South Africa
Austria
Austria visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Austria.
- Where to apply
- 2 missions
- Visa guide
- Austria visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at bmeia.gv.at
Which Austria visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for individual tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Normally within 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases.
Austria’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities. Processing time, as Austria states it: Normally within 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Austrian missions in South Africa
-
- Consulate of Austria in Cape Town
Lower Scott Road 1A, Cape Town
All missions of Austria in South Africa
Austria has 2 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Cape Town.
Austria: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,114 | 4,932 | 176 | 3.4% | 89.5% |
| 2024 | 5,606 | 5,284 | 320 | 5.7% | 99.8% |
| 2025 | 5,699 | 5,293 | 201 | 3.7% | 99.9% |
In 2025, Austria’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 5,699 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 5,293. 3.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 5.7%: the rate fell by 2.1 points. The number of applications was almost unchanged (5,606 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Austria’s consulates worldwide refused 11.9%. Austria was the 10th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Austrian citizens travelling to South Africa
AustriaSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Austria
Travel advice for Austria
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
South African citizens planning a trip to Austria can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates Austria at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 20 August 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Austria (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Austria (updated 13 October 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Austria
How long South African citizens may stay in Austria is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Austrian embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Cape Town, or to a visa centre acting for Austria; fees, documents and processing times are published by Austria.
Austria and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Austria lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Austria when it is the main destination of the trip.
Austria’s neighbours for South African citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Slovenia and Liechtenstein require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Austrian citizens travelling to South Africa
Austrian citizens can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Austria?
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Austria.
Where is the Austrian embassy in South Africa?
The Austrian embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria; there is also a consulate in Cape Town.
How much does the Austria tourist visa cost?
Austria’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Normally within 15 calendar days; up to 45 days in individual cases.
Do Austrian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
Austrian citizens can visit South Africa without a visa for up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Austria visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Austria obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.