Visa

Japanese citizens holding a valid Japanese passport do not need an entry visas for Austria. They are welcome to enter and stay (as visitors, tourists or business travellers) for a period of up to six (6) months as of the date of entry.

The passport must not expire before the end of the scheduled trip.

However, any stay which is longer than three months requires a direct departure from Austria to Japan. If a direct departure is not planned and a transit from Austria via a Schengen country back to Japan is envisaged, a visa from the respective country of departure should be applied for. For example: If a Japanese citizen holds a flight ticket from Vienna via Helsinki to Japan and if the Japanese citizen did stay in Austria longer than three (3) months, a visa issued by the Republic of Finland is required.

If a Japanese citizen intends employment during his short stay in Austria which is subject to a work permit, a visa is required. The work permit issued by Public Employment Service Austria ("AMS - Arbeitsmarktservice") has to be attached to the visa application. Visa applications of Japanese citizens are free of consular fees.

A stay in Austria beyond six months per year as of the day of first entry is subject to a residence permit.

Foreigners who require a visa for Austria apply for the common Schengen visa which allows travel to all member states of the Schengen area

Different Schengen Visa types are:

• Visa A (Airport Transit Visa)
• Visa C (Visitor's visa, valid for up to 90 days maximum per semester)

There is also a visa D which is not a Schengen, but a national visa. Japanese citizens who will take on employment during their stay in Austria of up to 6 months which would otherwise not be subject to a visa require a visa D (researchers, exchange scientists, interns, volunteers etc. and employees who are subject to a work permit).

The following countries constitute the “Schengen area” :

1. Austria
2. Belgium
3. Czech Republic
4. Denmark
5. Estonia
6. Finland
7. France
8. Germany
9. Greece
10. Hungary
11. Iceland
12. Italy
13. Latvia
14. Lithuania
15. Luxemburg
16. Malta
17. Netherlands
18. Norway
19. Poland
20. Portugal
21. Slovakia
22. Slovenia
23. Spain
24. Sweden
25. Switzerland

Not all member states of the European Union are Schengen countries. The Embassies and Consulates of the Schengen countries issue so-called “Schengen-visa” that generally is valid for travel to ALL participating countries. Border controls take place at the first entry into the Schengen area. There are no border controls between Schengen countries, although exceptions (random checks) are possible at all times.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Although there is no border control when traveling between Schengen countries you are under the obligation to have your passport with the valid visa on you at all times. 

If you wish to visit only one of the Schengen countries, you must apply at the embassy of that country. If you wish to visit more than one of the Schengen countries, you must apply at the embassy of the country which is your main destination. If you do not have a main destination, you must apply at the embassy of the country which you will travel to first. The visa shall be applied for in the country of your permanent residence.

Allow yourself sufficient time when applying for a visa and apply at least 3 weeks prior to the scheduled departure.

Please note that only applications with all supporting documents as follows will be accepted. In some cases further documents and guarantees may be required upon preliminary examination.

The visa application has to be made by the applicant in person.

• Application form, duly completed and signed by the applicant. Minors must submit the legal guardian's letter of consent. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Passport: Japanese residence- and re-entry permit attached in the current valid passport. Passport and re-entry permit to Japan must be valid for at least three months longer than the validity of the visa applied for.  Only passports issued within the past ten years can be accepted. Make sure it has at least 2 blank pages available.
• copy of your passport (the page with personal details and all visas contained
• 1 passport-size photo; for the required standards see www.passbildkriterien.at
• Alien registration card (+copy)
• Proof of the purpose of your visit to Austria. This should be done by providing a letter of invitation or declaration of commitment (online version "Verpflichtungserklärung" or "EVE")  provided for by your host in Austria. For this purpose your sponsor has to call at the Foreigners' Police Unit at his place of permanent residence and follow their guideline.
• Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay. Cash is no acceptable proof. Please note that bank account documents showing the activities on the applicant's bank account over the last 6 months are generally required.
• Proof of accomodation (hotel reservation, lease contract, ...)
• Proof of comprehensive health insurance (travel insurance), coverage € 30.000,-- minimum
• Evidence of occupation/student status: Proof of your current occupation in Japan.  Original letter of continued employment stating the start of employment,  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
• Flight confirmation
• Visa for onward destination country,
• if you wish to have your original documents and the passport returned by post: prepaid self addressed envelope, (recorded or registered delivery for the safe return of documents).

• Original invitation letter from your Austrian business partner bearing the signature  of an authorized company's representative. The letter must specify your name, personal details and passport data, the purpose and duration of your visit and that the company will be financially responsible for you during your stay in Austria. 
• an official declaration of commitment (online version "Verpflichtungserklärung" or EVE) provided for by your business partner in Austria might be required. For this purpose the Austrian company inviting you would have to call on the local foreigners' police unit and follow their guideline.

• A confirmed itinerary including all destinations and hotel reservations accordingly

• Official declaration of commitment (online version "Verpflichtungserklärung" or EVE) provided for by your host in Austria might be required. For this purpose your sponsor has to call on the local foreigners' police unit and follow their guideline. In any case, proof of ID, proof of income and financial status and proof of housing arrangment will be required.

• Visa of the country of final destination

• Visa fee for all types of Schengen visas: € 60,--, to be paid in Yen
• Visa fee for the national visa type D: € 100,--
• Visa for children under the age of 6 are free.

The consular fee for visa application applies once an application is handed in regardless of whether a visa will be issued or refused.

1. Holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration controls and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries.
2. Also note that the information on this homepage may not always be updated or comprehensive.
3. No information given on this homepage can be construed in any way as legally or any other way binding.
4. Furthermore all information on this homepage is subject to change any time.
   Schengen Information System.

You can find more detailed information about the Schengen Information System at the link english Version.