Quick answer
Indians need a Schengen visa for Austria, lodged at a VFS Global centre and decided only by the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi. The fee is EUR 90 (about ₹9,200), paid in rupees, plus VFS charges. Applications filed less than 15 days before departure are rejected, and the Embassy warns of longer appointment waits in peak season, so book early.
At a glance
- Visa type
- Schengen short-stay visa (Type C) issued by Austria
- Stay allowed
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Visa D for 91 days to 6 months)
- Fee
- EUR 90 (about ₹9,200) per adult, EUR 45 (about ₹4,600) for children aged 6–11, paid in rupees, plus a VFS Global service charge
- Processing
- About 15 calendar days; appointment waits run longer in peak season
- Validity
- As issued: trip dates on a first visa, 2-year or 5-year multiple-entry under the India cascade
- Apply at
- Official portal
Documents checklist
- Schengen application form, completed and signed
- Passport issued within 10 years, valid 3 months beyond return, plus old passports
- Two 35 x 45 mm photographs on a white background
- Copies of previous Schengen visas (on the Embassy checklist)
- Cover letter and day-by-day itinerary showing Austria as the longest stay
- Bank statements for the last 3–6 months, stamped
- ITR acknowledgements for the last 2–3 years
- Leave letter and last 3 salary slips, or GST and business records
- Hotel bookings for every night and a refundable flight reservation
- Travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover for the whole stay (or the first trip on a multiple-entry visa)
- Visits to hosts in Austria: electronic declaration of liability filed by the host, if used
Common mistakes that get Indians refused
- Applying less than 15 days before departure. Austria rejects these under the EU Visa Code, with no informal fast-track.
- Waiting for the last month. One office decides for India, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, and peak-season slots go quickly.
- Applying to Austria for a trip where Munich or Switzerland gets more nights.
- Copied itineraries listing Hallstatt, Salzburg and Innsbruck on the same day with no transport plan.
When is Austria the right country?
Apply to Austria when it is your longest stay: Vienna, Salzburg, Hallstatt and Innsbruck easily fill a week. Austria is often paired with Munich and Bavaria or with Switzerland, so count nights before booking. Four in Austria and three in Munich is an Austrian application. The common rules are on our Schengen visa guide.
Who handles Austrian visas in India?
Only one office decides: the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi. It has outsourced the collection of applications and the return of passports to VFS Global, and the same Embassy also handles applications from Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. That single decision point is why Austrian appointments tighten in peak season. The Embassy itself warns of longer waits and advises booking as early as possible, up to six months before travel, and checking again for newly released slots.
The 15-day rule is strict
Austria rejects applications lodged less than 15 days before departure, citing the EU Visa Code, and there is no informal fast-track. Fingerprints are reused if they were taken for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months. Consular fees are paid in rupees at the current exchange rate.
Austria-specific options
- Visa D for longer family visits. Parents visiting children in Austria for more than 90 days can apply for a national Visa D of up to six months. It needs evidence of the purpose and is decided under Austrian law rather than the Schengen code.
- Electronic sponsorship. A host in Austria can file an electronic declaration of liability (elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung). If another Schengen state handles a visa on Austria's behalf, it may not accept that electronic form.
- Event peaks. The Salzburg Festival (late July and August) and Vienna's ball season (January and February) push up demand. Book early for both.
Documents that decide the outcome
The Embassy's checklist includes copies of previous Schengen visas, which also matter for the cascade. Bring three to six months of stamped bank statements, ITRs for two to three years, salary slips and a leave letter, a day-by-day itinerary, hotel bookings, a refundable flight reservation, and insurance covering at least EUR 30,000 for the whole stay, or the first trip if you are asking for multiple entries.
If your itinerary includes Hallstatt, show how you get there, by train and ferry or a booked tour. Officers notice copied itineraries.
Our visa assistance team prepares Austrian files and cover letters, and we arrange compliant travel insurance. See the Austria trip cost and best time to visit Austria guides.
Frequently asked questions
Who decides Austrian visa applications from India?
Can I apply for an Austria visa 10 days before travel?
My parents want to stay in Austria for four months. Which visa?
Should I apply to Austria or Germany for a Vienna and Munich trip?
How we checked this page
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Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.
