Do You Need A Visa For Austria?
Do you need a visa for Austria?
If you want to know whether you need a visa to enter and stay in Austria, where you can apply for it and if you will be eligible to get a visa to attend a German course in Austria, keep on reading!
Who is required to have a visa?
First of all, let’s check if you even require a visa. If you are a citizen of one of the EU member states, the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you do not need a visa for entry or residence. Nationals of those states for which the visa requirement has been repealed by an EU-regulation are entitled to visa-free entry, provided that within a period of six months they stay in Austria for a maximum of 90 days and do not engage in gainful employment. However, if you are a citizen of other countries – that is, of third country nations – you will need to obtain a visa for entry and residence. You can find out whether you require a visa on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
Which kinds of visa are there?
There are three visa types in Austria: Airport Transit Visa (Visa A), Travel- and Tourist Visa (Visa C) and the Residence Visa (Visa D). Let’s have a look at C and D: With a travel- and tourist visa you are allowed to stay a maximum of 90 days within a 6-month period. The residence visa entitles you to stay from 3 up to a maximum of 6 months. In exceptional cases (e. g. based on an international agreement) a longer validity period might be possible.
Where to apply for a visa?
You have to apply for the visa (travel- and tourist visa, residence visa) in person at the competent Austrian representation authority (embassy, consulate general) in your country of residence before entering Austria. Please note that your visa cannot be extended in Austria!
Is a residence visa issued for attending a German course?
Yes, but it depends on which German course you want to attend. We offer three different types: a) intensive courses, b) pre-study course for international applicants to prepare for the supplementary “German” examination (if necessary, also for supplementary examinations in other subjects) and c) semester evening courses (run as a university course “German as a Foreign and Second Language”).
No residence visa is issued for the first type “intensive courses“. The reason for this is that the residence visa is not issued for German courses that do not belong to a regular or non-degree (e.g. university course) study program. Nevertheless, you have the option of taking part in one of our intensive courses with a travel- or tourist visa.
You will receive a residence visa for the second type “preparatory course“. To do this, you have to register for a regular degree. As German language skills at level B2 according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Language Learning and Teaching) or C1 for certain fields of study are required for regular studies at the University of Klagenfurt, the notification of admission issued by the University of Klagenfurt stipulates the period during which you need to reach the required level:
- 3 semesters, if the required German level is B2;
- 4 semesters if you also have to take supplementary exams in other subjects (mathematics, history, etc.);
- 4 semesters, if the required German level is C1;
- 5 semesters, if you have to take additional exams in other subjects (see above).
Please note that you have to provide a proof of at least A2 German language skills (beginners level II) so that your application for admission to study can be processed. You can find detailed information about the pre-study course here.
For the third type “semester evening courses“, run as a university course, also no residence visa is issued, but most likely a travel or tourist visa. Note that this is a course that lasts one semester (four months) and the travel or tourist visa is issued for a maximum of three months!
None of the information given here represents binding legal information; ALWAYS inquire at the authority responsible for you!
