Austria Visa Documents Checklist for Indians (2026)

This checklist is compiled from the VFS Global checklists for Austria (tourism, business, visitors, work, students, cultural events, official visits, film crews and incentive groups) and the Austrian Embassy New Delhi, with fees and processing times as published on those official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. VFS receives the file; the Embassy alone assesses it, so the file has to stand on its own. For appointments, fees and timelines, see our Austria visa guide for Indians.

Core documents every short-stay applicant submits

A note on the flight: the checklist asks for a reservation or itinerary, not a paid ticket. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before the visa decision; a verifiable flight reservation meets the wording. Requirements vary by category, so check the official checklist for yours.

Proof of occupation for your profile

Salaried

A salary certificate for the last 3 months, your employment contract and a company NOC to leave, with the official email address of you or your HR department. The NOC should carry the same leave dates as your cover letter.

Self-employed or business owner

A GST certificate, Udhyog Aadhar Memorandum, Import Export Certificate, Certificate of Incorporation or a similar registration document for your business.

Retired

Pension statements for the last 3 months.

Student

Proof of enrolment at your school, college or university.

Bank statements and ITR: the format rules

Two financial items carry format conditions that catch people out:

• Bank statements: originals for the last three (3) months, stamped and signed by the bank. VFS lists the stamped and signed originals as mandatory; an unstamped net-banking printout falls short of that. Ask your branch for stamped originals a few days before the appointment.
• Income tax returns: ITR for the last 2 years, with the barcode visible.

The checklists we checked do not state a minimum balance. What matters is that the statements, the salary or business papers and the ITR tell one consistent story about your income, and that the trip in your cover letter looks affordable on that income.

Extra documents by purpose of travel

Tourist

Proof of accommodation: a hotel reservation, a letter from a tour organiser or other documentation of your travel plans in Austria or the EU. Students applying as tourists add proof of enrolment.

Visiting family or friends

An invitation from your host with their address, contact details and your intended period of stay, evidence of the host's legal residence (passport, national ID or residence permit) and, if applicable, the sponsor's Electronic letter of guarantee (EVE).

Business

An invitation letter from the Austrian company, or an EVE obtained by the Austrian business from the competent authority in Austria. If the trip is for training, voluntary work or project work rather than meetings, add permission from the Austrian Labour Market Authority (AMS) obtained by the inviting company.

Work

AMS permission obtained by the Austrian employer (for example Einzelsicherungsbescheinigung, Entsendebewilligung or Anzeigebestaetigung), plus a letter of support from the employer and/or a copy of the work contract.

Student, research or internship

Admission or registration at an educational institute (or a cover letter from the host company), proof of accommodation or dormitory acceptance, confirmation of your present student status, evidence of tuition fee payment or a scholarship, AMS permission for an internship, and the sponsor's EVE if applicable.

Cultural, sports or religious events

An invitation letter from the Austrian partner, entry tickets or programme enrolment letters, and an EVE or GVE if applicable. Official visits, film crews and incentive groups have their own, longer checklists on the VFS site.

Papers for children and minors

• A child travelling with one parent needs an original notarised NOC from the other parent.
• A child travelling alone needs an original notarised NOC from both parents or legal guardians.
• In both cases, add copies of the parents' passports or ID.

Children under 12 do not give fingerprints. For a short-stay visa, children aged 6 to 12 pay EUR 45 / INR 4905 and children below 6 pay no fee; adults pay EUR 90 / INR 9810, and VFS adds its INR 2479 service charge.

Photo and biometrics specifications

• Size 35x45 mm, in colour, meeting ICAO criteria, no more than 6 months old.
• Plain light-coloured background; your face takes up 70-80% of the photograph.
• Eyes open and clearly visible, with no tinted lenses or flash reflection on glasses.
• Neutral expression, mouth closed, and you alone in the photo.
• No head covering except for religious reasons, with the full face visible from chin to forehead.

Biometrics (ten fingerprints and a photograph) are collected in person at the centre unless they were collected within the last 59 months.

Putting the file in order before your VFS slot

1. Print the checklist for your exact category and work through it line by line.
2. Match every date: flight reservation, accommodation, insurance, cover letter and NOC.
3. Collect stamped bank originals and the ITR with barcode.
4. Confirm your insurer appears on the approved list before paying the premium.
5. Lodge the file no earlier than 6 months and at least 15 working days before travel; processing usually takes 15 working days and may be extended up to 45 calendar days.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

What is an EVE in the Austria visa checklist?

An EVE is an Electronic letter of guarantee. It is obtained by the Austrian host, sponsor or business from the competent authority in Austria, and the checklists ask for it in business, visitor, student and event cases where applicable.

What is AMS permission and who gets it?

AMS is the Austrian Labour Market Authority. For work visas, internships, and business trips involving training, voluntary or project work, the Austrian employer or inviting company obtains the AMS permission; you attach it to your application.

Which form do I use for a long-term Austria visa?

Use the National Visa Category (D) form for a long-term visa of 91 days to 6 months, and the Schengen application form for a short-stay C visa. Either must be completed in English or German and signed.

Do I need a paid flight ticket for an Austria visa?

No. The checklist asks for a round-trip flight reservation or travel itinerary. Embassies generally advise against buying non-refundable tickets before the visa decision.