How to Apply for a Austria Schengen Visa from Australia in 5 Easy Steps. A Complete Guide

Austria is just 1 of the 26 Schengen countries and it’s a fabulous destination to visit any time of the year. From snowy landscapes to lovely towns and cities, there is a multitude of things to see and do. In this article, learn more about how to apply for an Austria visa at the Austrian Embassy in Canberra, Australia, Austria visa appointment booking, processing time at the Austria visa application centre, flight itinerary for Austria visa, hotel bookings for an Austria visa, Schengen travel insurance for an Austria visa application, and Austria visa application process at the Canberra embassy.

Source: https://www.maxpixels.net/Clouds-Landscape-Mountains-Lake-Heaven-Austria-3877149

Austrian Schengen Visas

In 2018, there were 306,133 Schengen visa applications received across the world. 6.2% (19,098) were rejected. The Embassy of Austria in Canberra received 2,776 applications and rejected 122 (4.4%).

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Australia         

If you are from any of these countries, you do not need to apply for a visa to be able to visit Austria:

If you don’t see your country in the above list, that means you will need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Austria. If you are resident in Australia, this is not a problem as long as you can prove that you are legally allowed to stay in the country.

You may submit your application to VFS Global Australia who deals with visa applications for Austria on behalf of the embassy in Canberra. VFS does not get involved in the decision making process. It is the embassy in Canberra that will make the final decision about whether to grant your visa or not.

VFS Global has offices located in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and you can submit your application to whichever one is convenient for you.

Types of Schengen visas offered at VFS Global/the Austrian Embassy in Canberra

Depending on the nature of your trip and how long you are going to Austria for, you may apply for either:

1. Schengen visa – type C: If you are travelling for tourism, business, visiting family or friends for up to 90 days in a 180-day period
2. Airport Transit visa – type A is required when you are connecting through a Schengen country airport and not leaving the airport. Citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, The Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria and Turkey require an airport transit visa
3. National visa – type D if you intend to stay in Austria for more than 90 days but less than 180 days for tourism, business trip, conference, student exchange or you intend to take up short-term employment (not more than 6 months)
   

How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa from VFS Global in Canberra?

Applying for a Schengen visa from VFS Global in Australia is easy. However, you must apply at least 30 days before you intend to fly to Austria. Applications are usually processed within 15 days, but it may take longer if you apply during peak times, so it’s best to bear this in mind when you apply. You are able to apply up to 3 months before your trip.

Here are 5 easy steps to help you apply for Austria Schengen visa from Australia:

1. Complete your application by downloading it
2. Register and make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Step 1: How to complete your application?

You can find the application form by going to VFS Global’s website and click on “Visa Types” and then choose the visa you are applying for:

Then click on “Documents required”:

You’ll see the document and Schengen visa form which you can download from there to complete and sign.

Step 2: How to make an appointment?

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, the visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “Schedule an appointment”
2. Click on the link to book an appointment
3. Register as a new user
4. Log in and make an appointment on a day that’s convenient for you

Step 3: Prepare your documents

You can find a list of what is required that you need on VFS Global’s website, so go through this before you start to prepare your documents. You have to make sure you get all the required paperwork together before you submit your application. If you fail to provide just 1 document, it could result in your application being rejected.

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Completed visa application form
2. Appointment confirmation letter for submission of documents. 
3. Passport photographs not older than 6 months
4. Passport – must be valid for at least three months after the date of departure from the Schengen zone, at least two empty pages and issued no more than 10 years ago
5. Proof of visa status in Australia – VEVO verification email sent directly from the Australian Department of Home Affairs’ website to info.ausau@vfshelpline.com on the day you submit your application
6. Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets
7. Proof of Schengen travel insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000 in the event of urgent medical treatment, hospitalisation, repatriation for medical reasons, repatriation of mortal remains and funeral expenses. The insurance must be valid throughout all Schengen countries and for the entire duration of your stay
8. Proof of financial means – bank statements for the last three months showing sufficient funds to cover stay in the Schengen area
9. Proof of accommodation – document from the establishment providing the accommodation or any other appropriate document indicating the accommodation envisaged such as a hotel reservation. If staying with a private host: original signed letter of invitation stating period of stay, purpose of stay and relationship to visa applicant, copy of host’s passport and copy of registration of residency (Meldebestätigung);  If sponsored by a private host: in Austria: electronic obligation (Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung –EVE)
10. Certified copy of marriage certificate/certificate of registered relationship and certified copy of spouse’s passport
11. Proof of residence in Australia (lease/rental agreement, council rate notice or land purchase document
12. For employees: documents proving your employment status in the company (e.g. contract, pay slips, letter from employer)
13. If self-employed: certified copy of business registration
14. For students: signed letter from university written on company letter head paper, confirming enrolment, the payment of your tuition fees or/and any scholarships as well as the purpose and duration of stay
15. Employment contract/work permit
    
16. Letter of consent and parent’s ID (for minors)
17. Express Post A4 500g prepaid self-addressed envelope with signature on delivery (for passport return)

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: A guide to your visa appointment

Your visa appointment will involve the following things:

1. Submit your documents
2. Answer any questions
3. Provide biometrics
4. Submit the fee

It’s a process that all visa applicants must go through, but it’s not as daunting as you might think. Just remember the following things:

1. Arrive at the embassy at least 10 minutes before your appointment. The last thing you want is for your appointment to be rearranged
2. Don’t forget any of the documents that you prepared earlier. VFS might not accept your application if you submit an incomplete application
3. Dress smartly – there are benefits in dressing the part. It helps to make a good impression if you have taken care of your appearance

When you are with the visa officer, they will examine your application and if they need to clarify anything, you may have to answer some questions. All you need to do is to answer the questions honestly.

Typical questions include:

1. What do you do in Australia?
2. Are you travelling with anyone?
3. Are you meeting anyone in Austria or the EU?
4. Will you be paying for your trip?
5. Have you been to Austria before?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

VFS Global also charge a fee of AUD$42.90 which is also paid when you submit your application. You can pay by credit or debit card. The fee won’t be refunded even if your visa application is refused.

If you have never applied for a Schengen visa before, you will have to provide biometric data which is a photograph and a scan of your fingerprints. If you have previously provided this data, it can be reused as long as your new application is within a 5 year period.

Step 5: Receive your visa

You can track your application once you have submitted it to VFS Global. Simply, go to their website, click on: “Track your application” and key in your reference number and last name.

When your application has been processed, your passport will be returned to you in the pre-paid envelope you provided.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – your visa will be inside your passport
2. Rejected – this would have been for a specific reason and you can appeal the decision

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Passport does not have 2 free pages – your passport must have 2 free pages. If it does not, you must get a new one before you apply for your visa
2. No birth certificate – if the visa application is a minor, a birth certificate must be provided as part of your application
3. No return flight booking – you must provide a return flight booking. There are no exceptions
4. No proof of funds – you must be able to afford your trip and you should provide documents, such as bank statements, to prove this

Ways to contact VFS Global:

1. Email: info.jvac-au@vfshelpline.com
2. Contact Centre: +61282784527
3. Contact Centre Hours of Operation: 9:00 to 17:00 AEST

Adelaide

Level 4, 90 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia – 5000.

To apply for a Schengen visa for Austria at VFS Global in Australia, follow these simple steps:

1. Complete your application by downloading it
2. Register and make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Austria is in sight and you’ll soon be enjoying all that is has to offer!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

How to Apply for Schengen Visa from Australia