Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) — BusinessVerified 2026-04-16Austria Business Visa (Schengen Type C)
The Austria Business Visa is given to those doing business in Austria such as making sales, establishing contacts, attending conferences/trade events on behalf of a company outside India. Maximum 90 days in any 180-day period.
Processing
15 working days from when the Embassy receives your complete application (not counting VFS transport time)
Stay Duration
90 days in any 180-day period
Starting Fee
€90
Apply At
11 VFS centres
Special Instructions — Read Before Applying
These requirements apply to ALL Austria visa types. Violations mean your application will be rejected — read each one carefully.
- 1Applications cannot be submitted more than 6 months prior to intended departure. Apply at least 15 working days before travel — submissions under 15 days may be returned to VFS unprocessed.
- 2Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay, have at least 2 blank pages, and must have been issued within the previous 10 years. NO alterations or handwritten amendments concerning the data page.
- 3From 1 January 2026, travel medical insurance will ONLY be accepted if issued by one of the approved Indian insurance companies listed on the VFS Austria site.
- 4Travel medical insurance must cover the ENTIRE period of stay or transit, minimum coverage €30,000, valid throughout all Schengen Member States, and include COVID-19 treatment.
- 5If applicant intends to stay longer than 6 months, a Residence Permit (Aufenthaltstitel) must be applied for. Visa C: up to 90 days. Visa D: 91–180 days. Neither category can be extended or renewed inside Austria.
- 6Representatives must provide an original letter of authorization from the applicant bearing the name of the representative and their organization / company, with a valid photo ID copy attached.
- 7The applicant bears sole responsibility concerning all content of the application. Incomplete or faulty documentation can be a reason for refusal.
- 8Bank statements for the last 3 months are MANDATORY and must be stamped & signed by the bank.
Who Can Apply
- Indian employees/directors travelling to Austria for company meetings with Austrian partners/clients
- Delegates attending conferences, seminars, trade fairs in Austria
- Professionals attending short-term business training (not paid by Austrian entity)
- Salespeople/vendors visiting Austrian counterparts for deals and relationship building
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Fees (in INR)
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Adult visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay) | €90 |
| Children 6–12 years — Embassy fee | €45 |
| Children under 6 years — Embassy fee | FREE |
| VFS service charge | ₹2,479 |
Embassy fees are set in EUR by the Austrian Embassy — the actual INR charged at VFS varies with the daily exchange rate. VFS service charge is fixed in INR. All fees payable in Cash / Card / UPI (or Rupay). Fees are non-refundable in case the visa is refused. Approximate total for an adult short-stay visa: €90 + ₹2,479 (~₹12,289 at current rates).
Documents Required
Core Documents
- !Application form
Fully completed in English or German, signed by applicant
- !Passport
Valid 3 months beyond stay, 2 blank pages, ≤10 years old, no alterations on data page
- !One photograph
ICAO-compliant, 35–45mm wide, white bg, ≤6 months old
- ○Valid permit to return (if applicable)
For citizens of BD/BT/MV/NP/LK residing in India
Business-Specific
- !Invitation letter from Austrian Company / Business operation
OR Electronic letter of guarantee (EVE — Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung) from the competent authority in Austria: bmi.gv.at Einreise/Visa portal
- ○Special permission — if purpose is training/voluntary work/project work
Permission from Austrian Labour Market Authority (AMS) — Entsendebewilligung / Anzeigebestätigung — to be obtained by the inviting Austrian company
- !Cover letter from applicant
Purpose of travel, duration, names of accompanying persons, transport and accommodation details
Travel
- !Round-trip flight reservations + travel itinerary
Airline reservation + proof of intra-Schengen travel if applicable
- !Proof of accommodation
Hotel reservation / tour organiser letter for the entire stay in Austria / EU
- !Travel medical insurance
Schengen-wide, €30,000 minimum, full trip + COVID-19 coverage. From 1 Jan 2026: approved Indian insurance companies only.
Proof of Occupation
- ○Employed
Salary certificate (last 3 months), employment contract + company NOC to leave. Mention official HR email on form OR business card.
- ○Self-employed
GST certificate / Udhyog Aadhar Memorandum / Import Export Certificate / Certificate of Incorporation
- ○Retired
Pension statements (last 3 months) OR property/business income proof
- ○Student
Proof of enrollment / registration
Proof of Sufficient Funds
- !Original bank statements (last 3 months)
Stamped & signed by bank
- !ITR (with barcode) for last 2 years
Passport & Contact
- !Copy of present passport (all relevant pages)
- ○Copy of Schengen entry/exit stamps from previous passports
- !Contact details
Operational email, mobile, business card
! = mandatory · ○ = optional / if applicable
🗺️ Step-by-Step Application Process
Austrian host issues invitation
Austrian business partner issues invitation letter OR creates Electronic letter of guarantee (EVE) via bmi.gv.at Einreise/Visa/EVE portal.
Fill VAF + Declaration
Download Editable VAF + Declaration and Undertaking → complete + sign.
Book VFS appointment
At visa.vfsglobal.com/ind/en/aut/ — nearest centre.
Submit + biometrics
Originals + copies + invitation letter. Fingerprints + photo taken at VFS.
Decision
15 working days standard. May extend to 30 days for additional scrutiny or 45 days in exceptional cases.
Download Official Forms
Official forms are hosted by VFS Global — we don't host third-party forms ourselves, so you always get the latest version.
📋 How to download from VFS:
- Click the form name below — opens VFS Switzerland page
- Select the visa category you're applying for (e.g. Tourist, Business, Student)
- Scroll down to the "Download Form" section at the bottom
- Click the PDF icon next to the form name → saves to your device
Schengen Visa Application Form (Short Stay — Type C)
Download via VFS Austria Downloads section. Two versions: Editable/Digital VAF (Preferred) + Non-Editable VAF. Form must be fully completed in English or German and signed by the applicant. Best filled in Google Chrome / Safari / Firefox.
National Visa Application Form (Long Stay — Category D)
For long-stay visas (91–180 days). Signed form must be submitted at VFS.
Declaration and Undertaking
Mandatory declaration required by the Austrian Embassy — must be signed by the applicant and submitted along with the application form.
VFS Austria Checklists & Forms Portal
Per-visa-type document checklists (Business, Tourism, Visitor, Student, Film Crew, Incentive Group, Transit, etc.) available on the VFS Austria site.
VFS Application Centres
Schengen Business Visa Eligibility Check
Answer 10 questions focused on business visa criteria. Business applications face different scrutiny — the embassy wants clear purpose, genuine business relationships, and verifiable host.
Who is inviting you to Denmark / the Schengen country?
What form will the invitation take?
How long have you had a business relationship with the Danish host?
How long is your business trip?
What's your role in your Indian company?
What's your Indian company's annual turnover?
Helps establish legitimacy of the business case.
How often do you travel internationally for business?
Have you used a Schengen visa before?
Any previous visa refusals (business or otherwise)?
Your return-to-India anchor?
Indicative only — final decision is always with the Embassy.
💡 Pro Tips
- Ask your Austrian host to create an Electronic letter of guarantee (EVE) via bmi.gv.at — preferred over paper invitations and speeds up processing.
- Include your company business card mentioning your official HR email — small detail that Austrian consulates look for.
- If training/voluntary work is part of the trip, AMS permission must be arranged by the Austrian company BEFORE you apply.
- VFS Austria offers a Checklist (Link) on the Documents Required tab for every visa category — always refer to the latest version before applying.
- Apply 3–4 weeks before travel as the sweet spot — early enough to handle extended processing, not so early that itinerary / bookings become stale.
- Make sure your cover letter, financials, travel bookings, and invitation letter all tell a consistent story — Austrian consulates particularly scrutinise 'purpose clarity'.
- Photo: 35–45 mm wide, ≤6 months old, white background, face 70–80% of frame, no ink marks / creases / filters. Austrian consulates are strict on photo compliance.
Common Rejection Reasons
- 1.Weak or generic invitation — missing specific meeting dates, agenda, or host details
- 2.Indian company letter missing applicant's role or travel justification
- 3.Financial mismatch between company-sponsorship claim and personal bank statements
- 4.No prior business travel history + no documented relationship with Austrian host
- 5.Purpose mismatch — e.g. invitation says 'sales' but itinerary shows tourism only
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn money in Austria on a business visa?+
What is EVE (Elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung)?+
What's AMS and when is it needed?+
Is multi-entry business visa possible?+
How much is the total cost?+
Let us prepare your Austria Business Visa — (Schengen Type C) application
Free consultation. Our experts handle the entire file — cover letter, documents, VFS booking, embassy follow-up.
Other Austria Visa Types
Austria Tourist Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens travelling to Austria for tourism, sightseeing, and non-business leisure travel up to 90 days.
Austria Visitor Visa (Schengen Type C — Family / Friends)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian citizens visiting family or friends in Austria. The Austrian inviter provides a guarantee on behalf of the applicant.
Austria Cultural / Sports / Religious Visa (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian participants in cultural, sports, or religious events in Austria for up to 90 days.
Austria Student / Research / Internship Visa (Schengen Type C — Short Stay)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian students / researchers / interns in Austria up to 90 days. For internships beyond 90 days, apply for Visa D (long-stay).
Austria Film Crew Visa (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian film crew visiting Austria to shoot motion films, with backing from Indian film associations and Austrian business partners.
Austria Official Visit Visa (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay visa for Indian government / intergovernmental delegates travelling to Austria for meetings, consultations, negotiations, or events held by intergovernmental organizations.
Austria Incentive Groups Visa (Schengen Type C)
Schengen short-stay group visa for Indian companies sponsoring incentive trips (rewards / team outings) to Austria for their employees.
Austria Transit Visa (Schengen Type C — Transit)
Schengen transit visa applicable ONLY for citizens of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh transiting Austria to a third country destination.
Source & Disclaimer
Data on this page is sourced from the official VFS Global Austria website and Embassy of Austria. Last verified 2026-04-16. Always verify with the official embassy before applying — fees and requirements change without notice.