm. THIS WILL BE FOR SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT ONLY. Pleae bring your passport. We will not process applications on Wednesdays afternoon. Please be advised that by coming to the Embassy directly rather than contacting the Visa Information Service you might encounter longer waiting times in securing an appointment.
Opening hours of Visa Department (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.
Information on pending visa and residence permit cases
Monday to Friday 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, Tel. 020 7245 6689 or
on email: visa.london-ob(at)bmeia.gv.at
The following documents are required:
- Completed application form, duly signed by the applicant(s).
You must answer all the questions, otherwise your application will not be accepted. In some cases more than one application form may have to be submitted. Minors must submit a letter from school, college, university and/or legal guardian. Furthermore both parents must sign the form. If one parent is unable to sign the form, he/she must submit a letter of agreement together with a copy of his/her passport.
A full national passport or official travel document valid for more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with a blank visa page to affix the visa sticker. Your British Residence Permit must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa. Exception will be made (1 month) for people returning for good to their country on presentation of their travel tickets.
- 2 passport-size photos according to the following standards
(do not staple or damage the photo, background has to be light and plain) - Proof of why you want to visit Austria
This should be ONE of the following:
1. Confirmed hotel reservation or confirmation of tour. Please note that we do not accept bookings from booking.com or venere.com or hostelworld.com or hostelbookers.com without confirmation of payment for the whole duration of your reservation.
OR
2. “Electronic letter of invitation“ (elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung) = EVE This service is free of charge and provided by the local aliens police (or District Commission, Federal Police Directorate and at any police station in Vienna). Please check with the nearest police station to find out where you can submit the EVE. The police station dealing with your EVE will forward the information to the Austrian Embassy within 48 hours. You will receive an ID-number which the visa applicant should provide at the interview.
Documents required for an EVE are:
· Passport or Personal ID Card
· Police registration
· Recent bank statement
· Last payslip
· Tenancy Agreement
· Passport number of visa applicant
· Date of birth of visa applicant
· Place of birth of visa applicant
· Address of visa applicant
Please note that Verpflichtungserklärungen legalized by a notary are no longer accepted.
This also applies for business applications.
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay (e.g. recent bank statement, travellers cheques) with the applicant's name, amounting to a minimum of GBP 30.00 day/person. Please note that cash and credit card statements are no acceptable proof.
Proof of health insurance (travel insurance) - minimum of medical coverage GBP 15,000 comprehensive accident and medical insurance, valid for all Schengen countries, validity must exceed validity of the visa, insurance company must be based in Austria or other EU member states, e.g. insurances can be bought from post offices, bank, travel agencies or BUPA-insurances! Please make sure that the document includes the following information: name of applicant, duration of the insurance, cover details (e.g. winter sport cover). Documents not in English or German require certified translation. A policy number only is not sufficient!
- Evidence of occupation/student status: Proof of your current occupation in the UK. This could be a recent, original letter of continued employment from your employer stating the position and income; if you are self-employed: a letter from your solicitor, accountant or the Chamber of Commerce including income statement; if you are a student, you will need a letter from the school, college/university confirming your status/attendance.
Pay slips and work contracts are not accepted. - Transport documentation:
- airline ticket or email confirmation of airline
- or rail ticket
- if you are driving: ferry confirmation, registration document, proof of legal ownership of vehicle, insurance papers (Green Card, which provides additional proof that the minimum legal third party cover is held. For further advice please contact your insurance company), if applicable: export license.
Please note: a proof of reservation is needed, but a ticket should not be bought until a visa is guaranteed or issued! - Visa for onward destination country, if required.
- VISA COLLECTION either in person or provide a PRE-PAID and SELF ADDRESSED SPECIAL DELIVERY ENVELOPE (from Post Office) at application
and we will post your passport back once the visa is issued.
We would kindly ask you to remember the 13 digit reference number stated at the special delivery/recorded envelope (in order to track the sent item on the following website: www.royalmail.com).
Visa Application Fee: GBP 52.70 (either in cash or by "Postal Orders" issued to the Austrian Embassy. Sorry, we cannot accept cheques or credit cards.)
Due to a bilateral agreement the Visa Application Fee for applicants of the following countries amount to GBP 30.80: Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Moldova
Minors under the age of 6 years: Visa Application Fee is free of charge
Schengen visas are issued free of charge to the spouse of EU nationals. Proof of relationship is required (original passport of EU-spouse or children and original birth certificate/s of child/ren or marriage certificate). Documents not in English or German require a certified translation. Photocopies of documents are also required.
All supporting documents must be submitted together and in duplicate - in ORIGINAL and PHOTOCOPY! Ensure all documents requested are provided. Incomplete applications will not be dealt with: Applicants will need to book another appointment to provide the lacking documents.
- PROCESSING TIME:
Nationals from the following list of countries should allow several weeks for the processing of the application from the date of appointment/receipt of documents:
Afghanistan, Algerien
Bangladesh, Belarus, Burundi
Democratic Republic of Congo
Egypt, Equatorial Guinea
Ghana
Indonesia, Iran, Iraq
Jordan
Kazakhstan (Service passports only)
Lebanon, Libya, Liberia
Mauretania, Moldova, Mali, Marokko
Nigeria, North Korea, Niger
Palestine, Pakistan, Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria
Togo, Tunesien
United Arab Emirates
Vietnam (not for service and diplomatic passports)
Yemen
All holders of Travel Documents for stateless persons and refugees.
For ALL OTHER NATIONALS the processing time is approx. 3 working days from the date of appointment/receipt of documents. Please note that the visa cannot be issued on the same day.
We kindly ask you NOT to send any of your supporting documents (i.e. letter of invitation, travel insurances, ...) prior to your application. Due to the high work load we are unable to deal with this matter and will therefore return all faxes or letters unseen. If you are invited by a private person or company in Austria please ask your invitee to send the letter of invitation directly to you.
Depending on the circumstances of your application you may be requested to produce further documentation.
Emergencies
In case of an emergency please make the Visa Information Service (Tel. 020 3002 5963 or (43) 1 229 7210) aware of circumstances that justify an emergency appointment to prove your situation, i.e. invitation to a funeral, hospital treatment of close relatives together with the contact details in Austria. The Visa Information Service will forward your request to the Austrian Embassy and once the emergency situation has been investigated and confirmed we will contact you to arrange an emergency appointment.
