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Austria

Central Europe · Schengen area

Updated today
AI-generated
Avg. processing
15 days
Consular fee (from)
€45
Booking model
Outsourced center

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Fees & exemptions

  • Adult short-stay visa

    2026 Schengen fee

    €90
  • Child 6-11Reduced

    Reduced Schengen fee

    €45
  • Child under 6Free

    Exempt under the Visa Code

    Free
  • Family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizenFree

    Directive 2004/38/EC waiver

    Free
  • VFS UK service feeService fee

    Charged in GBP; check the current tariff when booking

    +€30

Standard adult Schengen fee, reduced for children 6-11, plus a separate VFS UK service fee in GBP.

Where to apply

VFS Global Austria Visa Application Centre in the UK; the application is decided by the Austrian Embassy in London.

Appointment system

Book online at visa.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/aut. Biometrics are taken at the centre; premium lounge and prime-time slots are paid add-ons. British passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in 180.

Required documents

  • Completed and signed Schengen visa application form
  • Valid passport (issued within last 10 years, valid 3+ months beyond departure, 2+ blank pages)
  • One recent biometric photo
  • Proof of UK residence status (visa or BRP) for non-UK nationals
  • Travel medical insurance with EUR 30,000 Schengen cover
  • Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation letter)
  • Round-trip flight reservation
  • Bank statements and payslips showing sufficient means
  • Cover letter with the purpose and itinerary
  • Employer or enrolment letter

Editor tips

Only non-visa-exempt UK residents need this route. Book early for summer and for the Salzburg and Vienna festival season, when slots go quickly.

Country-specific quirks

Holders of British Travel Documents or Certificates of Identity do need a visa even though the document was issued in the UK - an exception BMEIA lists explicitly and applicants often miss.

Who can apply where

Your nationality decides whether you need a visa; where you legally live decides where you apply. Applications for Austria are handled by its embassy, consulate or visa centre covering your country of residence — you cannot normally apply in a country you are only visiting.

  • If you are not a citizen of the country you apply from, bring your residence permit or long-stay visa — it usually has to stay valid for at least 3 months after your return.
  • Visiting several Schengen countries? Apply to your main destination, or — if you split time evenly — to the country you enter first.
  • Some passports are visa-exempt for short stays and only need ETIAS travel authorisation instead of a visa; long-stay and work permits are still required for everyone.
  • Fees, document lists and appointment systems are set per consulate, so the local Austria mission for your region always overrides anything on this page.

Where to submit if you apply from the UK

Addresses where applicants of any nationality living in the UK hand in Austria visa documents and give biometrics. Applying from elsewhere? Use the official links below to find the Austria mission covering your country of residence.

  • LondonVFS Global
    VFS Global — Austria Visa Application Centre

    66 Wilson Street, London EC2A 2BT

    Short-stay Schengen applications.

  • LondonEmbassy
    Austrian Embassy London

    18 Belgrave Mews West, London SW1X 8HU

    Residence permits, Red-White-Red Card and national visas.