Required Documents
Overview of the most commonly required documents for Austrian visa and residence permit applications. The exact requirements depend on your specific visa type.
This website is a private information portal and does not constitute legal advice. For binding information, contact the responsible Austrian authorities. Official fees are payable directly to the authorities.
Generally Required Documents
Valid Passport
Must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned stay. Must have at least 2 blank pages. Issued within the last 10 years.
Passport Photos
Two recent photos, 35x45mm, white/light background, taken within the last 6 months.
Completed Application Form
Available for download from the BMI website or at the embassy/consulate.
Health Insurance
Travel health insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage, valid for all Schengen states. Must cover medical emergencies, hospital treatment, and repatriation.
Proof of Accommodation
Hotel booking, rental contract, or a signed declaration of accommodation (Wohnrechtsvereinbarung) from your host in Austria.
Proof of Financial Means
Bank statements from the last 3-6 months showing sufficient funds. The amount depends on the visa type and length of stay.
Police Clearance Certificate (Strafregisterbescheinigung)
Certificate of no criminal record from your home country and any country where you lived for more than 6 months in the last 5 years. Must be recent (usually not older than 3-6 months).
Birth Certificate
International format or translated and apostilled/superlegalized.
Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
Required for family reunification. Must be apostilled and officially translated into German.
Registration Confirmation (Meldebestätigung)
After arriving in Austria, you must register your residence within 3 working days.
German Language Certificate
Level depends on visa type: A1 for family reunification, A2/B1 for settlement permits, B2 for accelerated citizenship.
Important: All foreign documents must be apostilled (Hague Convention countries) or superlegalized, and officially translated into German by a certified translator.
Official translations can be obtained from certified court interpreters. A list is available at sdgliste.justiz.gv.at