Austria business visa
A meeting in Vienna, a contract to sign in Graz, a stand to work at a trade fair — the visa that carries you there is the Austria business visa, a Schengen short-stay (Type C, the uniform visa). It is meant for Indian passport holders travelling for meetings, negotiations, contract signing, trade fairs or other business activities. You get up to 90 days within any 180-day period, and the same visa opens the whole Schengen area of 29 countries. From India, one authority alone judges your file: the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi.
You lodge the application through VFS Global, which runs the Austria visa service at centres in several Indian cities; your fingerprints and photograph are taken in person. Route it through Austria's mission when Austria is your sole or main destination, or your first point of entry into the Schengen area when no single destination dominates. Reckon on up to 15 days for a decision, occasionally stretching to 45 calendar days. The embassy, not the centre, decides.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holder travelling to Austria for genuine business purposes such as meetings, negotiations, trade fairs or business events, without taking up paid employment.
- ✓Austria is your sole or main Schengen destination, or your first point of entry when no single main destination applies.
- ✓An invitation letter from the Austrian company or business partner, or an electronic letter of guarantee (EVE) obtained by the host in Austria.
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds for the trip and strong ties to India (employment, business or family) showing you will return.
- ✓Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, with at least 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years.
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area with minimum EUR 30,000 cover for the whole stay.
Visa options for Austria
Schengen Visa C (short-stay)
Uniform visa for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period, covering business meetings and events across the Schengen area. Cannot be extended or renewed inside Austria.
Single- or multiple-entry Type C
The embassy decides the number of entries granted. Multiple-entry holders must hold insurance for the first visit and sign a declaration acknowledging cover is needed for later stays.
Visa D (national long-stay)
For business stays of 91 to 180 days; for longer than six months an Austrian residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) is required instead. Applied for directly at the Austrian Embassy.
Documents typically required
- ✓Schengen visa application form, completed in English or German and signed by the applicant.
- ✓Passport valid at least 3 months beyond intended Schengen departure, with at least 2 blank pages, issued within the last 10 years; plus copies of the data and last pages and of any previous Schengen visas and entry/exit stamps.
- ✓One recent photograph to ICAO standards.
- ✓Invitation letter from the Austrian company or business, or an electronic letter of guarantee (EVE) obtained by the host from the competent Austrian authority.
- ✓Applicant's cover letter stating the purpose of travel, duration, names of any accompanying persons, and transport and accommodation details.
- ✓Proof of occupation: employed applicants provide the last 3 months' salary certificate, employment contract and a company NOC granting leave; self-employed provide GST certificate, Udyog Aadhaar, Import-Export Code or Certificate of Incorporation.
- ✓Flight tickets and confirmed Austria/EU hotel booking or other accommodation proof.
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid across the Schengen area for the entire stay, with minimum EUR 30,000 cover.
- ✓Original bank statements for the last 3 months and income-tax returns (ITR with barcode) for the last 2 years.
- ✓For training, voluntary work or project work beyond plain business meetings, permission from the Austrian Labour Market Authority (AMS) arranged by the inviting Austrian company.
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
Applications from India are assessed only by the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi, even though submission and biometrics are handled by VFS Global centres across India. The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults (EUR 45 for children aged 6 to under 12), paid in INR, plus a separate VFS service charge. Apply at least one month before travel: an application reaching the embassy fewer than 15 days before the intended travel date is returned. A Type C visa cannot be extended or renewed inside Austria.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No consultancy can. The decision rests solely with the Austrian Embassy/consulate. What we do is give you a frank assessment of your profile and build the strongest, correctly documented application possible. Over the last 2-3 years our applications have seen a 97% success rate, but the embassy is always the deciding authority.
Where is my Austria business visa application processed?
You hand in documents and give biometrics at a VFS Global centre in India, but the assessment and the decision belong only to the Austrian Embassy in New Delhi. There is no separate territorial jurisdiction within India.
How long does the Austria business visa take?
Usually up to 15 days from submission. In some cases the embassy takes up to 45 calendar days, especially when a file needs closer scrutiny or extra documents, so apply at least a month before you travel.
Can I travel to other Schengen countries on this visa?
Yes. An Austria Type C Schengen visa covers the whole Schengen area of 29 countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, as long as Austria stays your main destination or first point of entry.