AustriaBusiness and self-employment

Austria business visa (Schengen type C)

Schengen visa (type C) for business

In short

Business trips to Austria of up to 90 days need a Schengen visa if your nationality is visa-required. You apply at the Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or its external service provider, with an invitation from the Austrian company and your employment or company documents.

checked 25 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Fee
€90EUR 90 regardless of length or outcome; children aged 6 to under 12 EUR 45; under 6 free. Payment method and currency are set by the mission; external service providers charge their own service fee.
Processing time
Normally within 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases.
Work
Business activities only.
Where to apply
The Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or the external service provider it uses.

Business, not employment

Meetings, negotiations and trade fairs are covered. Employment in Austria requires a work permit and, usually, a residence title.

Business documents

In addition to the general documents, bring the Austrian company's invitation with purpose, dates and cost coverage, and an employment certificate on company letterhead in German or English giving the company address, your position and the duration of the trip.

Required documents

Identity

  • Application form completed in block letters and signed, with current e-mail and mobile number
  • Passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, issued within 10 years, two blank pages; if you are not a national of the country where you apply, proof of legal residence there
  • Two recent biometric colour photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, light background

Travel

  • Return reservation (flight, train or bus); by car: vehicle registration, international licence and route
  • Copies of current and previous passports and earlier visas

Money

  • Recent bank statements (one-off deposits without proof of origin may be disregarded)

Work

  • Employees: employment certificate in German or English and recent payslips; business owners: company registration documents
  • Invitation from the Austrian company

Insurance

  • Travel health and accident insurance, minimum EUR 30,000 per case, valid in all Schengen states

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Work

  • Where the Austrian company covers your costs: its electronic declaration of liability (EVE)

Fees

The visa fee is EUR 90, paid when you apply in the way the mission sets, plus any service provider fee.

Where to lodge and frequent travellers

Lodge the application at the Austrian representation in whose consular district you legally reside, or at the external service provider it uses. If the Austrian company invites you, it can also sign an electronic declaration of liability (EVE) at the regional police directorate. Frequent travellers can ask for a visa valid for several entries; the travel insurance then only has to cover the first trip.

  1. Confirm that Austria is your main destination and find the Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence.
  2. Download that mission's information sheet for business trips and prepare the documents, with German or English translations where needed.
  3. Book an appointment as the mission instructs, either with the mission itself or with its external service provider.
  4. Lodge the file in person, give fingerprints and pay EUR 90 plus any service fee.
  5. Wait for the decision, normally within 15 calendar days, and collect your passport.

When to apply and how long it takes

Applications are accepted at the earliest six months and at the latest 15 calendar days before departure. The decision is normally taken within 15 calendar days and can take up to 45 days in individual cases. Send further documents only when the mission asks for them.

Refusal

False statements or forged documents lead to refusal, and incomplete files may be rejected or take much longer. A refusal states the reasons and the legal remedy, an appeal to the Federal Administrative Court; you can also apply again with a complete file. The fee is not refunded.

Frequently asked questions

Does the employer letter need to be in German?

German or English; other documents need informal translations.

How long does it take?

Normally within 15 calendar days.

Where do I submit?

At the Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence, or at the external service provider it uses.

How early can I apply for a business visa?

From six months up to 15 calendar days before the trip; in individual cases the decision can take up to 45 days.

Can I work for the Austrian company on this visa?

No. The Schengen visa does not allow taking up employment in Austria; meetings, negotiations and trade fairs are permitted.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Austria

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: Usually one year, extended on proof of study progress.

Work

Family

  • Family reunification visa Validity: Usually 12 months; three years after Module 1 and two years of uninterrupted residence.

Residence

  • Retirement visa Validity: Generally one year; three years after completing Module 1 and two years of uninterrupted residence.
  • Permanent residence Validity: Card valid for five years, renewable; free labour-market access.

Protection

Austria visa guide