Obtaining a Schengen Visa

Content

-  General Information
-  Visa Information Service / Call-Center
-  Jurisdiction
-  Required Documents
-  Fee Schedule

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GENERAL INFORMATION

PLEASE NOTE:
Visa information is for U.S.-residents only. If you reside outside the U.S. please contact the responsible Austrian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Citizens of the United States in possession of a valid U.S.-passport, are not required to obtain a visa for Austria for a period of up to three months if travelling as a tourist.

If you are a resident of the U.S. but do not hold U.S. citizenship, a visa may be required.
List of countries 

Please note: Applications must be submitted in person (please find the jurisdictions below). At this time you don’t need to schedule an appointment. Applications can only be processed once all supporting documents have been received. Please make sure you have ALL the required documents with you! Applications will not be accepted if supporting documents are missing! 

We only accept applications within the Consular jurisdiction of the Embassy. (see below) There are four Austrian Consulates General in the United States. As each one serves clients from a particular region, please contact the appropriate office for assistance. If you reside outside the U.S. please contact the responsible Austrian Embassy or Consulate in your country

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VISA INFORMATION SERVICE / CALL-CENTER

To facilitate timely and accurate information to the public regarding applying for a visa, the Embassy of Austria in Washington, D.C., has installed a Visa Information Service. Thus applicants have the possibility to call the hotline in order to obtain information regarding applying for entry and residence permits.

Please note: The Visa Information Service is a non compulsory premium service. Fees apply.

The benefits of the new service are that the applicant:
- may speak to an operator who will be able to answer questions about visa requirements and application procedures
- may prepare and plan ahead for their application.


(US: 202 - 629 - 9344, Austria: +43 / 1 / 22 97 210)

Please provide a Visa or Master Card for a fee of EUR 12.73. After paying this fee the caller will be connected to an operator who provides all information regarding the requirements for a successful visa application.

Spoken languages: German and English

Operating hours: Monday through Friday 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. EST

Further information may also be obtained at the Ministry of Foreign and International Affairs .

Please note that the Embassy does not attend to any direct calls related to visa matters.

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JURISDICTION

Austrian Embassy, Washington, D.C. - Consular Section
3524 International Court, NW
Washington, D.C., 20008

Alabama| Arkansas | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Louisiana | Maryland |Mississippi | North carolina | Oklahoma | Puerto Rico | South Carolina| Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | West Virginia | U.S. Virgin Islands |Commonwealth of the Bahamas


Austrian Consulate General, New York

Connecticut | Maine | Massachussetts | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New York | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Vermont | Bermudas

 
Austrian Consulate General, Los Angeles

Alaska| Arizona | California | Colorado | Hawaii | Idaho | Montana | Nevada |New Mexico | Oregon | Utah | Washington | Wyoming | Pacific Islands

 
Austrian Consulate General, Chicago

Illinois| Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri| Nebraska | North Dakota | Ohio | South Dakota | Wisconsin

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REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

ALL applicants must submit the following ORIGINAL documents:

 - Completed and signed visa application form - all questions must be answered.
 Download Schengen Visa Application (pdf)

- Valid passport; must be valid at least three (3) months beyond date of travel.

Please note: Refugee Travel Documents are accepted 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!
 
- Two recent passport pictures 

- Copy of complete roundtrip ticket(s) or confirmed itinerary showing exact dates of travel

PLEASE NOTE: Do not purchase your ticket unless you fulfill all other requirements. The embassy is not responsible for any loss or penalties incurred!

- Valid U.S. visa with original form I-94, I-20 or IAP-66, or original of Alien Registration Card or Form I-512. 
Please note: If you are holding a B1/B2 visa you have to apply in your home country!

- Visas of countries you intend to visit after your stay in Austria

- Non-refundable visa fee (see fee schedule on page bottom) - payable at the time of application either in cash (exact change!) or Postal Money Order.

- Proof of sufficient funds for your stay in Austria (personal bank statements of the last 3 months, must show your name and address)

- Letter of continued employment including income statement

- If you have your own business following documents are required: business registration, tax returns and your bank statements

- Confirmed hotel reservation or confirmation of tour

- Proof of travel/ medical health/ insurance

Letter from your insurance company stating that you are fully covered in Austria/Schengen countries/worldwide  (insurance card only is NOT sufficient!) for a minimum coverage of € 30.000,-  (50.000,- US Dollars).

In case you need medical attention in Austria/or one of the Schengen countries a direct payment by the insurance company is required. A letter stating that you will have to pay up front and get reimbursed cannot be accepted. Emergency coverage only is also not sufficient.


ATTENTION: If you wish to have your passport returned by mail, a self-addressed returned envelope must be included with your application. Only self-addressed return envelopes for United States Postal Service bearing an adequate stamp can be accepted. 
 


Any applicant visiting friends or family in Austria must also submit:

- If the person cannot provide proof of own financial means:  Electronic sponsorship letter(Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung), which the host has to file with the Austrian Immigration Authorities(Fremdenpolizei) and that will be sent to the Austrian Embassy electronically (no additional documents of the host necessary),


IMPORTANT: The number of the electronic sponsorship letter must be presented at the time of application along with your other documents! The person in Austria you intend to visit has to mail it to your home address, NOT to the Embassy!

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If you are going to Austria on business purposes:

In addition to all the required documents you must also submit an ORIGINAL letter from your company or from the company in Austria you are doing business with.

If you cannot provide proof of own financial means:  Electronic sponsorship letter (Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung), which the Austrian company has to file with the Austrian Immigration Authorities(Fremdenpolizei) and that will be sent to the Austrian Embassy electronically (no additional documents of the host necessary),

Processing

Processing time for the "Schengen" visa and regular transit visa is one (1) to (3) weeks and can only be processed if ALL supporting documents have been received.
Please note: the processing time for a visa cannot be expedited!


Do not call the Embassy to inquire about the status of your application. The Embassy will not give any information about the status of your application via phone or email! A consular officer will let you know if your visa has been issued. Otherwise the Embassy will contact you if additional documentation is required

Embassy of Austria
Consular Section
3524 International Court, NW
Washington, D.C., 20008

Consulate Office Hours:
Monday through Friday,10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(except Austrian and U.S. holidays )

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel.: +1-202-895 6700