Austrian Visa Process
Information accurate as of April 2024
Upcoming Visa Info Session:
We will host 2 visa info sessions options. They will both share the exact same information.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 2:00pm in the ZSR Auditorium
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 2:00pm in the ZSR Auditorium
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at 2:00pm in the ZSR Auditorium
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 2:00pm in the ZSR Auditorium
Important to Note:
- You will need to appear IN PERSON for an appointment at an Austrian VFS Global Center (not at the Austrian Consulate) as part of the visa application process. Schedule this appointment ASAP!
- Wake Forest University/North Carolina is part of the jurisdiction for the VFS Center in Washington DC. You may also follow the jurisdiction of your home address (Must be listed on your Driver's license). These are your only 2 jurisdiction options.
- If you decide to apply through a different VFS Center location, you will be responsible for confirming their requirements, as they might differ from the Washington DC requirements.
- Your passport with the Austrian visa stamped inside will be mailed back to you after your in-person appointment.
- Your visa appointment can be within 6 months of your departure.
- Usually there is an option to pay the fees when booking your appointment or when you appear for your appointment. Select the option to pay fees at your appointment.
How to Schedule Your Appointment:
- Follow this link.
- Click “New User”, located under the “Continue” button.
- Enter the information and submit.
- Activate your account through the link sent to your email.
- Log in.
- Click “Schedule Appointment”
- Select your Visa Centre
- Select Visa Type: Long Visa (or Austrian National Visa D)
- Select “Add Applicant” and input your information
- You will need your passport number and passport expiration date.
- Remember to input dates as DAY/MONTH/YEAR
- Once you are added, click “Continue”
- Scroll through the calendar and select an appointment.
- If it is an option, pay your fees AT THE APPOINTMENT not when booking. You can use credit/debit cards at appointments to pay.
- Check updated fees here.
- Your appointment is at the VFS Austria Visa Application Centre NOT the Austrian Consulate. Arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment with all required documents.
Documents Needed for Appointment:
- Printed and completed Visa Application Form - Instructions on how to complete this form can be found here.
- Printed Appointment Confirmation Letter
- Printed Document Checklist
- Physical passport (valid and signed)
- Printed copy of passport personal details pages
- Printed copy of passport pages with previous Schengen visas and entry/exit stamps
- Physical Driver’s license AND school ID, as well as printed copies of both
- 2 recent passport size photos
- If not a US citizen, proof of residence in the US
- Printed flight itinerary
- It is highly encouraged for this to be a flight confirmation with your name included in it. This must be a roundtrip flight itinerary in and out of the Schengen Area.
- You should arrive in Austria on the program start date, not depart the U.S. then.
- Proof of Accommodation Letter (provided by GPS or affiliate)
- Proof of Health Insurance Letter (provided by GPS or affiliate)
- Proof of Financial Means - Choose one of the following options:
- If you are financially supporting yourself while in Austria, please provide: 1) Three most recent bank statements from your account AND 2) Official letter from your bank (Bank letter sample found here)
- If your parent/guardian is financially supporting you while in Austria, please provide: 1) Three most recent bank statements, 2) Official letter from their bank AND 3) Notarized Affidavit of Financial parental/guardian support (Template letter found here)
- If you receive 50% or more of your tuition costs from Financial Aid, please provide: Official Letter from the Office of Student Financial Aid. Please contact Elizabeth Sandy.
- Acceptance Letter (provided by GPS or affiliate)
- Enrollment Letter (provided by GPS)
*make copies of everything to take with you and for your own personal records*
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I can't book an appointment for the date I want. What should I do?
A. While it can be frustrating, you will need to check back often for available appointments. Sometimes appointments will not show until they are a few weeks out and other times new appointments will become available as other people cancel or reschedule.
Q. How do I know what proof of financial means to provide?
A. Typically about $1,000/month is seen as an acceptable amount to show you have means to support yourself during your time abroad. There are three options to show you have financial means. Option one applies to you if you have $1,000/month available to you in your own bank account. If you do not, but your parents can support you, option two is to use their bank statements along with a notarized statement of support. Option three is for students with financial aid of 50% or more. They can request a letter from the Financial Aid Office to show that their aid amount exceeds financial means requirements. If you have questions about the proof of financial means, reach out to your advisor.
Q. Where can I submit my visa application?
A. Washington DC in within the Wake Forest University/North Carolina jurisdiction. See the map below for other locations! Please be aware that different consulates and VFS locations have different requirements from the other.
A. While it can be frustrating, you will need to check back often for available appointments. Sometimes appointments will not show until they are a few weeks out and other times new appointments will become available as other people cancel or reschedule.
Q. How do I know what proof of financial means to provide?
A. Typically about $1,000/month is seen as an acceptable amount to show you have means to support yourself during your time abroad. There are three options to show you have financial means. Option one applies to you if you have $1,000/month available to you in your own bank account. If you do not, but your parents can support you, option two is to use their bank statements along with a notarized statement of support. Option three is for students with financial aid of 50% or more. They can request a letter from the Financial Aid Office to show that their aid amount exceeds financial means requirements. If you have questions about the proof of financial means, reach out to your advisor.
Q. Where can I submit my visa application?
A. Washington DC in within the Wake Forest University/North Carolina jurisdiction. See the map below for other locations! Please be aware that different consulates and VFS locations have different requirements from the other.
Relevant Links
Studying in Austria (DC Consulate Page)
VFS Global Austria Visa Information (select National Visa D from drop down menu)
VFS Global Center in Washington DC
Booking an Appointment
What Happens at Your Appointment
Registration/Scheduling Process for Appointments
Visa Fees (updated September 27, 2023)
Document Checklist
Visa Application Form
Affidavit of Financial Support Letter Template
Bank Letter Sample
VFS Global Austria Visa Information (select National Visa D from drop down menu)
VFS Global Center in Washington DC
Booking an Appointment
What Happens at Your Appointment
Registration/Scheduling Process for Appointments
Visa Fees (updated September 27, 2023)
Document Checklist
Visa Application Form
Affidavit of Financial Support Letter Template
Bank Letter Sample