There are certain cities in the world that, when mentioned, immediately evoke specific art forms and cultures. Just as Paris is synonymous with fashion, Rome with art, and London with theater, Vienna is considered the cradle of classical music. The capital of Austria has, for centuries, been a source of inspiration for great composers. Here, art luminaries such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johann Strauss created their masterpieces and left an indelible mark on the history of world music.
While walking through the streets of Vienna, you can sense the traces of music in every corner of the city. The city's historic buildings, magnificent concert halls, and the overall musical ambiance captivate travelers. The Musikverein and the Vienna State Opera are counted among the most prestigious concert and opera venues in the world. Every year, numerous classical music events take place here, featuring world-renowned conductors and musicians.
The city is not limited only to classical music. It is also home to magnificent historical sites such as the Sisi Palace, Schönbrunn, and Belvedere. Moreover, the pleasure of savoring a cup of Viennese coffee and ordering a delicious strudel in the old cafés located in the city center is unparalleled.
If you wish to be enchanted by the magic of classical music, experience the traces of history, and discover one of Europe's most romantic cities, a journey to Vienna is absolutely worthwhile. The best time to travel to the city is during the spring and autumn months because the weather is mild during these periods and the city's nature is a delight to behold. There are direct flights and train routes to Vienna, and the local transportation within the city is convenient and accessible. Be prepared to immerse yourself in the magic of music and explore the depths of its culture and history throughout your journey!
The first step to explore the music-filled streets of Vienna, tour its historical palaces, and enjoy its unique culture is to obtain an Austrian Schengen visa. Since Austria is a member of both the European Union and the Schengen Area, Azerbaijani citizens wishing to travel to this country must obtain a Schengen visa. This visa not only allows you to enter Austria but also enables you to explore other Schengen countries freely.
Types of Austrian Visa
If you wish to travel to Austria, which is among the Schengen countries, the Austrian Schengen visa is your ideal choice. The reasons for applying for this visa include tourism, family or friend visits, business trips, medical examinations and treatments, short-term studies, exchange programs, and other non-permanent activities. If you plan to stay in Austria for more than 90 days for long-term education (bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., etc.) or permanent employment, you can apply for a national Austrian visa after receiving official invitation or acceptance letters from the respective educational or employment institutions.
Austrian Schengen Visa
The Austrian Schengen visa, like those of other Schengen countries, is available in both single-entry and multiple-entry options. There is also the possibility to apply for long-term visas covering periods of three months, six months, one year, two years, or five years. Once you obtain the visa, you are allowed free entry into any Schengen country. However, it is advisable that you first enter the Schengen Area via Austria, the country that issued your visa. If you enter from another country which was not planned initially, in rare cases, border services might turn you away and refuse entry. To avoid such risks, ensure that your first point of entry is Austria.
Required Documents for the Austrian Schengen Visa Application
When applying for an Austrian Schengen visa, you are required to submit the following documents:
- The original of your international passport and a copy of its first page
- If available, copies of your previous visas and entry/exit stamps
- A copy of your national ID card
- A letter of employment* and, for students, a reference from the educational institution
- An employment confirmation from the electronic government portal*
- A bank account statement in your name* (detailed information regarding the amount is provided below)
- The bank statement for at least the last 3 months in your name
- If available, property extracts in your name* and a copy of your vehicle’s tax passport
- Proof of your civil status* (if married, the marriage certificate; if there are children under 18, birth certificates and/or documents regarding divorce)
- 2 biometric photos (3.5x4.5 size, with a white background)
- Your flight booking for the trip
- Your hotel reservation bookings for the trip
- Comprehensive travel insurance covering the trip in accordance with Schengen regulations
- The application form filled out in English
- A printed version of the system confirmation of the appointment
- If you are applying for a business visa rather than for tourism, an official invitation letter regarding the business, event, or meeting
Documents marked with “*” must be submitted in English. If you have not obtained the original versions of the documents in English, each must be notarized, officially translated into English, and then certified before being presented to the embassy.
After your documents are accepted, during the visa procedure the embassy might call you to request additional documents. In some cases, the Austrian embassy may require you to provide the hotel booking confirmations and related documents that verify your reservations.
The amount in your bank account varies depending on your travel dates, that is, the duration of your stay in the Schengen Area, the cost of your booked flight tickets and hotels. Generally, for a one-week trip, it is advisable that your bank statement shows an amount between 3,000-5,000 AZN (or the equivalent in euros/US dollars). This amount should fully cover your travel plan. When calculating, consider an additional daily expense of around 70-80 euros for each day in the Schengen area, on top of the flight and hotel booking costs.
If you are a business owner, you can submit alternative documents in place of a letter from your employer (such as a copy of your tax identification number, a periodic statement from the Ministry of Taxes, and an extract from your company registry). If you are not employed, or are a student, or if you are using a sponsor to cover your travel expenses, you must submit the following from the sponsor: a copy of their national ID, a letter from their employer (or, if they are self-employed, the documents listed above), a bank account statement and bank extracts (this account can be in your name or the sponsor’s), proof of the family relationship (e.g., birth certificates for a parent, sibling, etc.), and a sponsorship letter submitted to the embassy. If the applicant is under 18 and traveling alone, or if traveling with one parent, you must also provide a copy of the exit permission from the other parent.
Please note that if you are providing documents such as the tax identification number, the periodic statement from the Ministry of Taxes, the extract from your company registry, or the sponsorship letter, each of these must be notarized, translated into English, and certified.
Visa Procedure
To obtain the Austrian Schengen visa, you must apply at the Austrian Embassy in Azerbaijan. The decision regarding the visa is made by the consul at the consular department. It is mandatory to schedule an appointment at the embassy in advance to submit your documents. Applications can be submitted no earlier than 6 months before your earliest travel date and no later than 15 days before travel. During the application, documents must be presented in person – this requirement applies to children of all ages and travel groups as well.
The processing time for a Schengen visa is approximately 7 business days from the date of application. Experience has shown that in urgent business cases, through email communication it is sometimes possible to schedule an appointment earlier than the indicated time, and the visa can be obtained in less than 7 business days, and occasionally even as soon as in 3 business days – however, this is entirely subject to the discretion of the consul. The visa fee is 35 euros and must be paid in national currency (i.e., in manat) in cash. This amount is adjusted by the embassy according to the exchange rate of the day.
Chances of Obtaining an Austrian Schengen Visa
As with visa applications for any embassy, your chance of obtaining a visa from Austria depends on your personal profile. Stability in your employment and position, a standard monthly income (in practice, individuals earning between 400-600 AZN have been granted the visa multiple times), the presence of sufficient funds in your bank account to cover the entire travel expenses, indications of your ties to your home country (such as property in your name, or having a family and children), and your travel history all increase your chances of obtaining the visa. Having previous Schengen visas also raises the likelihood of obtaining an Austrian visa.
Support for an Austrian Visa
At Vizam.az, we can assist you during your application for an Austrian Schengen visa. Our service package includes support such as scheduling the appointment at the embassy, filling out the application form, professional preparation of documents, booking flight tickets, arranging or reserving hotels, preparing a travel tour plan, organizing travel insurance, consultation, and tracking the visa procedure. Please note that the fee for travel insurance is calculated separately from our service fee and is usually between 16-18 AZN for one week; you can also arrange the insurance on your own. We also offer assistance for notarized translations and certifications into English – each document incurs an additional fee of 16 AZN. Overall, our support service fee for one person’s Austrian Schengen visa application is 79 AZN.
You can place your order by clicking here. For further information, please contact the numbers 010/50/55-3000135.
Spending a day in Vienna will make your trip unforgettable! Have a pleasant journey!
