Austrian Visa Guide 2026: Requirements, Types, and Application Steps

(AUSTRIA) Austria’s 2026 visa rules keep the same two-track system—short-stay Schengen visas and longer national visas—but costs rise and a new pre-travel check arrives. From January 1, 2026, a Schengen (Type C) visa costs €90 and a National (Type D) visa costs €180. ETIAS is set to start in Q4 2026 for visa‑exempt visitors.

These changes matter most for travelers who plan frequent trips, students coming for a semester, and employers hiring under Austria’s skilled‑worker routes. Even when you don’t need a visa, the 90 days in any 180‑day period Schengen limit still applies. Border officers can ask for proof of funds, lodging, and a return ticket, especially for post‑Brexit UK visitors.

Start by sorting your trip into “up to 90 days” or “over 90 days”

Austria sits inside the Schengen Area, so most short trips follow shared rules across 26 countries. Citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland enter freely. Nationals of the United States (🇺🇸), Canada (🇨🇦), Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Israel, and the UK also travel visa‑free for short stays, but only within the 90/180 limit.

The Austrian Interior Ministry keeps the nationality list and entry rules on its official visa information pages.

If your passport is from a visa‑required country, you need a visa even for a weekend in Vienna. Children need their own passports; a parent’s passport entry does not cover them. For longer stays—study, work, or joining family—non‑EU citizens need Austrian visas even if they normally enter visa‑free as tourists.

The two main visa types Austria issues

Austria’s consulates issue two main visas:

• Type C (Schengen): covers visits up to 90 days in 180 for tourism, business meetings, family visits, and short medical treatment.
• Type D (National): covers 91 days to 6 months for study, research, work placements, and family reunion steps that don’t yet qualify for a residence permit.

Key application rules:
– A Type C visa is valid across the Schengen zone; apply at the consulate of your main destination (where you’ll spend the most nights). If time is split evenly, apply where you enter first.
– A Type D visa is Austria‑focused but still allows visits to other Schengen states for up to 90/180 during its validity.

2026 updates: higher fees now, ETIAS later

The headline changes for 2026:

• From January 1, 2026:
• Schengen (Type C): €90 (adults)
• National (Type D): €180 (adults)
• Children under six: fee‑free
• Some applicants (Western Balkans, Eastern Partnership countries): €41
• Urgent handling: adds 50%
• Visa fees are not refunded if a case is refused

ETIAS details:
– Launch expected Q4 2026
– Applies to visa‑exempt nationals
– Authorization valid for three years or until passport expiry
– Covers 30 European countries
– Not a visa but mandatory pre‑travel authorization
– Families who visit Europe repeatedly should budget time for this extra step

VisaVerge.com notes that ETIAS adds a pre‑approval requirement even though it is not a visa.

Passport and work rules that commonly cause refusals

Austria applies strict passport rules for both C and D visas:

• Passport must be issued within the last 10 years
• At least two blank pages
• Valid for three months after you plan to leave the Schengen Area

Many refusals come from passports failing one of these checks.

Work rules:
– A standard Schengen visitor visa does not allow paid work in Austria.
– Many unpaid internships are treated as work by consulates.
– For any job activity, you need the “Erwerb” wording and approval from Austria’s Public Employment Service (AMS).
– Plan employer approvals early—the visa interview will test whether the role is genuine.

The application journey in five actions (with realistic timing)

Most applicants must apply in person at the embassy or consulate in their country of residence. You may apply as early as six months before travel and no later than 15 days before departure (last‑minute is risky). Typical processing: 15 to 60 days, with winter peaks delaying appointments.

1. Fill in the visa form and sign it.

– Austria posts Schengen and national visa forms and checklists on the Austrian Foreign Ministry’s visa pages.
– Use the same spelling as your passport. For minors, both parents sign where required.

1. Build your document pack.

– Originals plus copies: passport, one 35x45mm photo (ICAO standard), travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover for the whole Schengen area, proof of accommodation, proof of funds (bank statements).
– Many consulates expect roughly €60 per day as proof of means.

1. Book an appointment and give biometrics.

– You’ll answer questions and submit fingerprints.
– Fingerprints are kept for 59 months (if quality is usable), so repeat applicants may skip new scans.
– Expect staff to check that insurance, bookings, and funds match trip length.

1. Pay the fee and wait for a decision.

– Payment is taken in local currency at the consulate’s exchange rate.
– Authorities can decide in 15 calendar days for a standard C visa, up to 60 days for complex D files or security checks.
– Holidays slow processing.

1. Collect your passport and prepare for arrival.

– Many posts require in‑person pickup. Check the visa sticker for dates and entries before flying.
– After arrival in Austria, register your address within three working days. Hotels will register guests for up to two months.

What consulates and border officers look for

A strong file is consistent. Consular staff compare your stated purpose, bank balance, and itinerary for gaps. For first‑time Schengen applicants, proof of work or study at home and family ties often decide the case.

Other checks:
– Some long‑stay applicants need police records.
– Foreign documents often require an apostille before Austria will accept them.

At the border, visa‑free travelers face similar checks (increasingly so when ETIAS starts). Officers may ask:
– Where you will stay
– How you will pay for the trip
– When you will leave

Keeping printed bookings and recent bank statements helps if your phone battery dies. Days spent in other Schengen countries count toward the same 90/180 total.

Important: Border officers can refuse entry even with a valid visa if you cannot prove funds, accommodation, or onward travel. Always carry supporting documents.

Long stays: when a visa is only the first step

Students and workers often start with a Type D visa for a semester, research stay, or probation period. A Type D visa does not replace a residence permit when you need one.

• If you plan to stay beyond six months, expect an additional residence permit process after arrival, with extra fingerprints and local authority appointments.
• For skilled hires, Austria’s Red‑White‑Red Card uses a points system and normally requires a job offer.
• Employers coordinate with AMS.
• The visa often runs in parallel with employment approvals.
• Build extra time where start dates are tied to projects—consulates will not speed up solely because flights are booked.

Budgeting and timing: what to plan for in 2026

Plan beyond the visa fee:

• Possible extra costs:
• Passport renewal
• Document translations into German or English
• New photos (35x45mm)
• Travel medical insurance covering the whole stay

• Application timing:

• Apply at least four weeks before travel; earlier for peak ski season.
• If visiting several Schengen countries, you must apply where you spend the most time—fees and timing at that consulate apply.

ETIAS practicalities:
– Expected cost: about €7
– Fully online process answering identity and security questions
– Approval linked to passport
– Airlines will check ETIAS before boarding—missing ETIAS can stop a trip at the airport

The European Union explains the process on its official ETIAS information portal.

Practical checklist

• Check passport validity (issued within 10 years, at least 2 blank pages, 3 months beyond departure).
• Decide if your trip is ≤90 days (Type C) or >90 days (Type D).
• Gather documents: passport, photo, travel insurance (€30,000 min), accommodation, proof of funds (~€60/day), employment/study proof.
• Apply in person up to six months ahead; avoid the 15‑day cutoff unless unavoidable.
• Budget for fees (from Jan 1, 2026: €90 / €180), translations, and ETIAS (~€7 when launched).
• Keep copies of everything and match all documents to your stated purpose, dates, and funding.

Keep copies of everything, arrive early for appointments, and ensure every document matches your stated purpose, dates, and funding in Austria.