Selected country: Austria

Visa overview

All visas available for Austria

Browse every visa category with key facts like stay limits, work rights, processing times, and whether there is a path to permanent residency.

Visa categories

Total visas listed

Short Term(3)Study(2)Work, Employment & Skilled(6)Investment(1)Dependent & Family(3)Humanitarian(5)Others(5)

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Available Visa Categories

Quick glance at every category. Jump into details below.

Short Term

3 visas

Visas in this category

Airport Transit Visa (Category A), Visa for Crew Members (short-stay / transit for crew), Uniform Schengen Visa (short-stay visa, Category C)

Study

2 visas

Visas in this category

Residence permit for study purposes (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Studium), Residence for academic exchange, trainees and Erasmus students

Work, Employment & Skilled

6 visas

Visas in this category

EU Blue Card (for highly qualified employment), Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) for qualified third-country workers, Red-White-Red Card Plus (unrestricted labour market access after stay under RWR/transition), Seasonal work permits (seasonal employment authorization), Residence permit for researchers (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Forschung / Researchers under Directive provisions), Settlement permit for employment (Niederlassungsbewilligung zur Erwerbstätigkeit)

Investment

1 visas

Visas in this category

Residence permit for self-employed gainful activity / business founders (Niederlassungsbewilligung – Selbständige Erwerbstätigkeit)

Dependent & Family

3 visas

Visas in this category

Residence card for family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (Anmelde-/Aufenthaltskarte für Familienangehörige von Unionsbürgern), Residence permit for family reunification of third-country nationals (Familienzusammenführung - Aufenthaltsbewilligung / Familienangehörige), Family reunification for Red-White-Red Card holders (family members' residence permit)

Humanitarian

5 visas

Visas in this category

Temporary protection (implementation under national law / EU Temporary Protection Directive), Asylum granted (Asylberechtigte / Asylstatus), Subsidiary protection (subsidiärer Schutz), Asylum procedure (application before the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum) and attendant status during procedure, Residence permit on humanitarian grounds (Aufenthaltsbewilligung aus humanitären Gründen)

Others

5 visas

Visas in this category

Residence permit for au pairs (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Au-pair), Working Holiday / youth mobility programmes (bilateral agreements), Long-term resident - EU status (Daueraufenthalt-EU), Registration certificate / right of residence for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (Anmelde-/Aufenthaltserklärung for Union citizens), Settlement permit / long-term settlement (Niederlassungsbewilligung / Niederlassungsbewilligung Daueraufenthalt)

Category

Short Term

3 visas listed

View all in Short Term

Airport Transit Visa (Category A)

visa

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Consular fees and national exemptions vary; consult consulate.)

View details

Stay:transit through international transit area of airport (no stay in Austria)

Work:no

Processing:varies by consulate/mission

Path to PR:No

Work Allowed:No

Extendable:No

Visa for Crew Members (short-stay / transit for crew)

visa

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees and exemptions depend on nationality and bilateral rules.)

View details

Stay:up to 90 days (depending on purpose/classification)

Work:limited

Processing:varies

Path to PR:No

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Varies

Uniform Schengen Visa (short-stay visa, Category C)

visa

Entry: single | multiple | conditionalFee: 0 EUR (Consular fees vary by nationality and reciprocity; standard EU/ICAO fee applies for adults (see official consular pages). See official reference.)

View details

Stay:90 days in any 180-day period

Work:no | conditional

Processing:varies by mission; typically 15 calendar days (can be extended in specific cases)

Path to PR:No

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Varies

Category

Study

2 visas listed

View all in Study

Residence permit for study purposes (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Studium)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees vary; students from some countries may pay consular/national fees. See reference.)

View details

Stay:valid for duration of study program (typically up to program length; extensions possible)

Work:limited (restricted hours; see official rules)

Processing:varies; often several weeks (depends on consulate/authority)

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Residence for academic exchange, trainees and Erasmus students

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees vary by case and nationality.)

View details

Stay:duration of exchange/traineeship (typically up to program length, commonly 90 days to 1 year)

Work:limited | conditional

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Conditional

Category

Work, Employment & Skilled

6 visas listed

View all in Work, Employment & Skilled

EU Blue Card (for highly qualified employment)

residence_permit

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Salary thresholds and fees vary; see official guidance.)

View details

Stay:issued for the duration of the work contract plus three months; generally up to 4 years depending on contract

Work:yes (subject to employment stated on card; mobility rights within EU apply)

Processing:varies; several weeks

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) for qualified third-country workers

residence_permit

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Official fees apply; see migration.gv.at for up-to-date information and exemptions.)

View details

Stay:up to 24 months (initially; see regulation)

Work:yes (for specified employer / sector depending on category)

Processing:varies; often several weeks to months

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Red-White-Red Card Plus (unrestricted labour market access after stay under RWR/transition)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees and conditions vary by category and nationality.)

View details

Stay:usually up to 24 months (then renewable as RWR Card Plus holder)

Work:yes (unrestricted - any employer)

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Seasonal work permits (seasonal employment authorization)

residence_permit

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees and sector-specific rules apply.)

View details

Stay:limited to the season (commonly up to 6 months depending on sector and bilateral rules)

Work:yes (for employer/sector specified)

Processing:varies; depends on AMS procedures

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Conditional

Residence permit for researchers (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Forschung / Researchers under Directive provisions)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees vary by permit type and applicant.)

View details

Stay:duration of research project / employment contract (varies)

Work:yes (research activity; may include accompanying family work rights depending on status)

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Settlement permit for employment (Niederlassungsbewilligung zur Erwerbstätigkeit)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Administrative fees apply; see official guidance.)

View details

Stay:generally up to 24 months (depends on permit subtype); renewable

Work:yes (for specified employment as authorized)

Processing:varies; often several weeks to months

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Category

Investment

1 visa listed

View all in Investment

Residence permit for self-employed gainful activity / business founders (Niederlassungsbewilligung – Selbständige Erwerbstätigkeit)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Administrative fees apply; no single statutory flat 'investor visa' fee. See official guidance.)

View details

Stay:issued for the duration necessary to establish and run the business (initial validity commonly up to 24 months; renewable)

Work:yes (for the declared business activity)

Processing:varies; often months (evaluation of business plan and economic interest)

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Category

Dependent & Family

3 visas listed

View all in Dependent & Family

Residence card for family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens (Anmelde-/Aufenthaltskarte für Familienangehörige von Unionsbürgern)

status

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Registration/administrative fees vary.)

View details

Stay:residence right linked to EU citizen's exercise of free movement; typically 5 years residence card issuance possible

Work:yes (family members usually gain work rights)

Processing:varies; often several weeks

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Residence permit for family reunification of third-country nationals (Familienzusammenführung - Aufenthaltsbewilligung / Familienangehörige)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Fees and eligibility conditions vary; check migration.gv.at for details.)

View details

Stay:linked to status of sponsor; renewable

Work:conditional (work rights depend on sponsor's status and permit subtype)

Processing:varies; often multiple weeks to months

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Family reunification for Red-White-Red Card holders (family members' residence permit)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (See migration.gv.at for category-specific requirements and fees.)

View details

Stay:linked to RWR card holder's entitlement; renewable

Work:yes (family members may obtain work rights depending on permit subtype)

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Category

Humanitarian

5 visas listed

View all in Humanitarian

Temporary protection (implementation under national law / EU Temporary Protection Directive)

status

Entry: conditionalFee: 0 EUR (Implemented according to national measures; no application fee for protection status itself.)

View details

Stay:duration of temporary protection measure as defined by government/Directive

Work:yes (work rights generally granted under temporary protection)

Processing:varies; status activated by measures of authorities

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Conditional

Asylum granted (Asylberechtigte / Asylstatus)

status

Entry: not_applicableFee: 0 EUR (No fee for status determination; benefits and permits administered by authorities.)

View details

Stay:protected status grants right to reside (duration as per decision, usually indefinite subject to national rules)

Work:yes (work rights accorded to recognized refugees)

Processing:decision varies per case

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Varies

Subsidiary protection (subsidiärer Schutz)

status

Entry: not_applicableFee: 0 EUR (No fee for status determination.)

View details

Stay:residence permitted for beneficiaries of subsidiary protection (as per law/decision)

Work:yes

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Yes

Extendable:Conditional

Asylum procedure (application before the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum) and attendant status during procedure

status

Entry: conditionalFee: 0 EUR (No consular fee for asylum application. Services administered by relevant authorities.)

View details

Stay:duration of asylum procedure (varies); applicant may remain in Austria during procedure

Work:conditional (possible after time in procedure or under specific conditions)

Processing:varies widely (weeks to months; may be extended)

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Conditional

Residence permit on humanitarian grounds (Aufenthaltsbewilligung aus humanitären Gründen)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (No standard fee; administrative rules apply.)

View details

Stay:temporary; validity depends on decision (can be longer-term in exceptional cases)

Work:conditional

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Conditional

Work Allowed:Conditional

Extendable:Conditional

Category

Others

5 visas listed

View all in Others

Residence permit for au pairs (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Au-pair)

residence_permit

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Administrative fee varies; consult official guidance.)

View details

Stay:typically up to 12 months (programme-dependent)

Work:limited (au-pair duties; regulated working hours)

Processing:varies

Path to PR:No

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Varies

Working Holiday / youth mobility programmes (bilateral agreements)

pathway

Entry: single | multipleFee: 0 EUR (Participating nationalities and fees vary; check bilateral consular information.)

View details

Stay:typically up to 6–12 months depending on bilateral agreement

Work:yes (work permitted as per programme rules)

Processing:varies by consulate/mission

Path to PR:No

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Varies

Long-term resident - EU status (Daueraufenthalt-EU)

status

Entry: not_applicableFee: 0 EUR (Administrative fees may apply for application/issuance.)

View details

Stay:permanent (long-term resident status in the EU)

Work:yes

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Yes

Extendable:Varies

Registration certificate / right of residence for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals (Anmelde-/Aufenthaltserklärung for Union citizens)

status

Entry: not_applicableFee: 0 EUR (Administrative registration fees may apply in municipalities.)

View details

Stay:as per EU free movement rules; residence right for EU citizens remains while exercising treaty rights

Work:yes (full work rights for EU/EEA/Swiss nationals)

Processing:varies; usually quick (days to weeks)

Path to PR:Varies

Work Allowed:Varies

Extendable:Yes

Settlement permit / long-term settlement (Niederlassungsbewilligung / Niederlassungsbewilligung Daueraufenthalt)

residence_permit

Entry: multipleFee: 0 EUR (Administrative fees apply; details in law and official guidance.)

View details

Stay:permanent subject to permit conditions and maintenance of residence

Work:yes

Processing:varies

Path to PR:Yes

Work Allowed:Yes

Extendable:Varies