Austria Schengen Visa Application Requirements

Introduction

Characterized by mountain villages, baroque architecture, Imperial history, and rugged Alpine terrain, Austria is a German-speaking country in Central Europe. It is one of the richest states in terms of per capita income in the world and ranks fourth in Europe. It borders eight countries. The country became a signatory to Schengen Agreement in 1995 and started issuing Austrian Schengen Visa in 1997.

It has an area of 83,871 km2 and a population of 8,712,137 people.

Vienna, its Danube River capital, is home to the Schönbrunn and Hofburg palaces. It has counted Mozart, Strauss, and Freud among its residents. The country’s other notable regions include the northern Bohemian Forest, Traunsee Lake, and eastern hillside vineyards.

Schengen Area

Schengen Area is a borderless, passport-free zone comprising 26 countries of Europe. Till date, the Schengen Area remains the world’s largest visa-free zone in the world.

Schengen Visa

Schengen Visa is a short-stay visa that enables its holder to travel 26 European countries which are part of Schengen Area. Authorities concerned will not subject holder of a Schengen Visa to border checks at internal borders of the Schengen countries.

General Documents for Austria Schengen Visa Application

Application form: The first step is to download the application form from the website. Read it carefully and then fill it with utmost honesty.

Attach two recent photos with the application form. Photos should be clicked in passport format by the applicant with whole-face captured in a light background. Also, attach with the visa application form original passport and copies of visas previously issued. The passport must contain at least two blank pages for affixing the visa.

Other important documents are as follow:

Roundtrip Flight Itinerary for visa application: A verifiable document issued by an airline, travel agency or an online service provider to confirm that the visa applicant has booked/paid for a flight seat on an aircraft.

Travel Visa Health Insurance: A health insurance covering minimum expenses worth 30,000 euros in case of any medical complication, accident or repatriation after death. The insurance policy should clearly mention insuree, its validity and the benefits offered. The availed insurance should cover emergency treatments of hospitals in case of medical complication and repatriation on medical grounds and even death.

Hotel Booking Reservation/Proof of accommodation: It is a document that specifies place/places of applicant’s stay during the course of his visit to Schengen state/states. It includes:

A hotel/hostel booking; and

A rental agreement; and

A letter of invitation from a host at whose house you will be staying.

Bank statement/Proof of financially means: This document is required to confirm that applicant is financially able to sponsor his stay in the Schengen Area and it includes a bank statement, sponsorship letter or a combination of bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship.

Cover Letter: Cover Letter or Covering Letter is a letter sent with and explaining the contents of another document/documents or parcels of goods.

The applicant explains the following things in Schengen Visa Cover Letter:

The Intention of traveling to the Schengen state/states.

Evidence of sufficient financial means to bear the expenditures of the trip. It includes funds in the shape of a bank statement or sponsorship letter issued by the citizen of the host nation.

Explaining relation with a sponsor (if any) and the reasons for sponsorship. An overview of the applicant’s flight itinerary.

In case applicant fails to produce a document, then he tells the reasons and explains the alternative documents (that he/she might have submitted).

Affidavit of Support: Diplomatic officers demand this document if the applicant does not hold a bank account or lacks fund to support himself/herself during the course of his/her stay in the Schengen Area. In such scenario, the applicant is directed to request relatives or friends—residing in the Schengen state—to sign document named as “Official Affidavit of Support”.

Means of subsistence: It means to provide evidence to the Austrian Embassy or consulate that the applicant has sufficient amount or financial resources to bear his/her expenditures during his stay in the Schengen country.

Proof of paid visa fee: €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old. These fees are not reimbursable in case visa application gets rejected.

If employed:

Employment contract; and

Current bank statement of the latest 6 months; and

Leave permission from the employer; and

Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

If self-employed:

A copy of your business license; and

Company bank statement of the latest 6 months; and

Income Tax Return (ITR).

If a student:

Proof of enrollment; and

No-objection certificate from school or university.

If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months.

If applicable:

Regular income generated by property proof of the latest 6 months.

*Note: The signed application form must be accompanied the rest of the above-mentioned mandatory documents and handed personally at the appropriate embassy/consulate or its representative in your home country.

Apart from the general documentation required, accompanying should be other additional documents depending on the nature of your visa application.

It is mandatory here to mention that the authority of making a final decision that whether an applicant should be allowed to enter the country or not rests with border officials of Austria. After thoroughly scrutinising visa documents, Austrian border officials may put forth following questions:

What is your purpose of visiting Austria?

How long do you intend to stay in Austria?

Where are you going to stay in Austria? Etc.

And if they are satisfied with answers, the applicant will be granted permission to enter Austria. The applicant must make sure that the border officials stamp his/her application. Failing to do so can result in monetary fine or detention.

Austria Tourism/Visit Schengen Visa

Proof of sponsorship/Invitation (originally signed): It is recommended to attach the proof of sponsorship/invitation with the visa application. Immigration Authority of Austria issues the document; and

In case the applicant intends to visit more Schengen countries, travel plan.

Electronic Guarantee Letter (EVE): The applicant’s host in Austria has to apply for an EVE at the Locals Aliens Police in the city where he/she resides. The officials concerned will forward the information (provided through EVE) to the Austrian Embassy/Consulate in the applicant’s country within 48 hours.

After this, the host (Austrian citizen) will receive an ID number which the applicant will provide in the interview. The host requires following documents for EVE:

Host’s personal ID card or passport

Police registration

Bank Statement

Last pay slip

Tenancy Agreement

Applicant’s passport number

Applicant’s DOB

Applicant’s place of birth

Applicant’s address

Austrian Airport Transit Schengen Visa

Applicant must possess an authentic visa for the final country of the Schengen Area he/she is traveling to.

A flight ticket for final country of the Schengen Area he/she is traveling to.

Austrian Business Schengen Visa

Invitation letter: An applicant must attach an invitation letter issued by the company of the host country. It is pertinent here to mention that an invitation letter must contain the detailed address of the company and complete dates pf applicant’s visit.

NOC from employer: This letter explains the reasons for applicant’s travel to the host nation.

Proof of financial means: The employer or company of the host nation are bound to submit an affidavit regarding coverage of applicant’s expenses during his/her stay in the Schengen state.

Business Bank Statement: Applicant must attach the bank statement of his/her company of the past six months.

Memorandum and Article of Association

Trade License (first issued and present renewal).

Austria Student Schengen Visa

Enrollment certificate: An enrollment certificate issued by the school/college/university of the host nation.

NOC: A No Objection Certificate from issued by the school/college/university of the host nation.

Austria Medical Schengen Visa

Medical report: A medical report issued by the doctor, clinic or hospital of the applicant’s home country.

Medical Attestation: An attestation from the doctor or hospital of the host nation stating the dates of the applicant’s appointment.

Receipts: Payment receipts of medical dues.

Confirmation: A confirmation by the doctor or hospital of host nation regarding treatment of appointment of the applicant.

Proof of financial means: Documents showing that applicant can afford treatment in the Schengen state.

Documents Required by Spouse of Austria National

Proof of Austrian citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Austrian nationality or naturalization order).

Austrian marriage certificate.

Austrian family record book.

Other specific documents depending upon nature of visa

Diplomatic officers at embassies or consulates of Schengen states can demand other documents depending upon the nature of visa.

Duration of Austria Schengen Visa

An Austria Schengen Visa holder can stay up to 90 days within a period of six months for business or tourist purpose in Schengen state/states.

However, if you want to live or work in any of the Schengen countries for more than 90 days, then you are required to apply for the visa of that specific European country.

When to apply?

As per instructions and rules of European Commission, an aspirant must file Schengen Visa application at least 15 days prior to the start date of his trip.