Austria Schengen Visa Requirements for UK Residents

Tucked in between the soaring Alps, Austria is an enchanting country with dream-like landscapes, picture-perfect meadows, and grasslands, stunning baroque architecture, and music flowing through its veins.

From pretty villages to magnificent cities, from the best operas to the most lavish desserts Austria has the perfect ingredients to intoxicate your senses. Whether you want to take a holiday like the Alps or want to spend a weekend and enjoy the cultural and artistic life of the cities, Austria is a destination not to be missed. There are many and varied year-round attractions in Austria with places to visit in both summer and winter.

Who needs a visa to travel to Austria from the UK?

Travelling to Austria for EU/EEA Citizens

Austria is a Schengen country, which allows for free movement between the 26 EU and EFTA states (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland). A uniform Schengen visa issued by one of the Schengen states is valid for travel within the whole Schengen area.

Travelling to Austria Post-Brexit for UK Citizens

The rules for travelling or working in Europe will change from 1 January 2021:

• You will be able to travel to countries in the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism. This is a rolling 180-day period.
• Therefore, if you’re travelling to Austria, previous visits to the Schengen area within the 180 days before your date of travel would count against the 90-day limit.
• If you are travelling visa-free to Austria and other countries in the Schengen area, make sure your whole visit is within the limit.
• To stay for longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you will need to meet the entry requirements set out by Austria. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You should check with the Austrian Embassy what type of visa if any, you will need.
• Periods of stay authorized under a visa or permit will not count against the 90-day limit.

The European Commission has not yet set out how the limit of 90 days in any 180-day period for visa-free travel will be implemented for those who are already travelling in the EU or Schengen Area on 31 December 2020.

If you are travelling to Austria before 31 December 2020 and will stay until 1 January 2021 or later, you should check with the Austrian Embassy for information on how the 90-day visa-free limit will apply to you. This also applies if your stay includes travel to other Schengen area countries.

At border control for Austria, you may need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• show you have enough money for your stay
• use separate lanes from EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens when queueing

Your passport may be stamped on entry and exit.

Travelling to Austria for Other Third Country Nationals

Many non-EU nationals who reside in the UK are still required to get a Schengen visa to travel to Austria.

Citizens of the following countries residing in the UK and planning to visit Austria are required to get an Austrian visa to be able to enter Austria:

The main requirement is that you must have a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Austria / the Schengen Area.

Before starting a visa application, or getting a flight to Austria, make sure to check whether you need a visa to Austria or not.

If you have a 3-month UK visa you can extend it for three more months in order to be eligible to apply for an Austrian Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK.

Note: You can stay in the UK until the decision about the extension is taken, but only if you have applied within the visa period.

You should apply for an Austrian visa at the appropriate Austrian Embassy/Consulate or Austrian visa application center in the UK if:

• Austria is the only Schengen country you plan on visiting
• Austria is your main destination (the country you will be staying the longest in)
• Austria is the first Schengen country you are visiting (when spending an equal amount of days in Austria and another Schengen country)

In case you plan on staying in Austria for more than 90 days you must apply for a residency permit, not an Austrian Schengen visa.

Please, note that if you are not a resident in the United Kingdom you should apply at the Austrian Embassy/Consulate/VAC in your home country of residence.

Steps to Applying for an Austrian Schengen Visa from the UK

Step 1: Know your visa type and validity

There are 2 types of visa that you can apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip and your reason for travelling to Austria:

1. Short-stay (Schengen) Visa – valid for up to 90 days (in a 180-day period) for tourism, business, visiting family/friends, conference, EEA/EU national family member
2. Residence and work permits (Long stays) – you should apply for this kind of visa if you want to live in Austria for more than 90 days for employment, family reunification, study, research, etc.

Step 2: Identify where to make application and book an appointment

You will have to apply for a short-stay visa to Austria at the Austrian body responsible for visa admission in your country of residence.  This could be one of the following:

• The Austrian Embassy
• An Austrian consulate
• A Visa Application Center to which Austria has outsourced visa submission
• The Embassy / Consulate of another Schengen country to which Austria has outsourced visa submission

Step 3: Complete your application form

Step 4: Prepare your documents

The following list of documents are required in order to obtain a Schengen visa to Austria in the UK:

• A valid passport or Travel document. Please make sure:
• Your passport has been issued within the previous 10 years,
• Your passport has 2 full blank pages, one for the visa stamp and an additional spare page,
• Your passport will be valid for at least three (3) months after the date you exit the Schengen Area.
• A valid UK residence permit or another form of Identity Card.
• The UK residency permit must be endorsed in the actual passport (or on a new biometric ID card)
• The UK residence permit must be valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Austria.
• One Austrian Schengen Visa application form filled out completely and signed by the applicant.
• One recently taken passport format photo with a blank background and where all your facial features are clear, which must be glued to the application form. Applications with stapled photographs will be rejected.
• A cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit to Austria
• Biometric data (Applies only if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months):
• Fingerprints
• A copy of the passport bio page where the photo is included.

Note: Children under the age of 12 are exempted from providing fingerprints.

This requirement only applies if you haven’t provided biometric data within the last 59 months

• Proof of travel arrangements: Round trip flight/travel reservations or other proof of intended transport and complete itinerary of your visit to Austria (if several Schengen States will be visited or if the trip covers several Schengen States and non-Schengen countries).
• Travel Insurance stating that you are covered in case of a medical emergency and repatriation not just in Austria but in the whole Schengen zone (minimum coverage of € 30,000).
• Holders of diplomatic passports and family members of EU/EEA citizens are exempted from providing proof of travel medical insurance
• Proof of accommodation in Austria:
• Evidence of a hotel booking or rental agreement, or
• Invitation from your Austrian host (family member, friend) with a copy of their passport. You will need to submit some extra documents to prove that you have been invited to visit Austria by a friend or a family member. These requirements are:
• Invitation letter signed by the host.
• Copy of the host’s passport.
• Host’s Residence Permit (if applicable).
• Electronic Guarantee Letter (EVE). Your host in Austria should apply for an EVE at the local alien’s police in their city of residence. The authority dealing with their EVE will forward the information to the Austrian Embassy in your country of residence within 48 hours. Your host will receive an ID-number, which you should provide at the visa interview. Your host will be asked to provide the following documents/information to receive the EVE:
• Their Passport or Personal ID Card.
• Police Registration.
• Recent bank Statement.
• Last payslip.
• Tenancy Agreement.
• Your (visa applicant) Passport number.
• Your date of birth.
• Your place of birth.
• Your address.

• Proof of financial subsistence: Proof of financial subsistence:
• A recent statement of UK bank account for the last three months that shows funds of at least 50 € (40 £) per day spent in Austria, or
• Traveller’s cheques, or
• Proof of sponsorship. When another person will be financially sponsoring your trip to Austria. It is also often called an Affidavit of Support.
• Certificate of a criminal record of the home country– showing that candidate has no open crime case involvement
• Proof of paid Austria visa fee.

Note: Photocopies of the original documents should also be submitted and documents should not be more than one month old.

The documents listed above are documents required in all cases, regardless of the purpose of your visit to Austria.

Austrian Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

Depending on your employment status, here is a list of additional documents that are required for your visa application:

Austrian Visa Requirements For employees:

• Employment contract
• Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Leave permission from the employer
• Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

Austrian Visa Requirements For the self-employed:

• A copy of your business license
• Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
• Income Tax Return (ITR)

Austrian Visa Requirements For foreign students in the UK:

• Proof of enrollment
• No-objection certificate from school or university

Austrian Visa Requirements For retirees:

• Pension statement of the latest 6 months

Required Documents for a Medical Schengen Visa to Austria

When applying to get a visa to receive medical treatment in Austria, you must provide the following additional documents:

• A local medical report. Issued from a doctor/clinic/hospital in your home country, confirming that you need medical treatment in Austria.
• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Austria, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation.
• Payment receipt of medical fees.
• Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in Austria.
• Proof that you have sufficient financial means to pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout your treatment.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to Austria for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

When applying to get an Austrian visa under the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Austria you must provide the following additional documents:

• Event Information. As:
• Invitation letter from the relevant body in Austria with details upon the nature of events or activities that are to be held in Austria.
• Entry tickets to the event.
• Enrolment conditions.
• Detailed programme of the event in Austria.
• Other documents that present Names of the applicants (crew members) and other relevant information about the event.
• Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners’ certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).

Austrian Visa Requirements If unemployed and married to an EU citizen:

• A recent (less than 3 months old) Confirmation of Employment letter from their spouse’s employer stating the position held within the company as well as the starting date,
• Spouse’s valid passport
• An officially translated marriage certificate. The translation must be in English or Austrian and must be certified as a true copy by the Embassy of the country where the marriage took place or by the Legalization Bureau of the Foreign Office in the UK

Austrian Schengen Visa Document Requirements for children under the age of 18:

Parents or an adult guardian are required to accompany their underage children to the application centre at the Embassy of Austria in London. Also, minors who are granted an Austrian visa are not allowed to travel to Austria by themselves. They should be accompanied by an adult during their stay in Austria.

Austrian Schengen Visa Required documents for visa application for underage children

• Birth certificate
• Austria Schengen Visa application form should be signed by both parents.
• A family court order, in cases where only one parent has full custody over the child.
• Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents
• A notarized parental authorization to travel to Austria, signed by both parents/guardians, if the minor will be travelling alone with another person.

All documents provided should be legalized.

Step 5: Attend your appointment

The visa interview is a meeting between you and the consular officer/interviewer. During this interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions about you and your intended trip. You will also be submitting the required documents throughout the meeting, to the interviewer.

The visa interview is a meeting between you and the consular officer/interviewer. During this interview, the consular officer will ask you several questions about you and your intended trip. You will also be submitting the required documents throughout the meeting, to the interviewer.

Visa Fees for UK Residents

The fee must be paid upon submitting the Austrian visa application. After you complete this payment, you will receive a receipt, which shows that payment has been made, which must be offered amongst other documents of the application dossier. You will have to pay an Austrian visa fee for your application to be processed.

Since Austria is a Schengen state, visa fees are the same as any other Schengen visa. These are the costs of an Austrian Schengen Visa when applying from the UK:

Schengen Visa Category (by age)	Fee in UK Pound	Fee in Euro
Adult	73 £	80 €
Child between 6-12 years of age	36.5 £	40 €
Child younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free

Note: Keep in mind that these fees may change depending on currency fluctuations and can be paid only in UK Pounds.

 

Step 6: Receive your visa

Visa Application Processing Time in the UK

You can apply for an Austria Schengen Visa 6 months before your planned trip. Depending on the nationality of the applicant, the processing time may take at least 15 days from the day of application. In some cases when required documents are missing from the application, this process may take longer.

Therefore, to avoid unwanted complications, the Austrian Consulate General in London advises that you provide all required documents and submit your application at least 20 workdays (4 weeks) before the day you leave for Austria.

Visa application decision:

• Approved – Once your visa is approved, it will be stamped in your passport. Make sure to carefully check the visa sticker to make sure everything is correct and exactly how you need it.
• Rejected – if your visa has been rejected, it would have been for a specific reason and you have the right to appeal.

Common rejection reasons include:

• Marriage certificate missing – if you are applying for a visa for family reasons, you may have to prove family ties. This is why you must provide a marriage certificate
• You applied for the wrong visa – it is your responsibility to apply for the correct visa depending on how long you are going to Austria for and your reason for travelling there
• It is not clear that you plan to return to the UK – it must be clear that you intend to return to the UK before the visa expires. If the visa staff have doubts about this, your visa will be rejected
• The purpose of your trip cannot be established – the reason why you are planning to go to Austria must be made clear. You can do this by providing specific documents like a full itinerary, work contract or invitation letter, etc.

What If My Austria Schengen Visa Is Rejected?

If you receive a negative answer in your Austria Schengen visa application, this does not mean you cannot ever travel to Austria. You have two options.

• File an appeal for Austria Schengen visa rejection if you believe that the decision to deny you a visa is unjust. You should have a strong basis for your complaint. You can appeal this decision by writing an appeal letter for an Austrian Schengen visa rejection.
• Reapply by correcting the mistakes you did in your previous application. Or improve your situation to comply with the eligibility criteria for an Austria Schengen Visa.

Austrian Schengen Visa Extension

Short-stay Schengen visa extensions are permitted by the regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EC) No. 810/2009 of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Journal of Laws of the EU of 2009 L243/1). However, you will have very low chances to get one, if you do not have a strong reason as the basis of your application.

Austria Schengen Visa Frequently Asked Questions