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Entry Permits (Visa)

If you come to Austria as a tourist, pass through Austria in transit, visit friends and/or relatives in Austria, wish to attend a conference or are on business trip and your stay is not to exceed six months, you will most likely need an entry permit (visa) to cross the border into Austria. In general, you are not allowed to take up any employment while in Austria on a valid visa. 

However, while a visa is not a work permit by itself, there are certain, clearly defined circumstances under which the holder of a valid D+C visitor-travel visa may work temporarily in Austria.

Due to bi- and multilateral agreements, individuals who hold a valid regular passport of one of the Visa Waiver countries are visa-exempt and need NOT to apply for a visa to enter Austria (and the Schengen zone) for stays of up to 90 days (for a list of Visa Waiver countries see the pdf-file below). The possibility to enter Austria visa-free does not grant you the right to work there.

In any case, the passport must be valid for three more months beyond the date of leaving Austria (and the Schengen zone).
Visa Waiver Countries 		
3504_visa_waiver_countries.pdf	(10kB) 		

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 Alien Passports NEED a visa for Austria.
    * PLEASE NOTE: Refugee Travel Documents are accepted for visa applications only if you are unable to obtain a national passport. A written statement to that effect by the issuing authority of the Travel Document is required.
    * 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. 

Schengen Agreement
Austria is a member of the Schengen Agreement which has led to the disappearance of internal border controls. With a Schengen visa, you may travel freely throughout the Schengen zone.

The following 15 countries are parties to the Schengen Agreement:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

I) Airport Transit Visa (Visa A) & Transit Visa (Visa B)

If you travel from the US or any non-Schengen country via Austria to another non-Schengen country and you are not visa-exempt under the Visa Waiver Program, you must apply for a transit visa (visa B) if you leave the transit area of the airport and actually enter Austria (e.g. overnight stay at an airport hotel).

If you only change planes at the airport without leaving the transit area AND you do not hold a passport of one of the countries whose citizens need an airport transit visa (see below), a transit visa is NOT required.

If you both hold a passport of one of the countries listed below and do not have a valid "Green Card", you must apply for an airport transit visa (Visa A) even if you merely change planes in Austria without actually leaving the transit area of the airport:

Afghanistan                    Bangladesh                    DR Congo                    Eritrea                    Ethiopia
Ghana                              Iraq                                   Iran                                Liberia                    Nigeria
Pakistan                          Somalia                          Sri Lanka

II) Travel Visa (Visa C)

If you plan to go to Austria as a tourist, to visit friends or relatives or on a business trip for a period not to exceed 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 Consulate, your only destination or your main destination (longest duration of stay) must be Austria. In the absence of a main destination, Austria must be your first point of entry into the Schengen zone.

III) Visitor Visa (Visa D)

If you intend to stay in Austria for more than 90 days but less than 180 days as a tourist, as a student, on a business trip, or to visit friends or relatives AND you are neither a EU citizen nor EFTA citizen, you need a national Austrian visitor visa (Visa D). A visitor visa is valid for Austria only (it is not a Schengen visa), but it entitles the bearer to pass through other Schengen countries for up to 5 days in order to get to Austria. It is not a work permit.

IV) Visitor-Travel Visa (Visa D+C)

Starting January 1, 2006, the visitor-travel visa (Visa D+C) will allow you to work temporarily under clearly specified circumstances (e.g. artist or entertainer on short-term engagement) 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+C 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. However, the visitor-travel visa gives you the right to both stay in Austria for up to six months and travel within Schengen for up to three months.

If you plan to take up employment in Austria, even if it is just a temporary or short-term one, please make sure that you obtain in advance all the necessary work authorization papers and (if you are not self-employed) a letter from your employer. Without proper papers, no visa will be issued.

PLEASE NOTE: Since the data on our website are constantly up-dated, please refrain from confirming the listed requirements by telephone.

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 consular fee must be paid when applying for a visa.
    * Visa applications will be processed as quickly as possible, but visas will not be issued for same-day travel. The Consulate recommends that you apply at least three weeks before your date of departure.
    * Whether you apply for a transit visa, a travel visa, or a visitor visa, personal appearance may be required regardless of where you reside. If you cannot come in person for whatever reason, please contact the Consulate by phone at 312-222-1515 or e-mail at chicago-gk@bmeia.gv.at
      Address: Austrian Consulate General, Wrigley Building, 400 N. Michigan Ave. #707, Chicago, IL 60611
      Public hours: Monday through Friday, 9 am to 12 noon (except some Austrian and some U.S. holidays).
    * A visa application can only be processed once all supporting documents have been received.
    * If you cannot pick up your passport or if you wish to have your passport and original documents returned other than by regular/standart mail, a prepaid self-addressed return envelope MUST be provided (U.S. Postal Service - Express or Priority Mail only!). The Austrian Consulate General will not be responsible for any lost mail. 
    * 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. you are in the U.S. as a tourist), you have to apply for a 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. Valid and signed passport or travel document (passport/travel document must be valid for at least three months beyond date of leaving the Schengen zone)
   2. Complete and signed application form for each applicant, all questions must be answered if applicable. If the applicant is a minor the application must be co-signed by both parents and/or legal guardians. A notary public must notarize these signatures or both parents and/or legal guardians sign the application form at the Consulate
   3. Two recent passport-sized photographs (front view, white background, no shadows and no copies of any kind). DO NOT staple or fix it to the application form (more information at: http://www.passbildkriterien.at)
   4. Travel itinerary (showing dates of travel) for complete journey and airline reservation (PLEASE NOTE: do not purchase your ticket unless you fulfill all other requirements. The Consulate is not responsible for any loss or penalties incurred). Original airline and/or train tickets, fully paid rental car and hotel reservations must be presented when passport is picked up)
   5. Proof of travel insurance or health/accident insurance providing at least coverage for the Schengen area. Minimum coverage EUR 30.000,-- or US-$ 45.000,--. Travel/health/acciedent insurances, where patients have to pay up front and are being reimursed by their insurance company later will NOT be accepted. A direct payment by the insuracne company to hospitals, physicians, etc. must be guaranteed
   6. Original "Green Card" or valid U.S. visa with original form I-94 and I-20 or IAP-66 (if applicable) affixed to passport (must be valid for at least three more months beyond date of leaving Schengen zone) or original of Alien Registration Card form I-512
   7. Visas of countries you intend to visit after your stay in Austria
   8. Non-refundable visa fee (see fee schedule) - payable at the time of application either in cash or postal money order
   9. Proof of sufficent funds for your stay in Austria, e.g. recent personal bank statement (must show your name and address), travelers checks, etc. 
