Entry Permits (Visa)

If you come to Austria as a tourist, pass through Austria in transit, visit friends and/or relatives in Austria, or are on business trip AND you are citizen of one of the visa-exempt countries (see doc file below) you DO NOT need to apply for a visa to enter Austria (and the Schengen Zone) for a stay up to 90 days. Please remember that, in general, you are NOT allowed to take up any employment during your visafree stay.

If you plan to go to Austria and your country does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program, you need a visa.

In any case, the passport must be valid for three more months beyond the date of leaving Austria (and the Schengen zone).

Please note that both your nationality (=citizenship) and the passport you hold determine whether you must apply for a visa or whether you can travel freely under the Visa Waiver Program.

• Holders of Refugee Passports, Alien Passports, and Permits to Re-Enter NEED a visa for Austria. 
• Holders of a Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card") also NEED a visa if they do not hold a regular passport of one of the Visa Waiver countries.
• Citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia holding a biometric passport do not need a visa for Austria. Individuals holding a passport issued by the Serbian authority "Koordinaciona uprava" always need a visa, BUT if your Serbian biometric passport was issued before the authority "Koordinaciona uprava" was established on September 21, 2009 by the following Serbian autorities in Kosovo, you can always enter Austria visa-free:
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA PRISTINU
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA GNJILANE 
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA DACOVICU
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA KOSOVSKO MITROVICO
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA PRIZREN
  MPU SRIBJE, PU ZA PEC
  MPU SRIBJE, PU UROSEVAC

Due to bi- and multilateral agreements, individuals who hold a valid regular passport of one of the following countries are visa-exempt and do NOT need to apply for a visa to enter Austria for stays of up to 90 days.

All EU member countries and the following countries are exempt from the obligation of obtaining a visa: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St. Christoph and Nevis, Switzerland, South Korea, United States (USA), Uruguay, Venezuela.

If you enter Austriaunder the Visa Waiver Program, you are not allowed to take up any employment there. If you plan to take up employment in Austria, even if it is just a temporary or short-term one, you need to apply for a Visa.  Please make sure, that you obtain in advance all necessary work authorization papers and (if you are not self-employment) a letter from your employer. Without the proper papers, neither a visa nor a residence permit will be issued.

Schengen Agreement

Austria is a signatory state of the Schengen Agreement, which has lead to the abolition of internal border controls. With a Schengen visa, you may travel freely throughout the entire Schengen zone.

The following countries are members of the Schengen Agreement:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Please note, that in order to apply for a visa at the Austrian Consulate, your only destination or your main destination (longest duration of stay) must be Austria. If your main destination is in Austria and another Schengen State, Austria must be your first point of entry into the Schengen Zone.

Example #1: you arrive in Austria and stay for 5 days, then travel to Italy for 2 days = you must apply for your Schengen visa at the Austrian Consulate.

Example #2: you arrive in Austria and stay 2 days, then travel to Italy for 4 days = you must apply for your Schengen visa at the Italian Consulate.

Example #3: you arrive in Austria and stay 3 days, then you travel to Italy for 3 days = you must apply for your Schengen visa at the Austrian Consulate, as Austria is your first point of entry.

I) Airport Transit Visa (Visa A)

If you travel from the US or any non-Schengen country via Austria to another non-Schengen country and are holding a passport of one of the following countries, you must apply for an airport transit visa, when changing planes in Austria. This does not apply, if you are a permanent resident in the US and are in possession of a valid "Alien Registration Card":

Afghanistan

• Bangladesh
• Dem. Rep. of Congo
• Eritrea
• Ethiopia
• Ghana
• Iran
• Iraq
• Liberia
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Somalia
• Sri Lanka

PLEASE NOTE: If you need to go through passport control (this is the case when you travel from one Schengen country to another Schengen country) or if you have to spend one night in Vienna, you must apply for a  Schengen Visa (Visa C) 

II) Schengen Visa (Visa C)

If you intend to go to Austria as a tourist, to visit friends or on a business trip for a period not exceeding 90 days and your country does not participate in the Visa Waiver Program, you need a Schengen travel visa (Visa C). This visa is not a work permit.

Please note that in order to apply for a travel visa at the Austrian Embassy or Consulate, your only destination (longest duration of stay) must be Austria. In absence of a main destination, Austria must be your first point of entry into the Schengen zone.

III) Austrian National Visa (Visa D)

If you intend to stay in Austria for more than 90 but less than 180 days (eg. for studies, research, internship, Au-Pair, temporary employment) AND you are neither an EU nor an EFTA citizen, you need an Austrian National Visa (Visa D). The Visa D entitles you to stay up to 90 days within 6 months in the other Schengen countries.  A Visa D will allow you to work temporarily under clearly specified circumstances (e.g. if you are an artist or entertainer on a short-term employent/contractor) in Austria. It is not a work permit per se and, as such, does not allow you to take up any employment you like. Please note that you need the visa D to legally take up your temporary employment (as outlined above) even if you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa and your stay does not exceed three months.

You must provide the Embassy or Consulate with all documents and additional authorizations required; otherwise, the visa will not be issued.

 Application procedure:

Before you fill out a visa application, please make sure that you do not need to apply for a residence permit to go to Austria.

The Austrian Consulate General will accept only complete visa applications. Original documents will be returned after the application has been processed.

The visa fees have to be paid in advance at the time of application and are non refundable.
Please note, that since January 01, 2011, students, who will be studying abroad in Austria will have to pay a visa fee.

According to the Visakodex, the application process can take up to 15 calender days. Inquiries about the status will not be answered earlier. The Consulate recommends that you apply at least four weeks before your date of departure. Applications cannot be submitted more than 3 months prior to departure. 

ALL visa applicants must appear in person at the Austrian Consulate General. Address: 11859 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 501, Los Angeles, CA 90025. Public hours: Monday through Friday, 10 am to 1 pm.  An appointment is not required.

If you wish to have your documents returned by mail please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope (including postage for certified mail) with your application. We strongly recommend to use FEDEX or UPS. The Austrian Consulate General will not be responsible for documents after they were mailed from the Consulate.

Please note that there is no legal claim on obtaining the visa applied for. In the event that changes are made to the application after it was received, additional fees will be charged.
If you do not reside in the United States of America (e.g. being in the U.S. as a tourist), you cannot apply for a visa at the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles. You must apply for the visa at the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.

The following documents (if applicable) must be presented when applying for a visa:

1. a valid and signed passport or travel document (Passport/travel document must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen zone. Further, the first issue date of your passport must not be more than 10 years ago, and it must provide at least two empty pages.
2. the visa application form, completed and signed on page 2 and 3 
3. minors need a notarized consent of parents or legal guardian
4. two recent passport pictures. They strictly have to meet the following criteria: front view, mouth closed, no background shadow, max. head size 1.4 inch (36 mm), min. eye distance 0.3 inch (8mm)
5. travel itinerary/ airline reservation (showing dates of travel) for entire journey
6. hotel reservation for the entire stay in the Schengen Area
7. original letter of employment in the U.S., stating professional
   position, monthly salary and vacation granted or company registration or retirement benefits
8. proof of travel insurance or health/accident insurance providing coverage in the Schengen countries: stating name of insurance company, type of coverage (medical emergencies including repatriation) and amount of coverage (minimum USD 50,000), including extra coverage of min. 15 calendar days after your departure, option of direct payment, no deductible 
9. original "Green Card" (notarized copy not accepted) or US visa with I-94 affixed to passport (must be valid for at least three more months beyond the date of departure from the Schengen zone.)
10. proof of financial means (e.g. scholarship, letter of grants, bank statement of last two months with full transactions, documents confirming real estate ownership, tax returns, other proof of income)
11. visas of countries you intend to visit after your stay in Austria
12. fotocopies of all original documents you need back, copy of the passport, previous Schengen Visas, copy of the "Green Card" or US visa

In addition to the above mentioned documents, the following items must be submitted:

If you are visiting friends or family without sufficient financial means of your own:

• Electronic declaration of liability (Elektronische Verpflichtungserklaerung*), which the host has to file with the Austrian Aliens Branch of the Police (Fremdenpolizei) and which will be sent to the Austrian Embassy electronically (no additional documents from host necessary).

If you are visiting friends or familiy with sufficient financial means of your own:

• passport copy of host (if they are not Austrian, an additional permit of stay for Austria in required)
• proof of accommodation: rent (lease contract) or proof of property
• registration of residence ("Meldezettel") 
• written invitation letter of host person

If you are traveling on business:

If you cannot provide proof of sufficient financial means of your own:

• electronic declaration of liability (Elektronische Verpflichtungserklaerung*), which the host has to file with the Austrian Aliens Branch of the Police (Fremdenpolizei), and which will be sent to the Austrian Embassy electronically (no additional documents of the host necessary).
• original letter issued by your company (mentioning the name, position and passport details of the individual concerned; explaining the purpose of the trip; mentioning their contact details; detailed itinerary/business schedule; duration)

If you can provide proof of sufficient financial means of your own:

• original letter issued by your company (mentioning the name, position and passport details of the indivual concerned; explaining the purpose of the trip; mentioning their contact details; detailed itinerary/business schedule; duration)
• original invitation letter from the Austrian company (mentioning the name, position and passport details of the invitee; explaining the purpose of the trip, mentioning their contact details; detailed itinerary/business schedule; duration

If you are attending a conference:

• original invitation to the conference
• original proof of registration (payment of the registration fee, if applicable)
• proof of accommodation
• proof of sufficient financial means or an Electronic declaration of liability*

If you are participating in a student progam (less than six months):

• original letter issued by your educational institution
• original proof of registration
• proof of sufficient financial means e.g. scholarship, letter of grants, bank statement of last two months (parent's account accepted including supporting letter, supporting letter must be signed by a notary public), other proof of income
• proof of lodging in Austria (e.g. lease contract)

Elektronische Verpflichtungserklaerung* - Electronic declaration of liability:

An individual legally residing in Austria can approach the local authority responsible for visa and residence permits (Bundespolizeidirektion, Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Polizeikommissariat) in order to sign a declaration of liability for his guest(s).

For business invitations, a representative of the host company/organization in Austria has to file an application with the local authority responsible for visas and residence permits for Austria (Bundespolizeidirektion, Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Polizeikommissariat). The Austrian authority will verify the identity of the host and review his/her financial status. Upon completion of the verification process and after signing the declaration of liability, an 8-digit ID-number will be issued to the host. This ID-number is required by the Embassy or Consulate at the time of the application.

Note: The Embassy or Consulate can access the data only 48 hours after the verification process

FURTHER DOCUMENTATION MAY BE REQUIRED ON A CASE-TO-CASE BASIS

DO NOT CALL THE EMBASSY TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF YOUR APPLICATION.
The Embassy will not provide any information about the status of your application via phone or e-mail. A consular officer will let you know as soon as your visa is issued. Otherwise, the Embassy will contact you if additional documentation is required.

PLEASE NOTE: FURTHER DOCUMENTATION MAY BE REQUIRED ON A CASE-TO-CASE BASIS!