If you plan to make a visit to Austria soon, whether for vacation, education, business, or any other purpose, it is crucial to be aware of the Austria Schengen visa in detail. While UAE citizens generally don’t require a visa to travel to the Schengen area (which includes Austria), there are certain conditions under which you must apply for an Austria Schengen visa even as a UAE citizen.
Read further to find out all the essential details related to the Schengen visa for Austria.
Do you need Schengen Visa for Austria?
The following is the list of categories of individuals who mandatorily require an Austria Schengen visa while travelling from the UAE-
UAE citizens travelling to Austria for more than 90 days within a period of 180 days
UAE passport holders who had been denied entry to Austria previously
Ex-pats residing in the UAE with a temporary or permanent residence permit who are –
Nationals of other countries without a visa-free regime with the Schengen countries
Nationals of other countries with a visa-free regime with the Schengen countries but have been denied entry to the country before
Requirements to Apply for Austria Schengen Visa
Here are the key documents and details you must be prepared with to fulfil all the Austria Schengen visa requirements –
Visa Application Form (completed and signed at the end)
Photographs
UAE residence permit proof (with a validity that extends at least three months after you depart from Austria)
Cover letter to mention the purpose of your visit to Austria and all the travel details
Travel itinerary consisting of your flight details, such as the date and time of arrival in Austria from the UAE and departing from the country
Accommodation proof comprising all the details of your stay in Austria during the visit, whether related to a hostel, hotel, or rental house/ apartment
Proof of adequate finances to support yourself during the stay in Austria
Civil status proof (includes birth certificates, marriage certificates, or even the death certificate of the applicant’s spouse
Employment status proof
For Employed Individuals
Employment contract
Leave permission from the current employer
Bank account statement for the previous six months
For Self-Employed Individuals
A valid copy of the business licence
Past six months’ bank account statements of the company
For Students
Enrolment proof of the Educational institute
A No-Objection Certificate from the Educational Institute
As there are different types of Austria Schengen visas, here’s a list of specific documents required for each visa category -
Austria Schengen Visa for Minors
Minor’s birth certificate
A document of family court order in case one of the guardians has full child custody
Austria Schengen visa application form with both parents’ signatures
Valid copies of passport or other identity proofs of both parents
Notarised parental authorisation in case the minor is travelling alone
Austria Schengen Visa for Tourists
Travellers’ bank account statement for the previous six months
Austria Schengen Visa for Visitors
An invitation proof (valid document stating that the applicant has been invited to the Schengen country by their friends or relatives). Such documents can be the following -
An invitation letter signed by the person residing in Austria
Residence permit of the host (if applicable)
An Electronic Guarantee Letter from the host
Austria Schengen Visa for Business Purposes
An invitation letter from a recognised Austrian company with detailed address, contact number, and visiting dates
A certificate from your employer mentioning the purpose of your visit
Past six months' bank statement of your company
Trade licence (both first issued and renewed)
Memorandum and Article of Association submitted in the original certified copy
Student Schengen Visa to Austria
An enrolment certificate of the university or school which the student will attend
A No-Objection Certificate from the enrolled university or school in Austria
Medical Schengen Visa to Austria
A medical report assigned from the hospital in your home country stating that you require medical treatment in Austria
Payment receipts of medical fees
A valid confirmation report from the Austrian hospital regarding your appointment
Austria Schengen Visa for Sports, Culture, Religious, or Film Crew Purpose
Event details – invitation letter, tickets, and other details of the event
Documents of past participation in festivals, events, sports, and others
Austria Schengen Visa for Members of Official Delegations
Official copy of the invitation
How to Apply for Schengen Visa for Austria?
Go through the set of instructions given below to find out the application process for the Austria Schengen visa:
The primary step is to determine if you are qualified for an Austria Schengen visa
Once your eligibility is confirmed, you can analyse where to apply for the visa. You can apply for the Austria Schengen visa on the official VFS Global website or even visit the Austrian embassy to enquire about key visa details.
You can fill out the Austria Schengen visa application form correctly with all the specified details. It’s worth mentioning again that since incorrect details can lead to a rejection of your application, you should visit the embassy of Austria in case you have any doubts.
Once your form is filled and submitted, you can schedule an Austria Schengen visa appointment
After completing the interview process for the Austria Schengen visa application, you can pay the required fee for your visa application. Once this is done, you would need to wait for your Austria Schengen visa application to get processed.
Do I need Travel Insurance for Austria Schengen Visa?
Getting a travel insurance policy before travelling to Austria is essential to protect yourself financially if an unexpected event occurs during your trip. Moreover, all Schengen countries mandate travellers to have Schengen travel insurance. This travel insurance plan needs to have a medical cover of at least €30,000 and must be valid in all Schengen countries.
The following is the list of coverages offered by travel insurance companies-
Loss of Personal Belongings: This includes coverage against your lost or stolen luggage, wallets, or even personal documents such as ID proof
Flight Cancellation or Flight Curtailment: In case your flights are curtailed or cancelled due to any of the reasons approved by your insurance provider, your provider can offer coverage for all the non-refundable amounts
Emergency Medical Expenses: With this cover, an essential part of a travel insurance plan, one can have their medical costs for emergency medical treatments covered
Delayed or Missed Flights: Similar to flight cancellation, flight delays can lead to significant financial losses, especially when connecting flights are involved. With a Schengen travel insurance policy, however, you can get compensated by your insurance provider.
COVID-19 Coverage: Most travel Insurance plans now include COVID-19 coverage. In case the policyholder contracts the disease during their trip, their Schengen travel insurance can cover their expenses related to the medical treatment as well as the quarantine.
Personal Liability Cover: Your travel insurance plan can cover you against any injury or damages caused accidentally by you during the trip. However, it must be noted that damages or injuries caused under the influence of alcohol or drugs would not be covered
You can choose any of the following travel insurance types as per your requirements -
Single-Trip Travel Insurance: This type of insurance is ideal for individuals travelling to Schengen countries once or twice a year as it is valid only for a single trip. This type of Austria Schengen visa travel insurance policy is valid from the day your trip starts and ends after you reach the UAE.
Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: UAE nationals and ex-pats travelling to a Schengen country multiple times a year can opt for an annual multi-trip travel insurance policy. As the name may suggest, this type of insurance provides coverage for all the trips made in a year.
You can visit policybazaar.ae to find the best travel insurance plans for visiting Austria or the Schengen region. Our travel insurance section has the best plans from the leading insurance providers in the UAE, with all the plans available at the best rates.
Processing Time for the Austria Schengen Visa
The usual processing time for the Austria Schengen visa is up to 15 days. However, the visa authorities can also take up to 30 days or 60 days in some cases.
Some scenarios in which your visa application processing may take considerable time include -
A large number of Austria Schengen visa applications received by the authorities at a time
If you have a criminal history
Inaccurate justification of your travel purpose to the Schengen area and others
When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa to Austria?
The ideal time to apply for an Austria Schengen visa is around six weeks before the travel date. However, individuals can also submit their visa application three months prior to their journey date. In case travellers want to apply for a Schengen visa immediately, they must make sure to start the application process 15 days prior to their visit to the Schengen country.
Here is the general fee structure for the Austria Schengen visa process –
Austria Schengen Visa Application Category
Fees (In Euros)
Adult Travellers
80
Children aged between 6-12 years
40
Children aged less than 6 years
Free
How Long is Your Austria Schengen Visa Valid?
If you are a UAE national, the validity of your Austria Schengen visa can usually extend to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, travellers must check their Schengen visa sticker to confirm their visa validity.
Key Takeaways
Getting a travel insurance policy is crucial once you book your tickets to Austria from the UAE. It is not only mandatory for the Austria Schengen visa process but provides you with adequate coverage during a mishap as well.
As it can be confusing to select the ideal insurance product, we would recommend you to visit policybazaar.ae. Our platform offers a large number of insurance plans from different providers to choose from, eventually making it easy to compare and choose the best one. Moreover, our customer support executives are always available to assist you.
To get in touch with us, give us a call at 042472904 or drop us an email at communication@policybazaar.ae.
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