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Do You Need a Visa?
The following overview should give you an idea of whether you will need an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit to enter Austria. U.S. citizens do not need an entry permit (visa) to stay in Austria as either tourists or on a business trip for a period of up to three months but please note: as a passport must be valid 3 months after the last day of stay in Austria or the Schengen states, your U.S. passport must be valid for a period of at least 6 months (3 months under the visa waiver program + 3 months) and you are not allowed to take up any employment there.
Citizens of countries listed below do NOT need a visa for Austria (if your stay does not exceed 90 days and is for tourist purposes only)
Macedonia (biometric passports only)
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro (biometric passports only),
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Samoa
Serbia (biometric passports only and NOT issued by Koordinacija Uprava)
Seychelles
Singapore
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Christophe and Nevis
Taiwan (all passports if they contain the holders identity number)
Timor-
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vatican
Albania (biometric passports only)
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia-
Brazil
Brunei
Chile
Costa Rica
Canada
Croatia
Dominica
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong (SAR only)
Israel
Japan
Korea, Republic (South)
Macao (RAE only)
Malaysia
Mauritius
Nationals of countries NOT listed above will need to obtain a visa to travel to Austria.
Since January 1, 2006, the length of your stay in Austria determines whether you must apply for an entry permit (visa) or a residence permit.
If you are planning to take up employment in Austria, even if it is just temporary or short-
ENTRY PERMIT (VISA)
An entry permit (visa) is issued to individuals who plan to go to Austria on a temporary basis. The stay must not exceed six months (in most cases) and you are not authorized to take up any employment in Austria. In general, an entry permit is not a work authorization. However, since January 1, 2006, some exceptions to this rule-
Please note that there is no legal claim on obtaining the visa applied for. In the event that changes are made to the application after it was received, additional fees will be charged.
If you answer to one of the following questions is yes, you will most likely need an entry permit (visa) to enter Austria.
Do you pass through Austria in (airport) transit?
Do you intend to temporarily visit Austria as a tourist or to see friends or relatives who live in Austria?
Are you on a (short-
Will you take part in a conference or a seminar in Austria?
Will you attend a German language course (up to six months)?
Are you planning on studying or doing an internship in Austria for up to six months?
Will you be working as a guest professor at an Austrian university for one semester?
A residence permit is issued to foreign nationals who want to stay in Austria for more than six months.
If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you will most likely need a residence permit in order to both enter and stay in Austria.
Are you planning on moving to Austria for an unlimited period of time because you are retiring or you are married to an Austrian citizen?
Will you be transferred to your company's office in Austria for more than six months?
Are you planning on studying at a university/college or on attending school (grade 1-
Are you planning on staying in Austria for a period longer than six months?
Will you be working as a researcher (as stipulated by Austria's "Alien Employment Act") at an Austrian university for more than six months?
Are you planning on taking up a one-