Austria is one of the best European tourist destinations. You can go there at any time of the year: skiing in the winter, and educational excursion tours in the summer. All Russians will require a visa to Austria . It can be obtained through the Austrian visa center, the Consular Section of the Austrian Embassy in Moscow, or through accredited travel agencies. The Honorary Consulate, located in St. Petersburg, does not deal with visa issues.
The flag of Austria is documented at the end of the 12th century and is considered the oldest flag of all existing countries.
Requirement for a visa
Austria is one of 25 European countries that have special visa laws. Any visa to Austria (except long-term national) belongs to the Schengen category. A Schengen visa to Austria for Russians in 2021 is issued according to a strictly regulated procedure in accordance with current EU legislation.
Since September 2021, an important innovation has appeared in the procedure for obtaining any Schengen visa. A unified automated system (VIS) has begun its work, which will store biometric data of foreigners entering the country. Now every Russian who submits an application will have to personally submit his fingerprints once every five years. All organizations authorized to issue visas are gradually being equipped with appropriate equipment. At the Austrian Visa Application Center, as well as at the Consular Section of the Embassy, there is such an opportunity to submit fingerprints.
Types of visas
The purpose of a trip to Austria can be any. Depending on it, there is a gradation of issued entry permits. Any Austrian visa imposes a certain limit on the length of stay, the possibility of carrying out any activity, and the number of entries. Before submitting your documents, you need to understand exactly what a visa is for and what type you need to request.
Tourist
This is the most common type of document requested. The Austrian tourist visa is classified as a Schengen "C" visa.
Despite the “tourist” prefix, this visa is suitable for a very wide range of travel purposes, including work and business trips, private visits (to friends, family), visiting the country on business, and so on.
There are some restrictions that Austria (like any other Schengen state) imposes on the use of a tourist visa:
- It is prohibited to work with such a document or carry out any commercial activities;
- The largest number of allowed days must be spent in Austria (if you plan to visit several European countries with an Austrian Schengen visa);
- You need to “open” a visa, that is, cross the border, specifically in Austria.
Independent travelers often buy tickets for flights to Austria with a transfer (for example, Moscow - Belgrade - Vienna or Moscow - Warsaw - Vienna). If the transfer is made through a third country belonging to the Schengen zone, then the stamp “opening” the visa will not be Austrian. This situation is not considered a violation, since the main destination is still Austria.
Transit
For some travelers, it is necessary to obtain a transit visa to Austria in order to be able to transfer at the international airport of this state to a flight departing to a third country. Russians do not need to obtain a transit visa if there is no need to leave the international zone .
There is also a second type of transit visa, which is category "B". It will be required in two cases: if the transfer involves leaving the international zone of the airport or if the transfer will be not to an airplane, but to another type of transport. In such situations, obtaining a transit visa to Austria in advance is strictly necessary.
Student
If you need to go to study for a long period of time, then you need a student visa to Austria, which will already be national, and not Schengen. It gives the applicant the right to stay in the state for a fairly long period of time legally. Suitable for studying at universities, schools, and other educational institutions.
A student visa to Austria is approved if there is an invitation from the educational institution and a certificate of enrollment.
Working
An Austrian work visa is also national; this type of document will need to be issued if a Russian citizen has entered into a long-term work contract with an Austrian employer. A work visa to Austria is issued if there is an invitation from the company.
A national Austrian visa is requested in any situation where a standard tourist Schengen visa category “C” does not allow you to stay in the country for the required amount of time. In addition to study and work, the basis for issuing a national document may also be, for example, the need to reunite with family.
What documents to provide
As in past years, in 2021 many Russians decide to shift the process of paperwork to travel companies. This is somewhat more expensive, however, it saves time and ensures confidence that each paper will be completed correctly.
In this case, the package of documents will consist of the following papers:
- Foreign passport + its copy + other foreign passports that have not yet expired. Please note that your passport should not expire in the coming months. It is required that the expiration date exceeds three months after the completion of your visit to Austria. In addition, the document must have at least two blank pages. You only need to copy the pages with visas and your photo.
- Two color photos 3.5x4.5 cm. Standard requirements: close-up of the face (at least 70% of the area). Dark backgrounds are not allowed.
- Application form for entry into Schengen. The questionnaire must be completed either in German or in English. Do this very carefully without any blots, errors or inaccuracies. The form can be downloaded here.
- Certificate from the place of employment. This is a very important document that must be drawn up on the company’s letterhead, indicating information about the company (telephone, address, name) and the applicant employee (position and salary). For the Austrian side, it is important that the monthly salary is at least 30 thousand rubles. A sample work certificate in Russian can be downloaded here, in English here.
- When submitting your documents, you will be given a receipt to pay the consular fee of 35 euros. Children under 6 years old are exempt from paying it.
To obtain an Austrian visa, it is important to provide as much evidence of financial solvency as possible. If you have had two Schengen visas in the past two years, you may not need to provide a bank statement. If there are no marks in your passport in this regard, you need an extract. Expect to have 30 thousand rubles for each week of your stay in a European country.
People of retirement age who have retired must provide a pensioner ID, as well as a letter from their sponsor. Instead of a letter, you can provide a certificate indicating the purchase of currency. For each day of stay abroad you need at least 50 euros.
In the event that sponsorship will serve as a financial guarantee, in addition to the letter, you must present a document confirming family ties, a copy of your internal passport and a certificate from your place of employment.
A sample sponsorship letter can be downloaded here, the English version is here.
Documentation
For each type of visa to Austria for Russians there is a general and additional list of documents. The general one does not depend on the type of visa and is uniform; the additional one is collected based on the purpose of the applicant’s trip.
Common list:
- A properly completed (in German or English), signed visa application form;
- A valid original passport with two blank pages (this is necessary to affix the visa), valid for at least three more months after returning from Austria;
- Photocopies of the first page of the international passport, as well as all pages with previously received Schengen visas;
- A copy of the first spread of the Russian passport with personal data;
- Two photos measuring 3.5 by 4.5 cm;
- Financial guarantees for travel;
- For students/pensioners/schoolchildren, appropriate documents confirming their status are required (pension certificate, student ID, certificate from school);
- Air tickets (tickets for other transport are also suitable), containing exact dates of entry and exit;
- Booking from the hotel (with first and last names of all guests);
- Medical insurance policy.
Additional list:
- An invitation from an employer (partner company, relative, friend, any other private person or educational institution for obtaining a student visa to Austria), containing the following information: personal data of the invitee, all information about the inviting party, address, telephone number, as well as dates of visit, purpose of the trip and so on (you can provide an invitation sent via fax);
- Relevant certificate of employment from the employer on the Russian side (if necessary);
- An extract taken from the trade register (for individual entrepreneurs);
- If the receiving party bears the costs, then a corresponding letter must be drawn up about this;
- If you plan to stay with the host party, you will need a lease or purchase and sale agreement for real estate;
- For any private visit, a copy of the inviter's passport will be required;
- For property owners in Austria – a purchase and sale agreement;
- For those traveling by car, you will need a route sheet, registration document, driver's license, and Green Card (international car insurance).
All documents in Russian (certificates, letters) must be translated, the translation of documents must contain: date, full name of the translator, contacts of the translator/company. It also needs to be certified by a signature. Self-translation is allowed.
Photo requirements
There are certain parameters that a photo for an Austrian visa must meet:
- Size 35 by 45 mm;
- The background is light and plain, without unnecessary objects;
- The photo must be unedited in any programs;
- The presence of any details that distort the appearance is not allowed: glasses, wigs, bright makeup, hairstyles that cover part of the face, and so on;
- In the photo - the face (up to 75% of the photo), neck, upper shoulders;
- Frontal photo;
- The photograph is no older than six months.
Requirements for financial guarantees
Documents that can confirm the financial status of the applicant must also comply with certain rules. The more convincing they look, the more likely they are to get your Austria visa application approved.
The following types of papers can be submitted:
- A certificate from the employer indicating the position, salary, certified by the company seal;
- A copy of the work book (optional);
- A bank statement from your account that shows the movement of funds;
- Certificate of company registration (for business owners);
- Letter from the sponsor (you will need to attach financial guarantees from the sponsor and a copy of his Russian passport).
To independently translate the certificates from paragraphs 1 and 3, it is convenient to use ready-made forms: certificate of employment, as well as bank certificate. Once completed, they can be taken to the bank and employer for signature.
Requirements for a medical policy
In order to correctly obtain medical insurance for a trip to Austria, you need to know what requirements the policy must meet:
- The lower limit of the coverage amount is 30,000 euros;
- Coverage area: all Schengen countries;
- The policy was purchased only from those companies that are listed on the website of the Austrian consulate;
- The policy must cover all risks to health and life (including those risks that arise when engaging in winter activities).
List of documents for obtaining a visa to Austria through a travel agency
An approximate list of documents required to obtain an Austrian visa (different tour operators may require a different set of documents):
- A foreign passport
valid for 3 months after the expiration of the visa; two blank pages are required. The passport must not be damaged, torn, dirty, or have any extraneous entries or marks. All corrections in the passport must be certified by the seal of the issuing authority. The passport must contain the signature of the owner from the age of 14; - Application form for a visa to Austria in two copies. The application form must have an original signature, as in a foreign passport. (signature in paragraph 37 and at the end of page 4)
- “ tourist’s obligation
” with an original signature and a transcript of your signature (last and first names as in the international passport)
Austria visa application form- 2 color photographs
: 3.5x4.5 cm, matte, on a white background, without corners, ovals, stamps, black glasses, in dark clothes, less than 6 months old, head size 3.2-3.6 cm (70-80 % of the entire image). The passport should not contain visas with this photo; - a copy of all completed pages of the international passport
in A4 format, 4 spreads on one sheet (2 spreads on one side of the sheet, 2 spreads on the other); - copies of all Schengen visas
, visas of European countries not included in Schengen, visas of the USA, Canada, Great Britain in valid and canceled international passports, including photocopies of the first pages of international passports - copies of internal passport pages
(only the first page and registration); - certificate from the place of work
with the obligatory indication of the actual address and telephone number of work, position and salary (
minimum salary 45,000 rubles
), indicating the period of paid leave, valid for no more than 1 month at the time of submission of the kit to the consulate,
with translation into German or English - confirmation of sufficient funds
- an original bank account statement with movements for the last 3 months on bank letterhead, confirming that the tourist has sufficient funds, at the rate of
50 euros per day
, but not less than
1000 euros per person
(plus
translation of the statement into English or German language
) or, in case of insufficient funds, a statement from the sponsor (
with translation
) to assume all expenses, indicating the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, and a copy of his international passport (first page) or a copy of the first page and page with registration internal passport, certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and an extract from his account; - for tourists who are married
but have different surnames, it is necessary to attach
a copy of the marriage certificate with a translation - for tourists who are married
but traveling without a spouse, it is necessary to attach
a copy of the marriage certificate with a translation - for tourists who are divorced
, it is necessary to attach
a copy of the divorce certificate with a translation - if the tourist is a widow/widower
, it is necessary to attach
a copy of the death certificate of the spouse with a translation - for children
traveling accompanied by one of the parents or without parents,
a notarized copy of the consent for the child’s departure
from one or two parents
with a translation into English or German - unemployed people
who independently sponsor themselves with an account statement worth at least 100 thousand rubles are required to write a letter in free form
in English or German
with a request to review their documents without a sponsorship letter from relatives - if your own funds are insufficient,
be sure to include
a statement from the sponsor
agreeing to cover all expenses
Additional requirements
for students:
- certificate from the place of study
- a statement from the sponsor
(
with translation
) about accepting all expenses, indicating the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, and a copy of his international passport (first page) or a copy of the first page and the registration page of his internal passport, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and an extract from his account
for pensioners:
- copy of pension book
- Those who independently sponsor themselves with an account statement
worth at least 100 thousand rubles are required to write a letter in free form
in English or German
with a request to review their documents without a sponsorship letter from relatives - a statement from the sponsor
(
with translation
) about accepting all expenses, indicating the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, and a copy of his international passport (first page) or a copy of the first page and the registration page of his internal passport, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and an extract from his account
for individual entrepreneurs:
- certificate from the place of employment in German or English
with the obligatory indication of the actual address and telephone number of work, position and salary, seal and signature of the individual entrepreneur or chapter. accountant or deputy director (2nd personal income tax with income of at least 45,000 rubles) - a copy of the certificate of registration with the tax authority
(
+ translation into English or German
) - a copy of the certificate of registration of individual entrepreneurs with the tax authority
(
+ translation into English or German
)
for minors:
- for children,
a separate
application form
, signed by both parents in the 37th and last paragraph; for children over 14 years old, 3 signatures (child, mother and father) in the 37th and last paragraph; - “ Tourist obligation
”, both parents sign in the “signature” paragraph and write their last name and first name in the “signature decryption” paragraph - copy of birth certificate
- certificate from the place of study
(if studying) - a statement from the sponsor
(
with translation
) about accepting all expenses, indicating the relationship between the sponsor and the sponsored person, and a copy of his international passport (first page) or a copy of the first page and the registration page of his internal passport, a certificate from the sponsor’s place of work and an extract from his account
The consulate reserves the right to request additional documents and invite the tourist for an interview, regardless of his location
All Russian-language documents
, such as work certificates, account statements, bank confirmations, birth and marriage certificates, permission to leave a child, etc.
must be provided with translations
into German or English (in the translation of the work certificate and account statement, the currency indicated is the same as in the original).
Translations must be made by a person who speaks German or English, as incorrect or inaccurate translations may lead to misunderstandings or visa refusal. Certification of the translation by a notary is not required
.
Traveling with children
For a visa to Austria, a separate application form must be filled out for a child, even if the child is included in the parent’s passport . Children under the age of 14 put two signatures in the questionnaires of their mother and father on certain page numbers, children from 14 to 18 years old put three signatures in the questionnaires of their mother and father.
Those minors who travel to Austria without parents or with one of them will need consent to leave (a copy of the Russian passports of one/both parents is also attached to it). If the child has only one parent, a document explaining the reason for the absence of the other must be attached to the main package of papers. To apply for an Austrian child visa, you will need to take your birth certificate with you.
In a situation where papers for a child are submitted by his parents, who already have an Austrian visa, then the package of documents is accompanied by a reservation from the hotel, where all the guests are indicated, as well as tickets.
Visa for children
A separate form is always filled out for children. If the child is over 14 years old, then along with the signatures of the father and mother, his signature is also required. In addition to the standard package of documents, minors provide consent to travel certified by a notary in case of traveling unaccompanied by parents/guardians, as well as when traveling with one of the parents/guardians (consent is required from the second). In addition, it is necessary to attach copies of the birth certificate, the first pages of the father/mother’s internal passports and copies of their Schengen visas (if the papers are submitted at different times).
Applying for a visa through a visa center
A visa to Austria is issued through the visa center in all cases, except for the need to obtain a national document. There are several rules that you should carefully read before submitting documents:
- Papers can be submitted personally or through close relatives (only if there is evidence of relationship);
- A relative can submit documents instead of the applicant only when the first one already previously had a Schengen visa of any country;
- Children under 18 years of age are allowed to submit documents only when accompanied by their parents/official guardians;
- Documents under a corporate power of attorney are not accepted;
- Documents with a notarized power of attorney are not accepted;
- Documents from any groups are not accepted.
A visa to Austria can be obtained through the visa center only if you make an appointment in advance. Reception by appointment is available from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00. If the applicant is late, he must make an appointment again at a different time.
If there is a need to obtain a national visa, you must contact the Austrian Embassy.
Registration procedure
Before you apply for a visa to Austria through the visa center, you need to decide on the purpose of your trip. It is necessary to ensure in advance that you have all the necessary invitations and certificates on hand.
Algorithm of actions:
- Collect documents;
- Fill out a visa application form (the electronic form must first be downloaded from the visa center website);
- Make an appointment;
- Pay the consular fee and receive a payment receipt;
- Submit papers;
- Obtain a passport with an Austrian visa stamp (or with a refusal stamp).
If documents for a visa to Austria are submitted not through a visa center, but through the Embassy, then you need to follow a similar algorithm, only you need to make an appointment at the consular department.
Features of obtaining other types of visas to Austria
If the purpose of the trip is far from tourism, and you need to stay in Austria for more than 3 months, then you need to obtain a national visa category D or a residence permit. The requirements for their design are much stricter. You will need a good reason to live in Austria.
Austrian national visa category D
A national visa is issued in two cases:
- for trips from 91 to 180 days for study, work, running and starting a business, long-term treatment;
- to enter the country for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit.
In the second case, you need to follow the requirements not for a national visa, but for a residence permit. The applicant submits all documents for a residence permit, receives approval and is issued a “D” visa at the embassy. With this visa you can enter Austria and obtain a residence permit from a magistrate.
A national visa to Austria in 2021 costs 120 euros for adults and 75 euros for children under 6 years of age.
Resident card
A residence permit is a document that gives the status of a resident of Austria. With it you can stay in the country continuously, extend it after graduation, and visit other countries of the Schengen Union. Also, after living in the country for several years with a residence permit, you can obtain Austrian citizenship.
A residence permit in Austria looks like this
They don’t just give you a residence permit. You need a good reason. An employment contract, an invitation to study at a university (full programs only), and the opening of an organization are the basis for obtaining a residence permit. The consular fee is exactly the same as for a national visa - 120 euros.
Price
The current cost of a visa to Austria when applying independently consists of the amount of the consular fee plus the amount of the visa center service fee.
| Visa type | Price |
| Transit | 35 euros |
| Schengen (category C) | 35 euros |
| National (student visa, work visa, etc.) | 100 euro |
| Visa center service | 26 euros |
Payment is accepted exclusively in rubles, the amounts depend on the current exchange rate.
There are some categories of applicants to whom the obligation to pay the consular fee (as well as the visa center service fee) does not apply, including:
- Children under six years of age;
- Disabled people of any group;
- Accompanying disabled people.
Validity periods
A visa to Austria can be a single-entry, double-entry or “multiple” visa. The first time, as a rule, they issue a single-entry visa with a short validity period (for travel dates with a corridor of one or two weeks). With repeated requests, they can issue a visa valid for six months, one year or even five years.
Any Schengen visa “C” gives its holder the right to stay in the country for 90 days within six months (180 days). For a national visa, the period extends to 180 days per year.
Registration deadlines
There are certain regulations for processing visa applications. For Moscow, they are smaller, since no additional time is spent on sending documents; there is even a special article of the EU Regulations that regulates this issue. It says that the average review period is 15 calendar days, in some special cases it can be extended to 30 or even 60 days.
The Austrian visa center announces a processing time of nine days (but not less). Further everything will depend on the Austrian consulate.
All travelers are advised to submit documents in advance, but not earlier than 90 days before the start of the planned trip, otherwise they will simply not be accepted.
Refusal
Although a visa to Austria is issued according to the same algorithm as entry permits to other Schengen countries, this state is not distinguished by any special loyal attitude towards Russian residents in immigration matters. With well-known German pedantry, Consulate employees study all documents and their compliance with standards. They may refuse for the following reasons:
- Not all papers have been collected;
- Some documents raise suspicion of authenticity (the VC website even has a special warning about the dangers of providing fake certificates/invitations);
- A suspicious “portrait” of the applicant (you may not like some points indicated in the application form);
- Lack of sufficient reasons for the applicant to return to Russia (in order to convince consulate officers of non-immigration intentions, the visa center recommends providing additional documents: marriage certificate, real estate ownership certificate, and so on);
- Violations of the law on previous trips to Austria or other Schengen countries.
It is difficult to say what could actually cause a negative decision. In order to increase your chances, it is better to pay attention to a more thorough collection and filling out of documents, especially if you do it yourself.
Do Russians need a visa to Austria?
Austria is part of the Schengen zone, so Russian citizens need to apply for a visa to travel to this country.
Ukrainians can go to Austria without a visa, since they have concluded an agreement on visa-free entry into all EU states. There are separate types of entry permits for work, study or business.
Entry to Austria with a Schengen visa from another country
If your passport already has a Schengen visa, then you do not need to apply for a visa to Austria. Tourist Schengen allows you to enter any Schengen country.
You can enter Austria with an unopened visa from another country and vice versa - with an Austrian visa to another country. This practice is very common and is not a violation.
Sometimes a flight is only possible through another Schengen country, and embassy workers understand this. If you know in advance that entry into Austria will be through another country, you need to indicate this in the application form. There is a separate item “country of first entry”.
Requirements for a foreign passport
You can get an Austrian visa using an old or new passport. The document must be valid for at least 3 months from the expected date of travel. There must be 2 blank pages for the visa and stamp.
Contacts of Embassies and visa centers
Austria Visa Application Center in Moscow
- Address: Moscow, Dubininskaya street, building 35;
- Telephone;
- Working days: Monday to Friday;
- Acceptance of visa documents: from 09:00 to 17:00;
- Issuance of passports with visas: from 09:00 to 17:00.
Austria visa centers are also located in Nizhny Novgorod, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Murmansk, Perm, Vladivostok, Kaliningrad, Irkutsk, Saratov, Omsk, Ufa, Samara, Krasnoyarsk, Kazan, Khabarovsk and Rostov-on-Don.
