Austria Visa from Serbia - Step-by-Step Guide

# Visa to Austria from Serbia: A Complete Guide

## Where to Apply

**Austrian Embassy in Belgrade**
- Address: [Omladinskih brigada 88a, Beograd](/detail/places/28271) - map card, you can build a route
- Phone: +381 11 3336500
- Email: belgrad-ob@bmeia.gv.at
- Website: www.bmeia.gv.at/belgrad

Austria does not work through visa centers like VFS or BLS - all documents are submitted directly to the embassy.

### How to Schedule an Appointment
1. Send an email to **belgrad-ob@bmeia.gv.at**.
2. In the email, include:
- Full name and date of birth
- Citizenship (Russian Federation)
- Purpose of travel (tourism)
- Planned travel dates
- Confirmation of residence permit in Serbia
3. Attach a scan of the first page of your passport and residence permit.
4. Wait for a response - usually within 1-2 days.

### Slots
- Appointments are scheduled about 3-4 months in advance.
- For 2026, slots were issued in February-March when applying in October-November 2025.
- Sometimes earlier dates become available due to rejections - re-check if you need earlier dates.

## Required Documents

### Basic Package
1. Completed application form (by hand or in PDF).
2. One biometric photo (not older than 6 months).
3. Passport + copy of the main page.
4. Copy of Serbia's residence permit (both sides of the plastic card or read document).
5. Copies of all Schengen visas obtained in Serbia.
6. Medical insurance for €30,000 (Russian insurance policies are NOT accepted).
7. Confirmation of accommodation booking.
8. Confirmation of transportation (tickets or booking).
9. Financial documents (see below).
10. Travel itinerary.

### Application Form
- The link comes in the email with the slot.
- Can be filled out by hand in English.
- In field 11 (JMBG), leave blank - Russian citizens do not have this number.
- In field 27 (date of departure), indicate the desired visa end date, not the specific trip.

### Translations
- All documents not written in English, German, or Serbian are translated.
- Certified translation is NOT required - a printed text on a separate sheet is sufficient.
- For simple certificates, Google Translate or ChatGPT will suffice.

**Do not translate:**
- Read residence permit/permanent residence.
- Serbian insurance (usually already bilingual).

## Financial Documents

### Bank Statements
- Only statements from Serbian banks are accepted; Russian accounts are NOT accepted.
- The statement must not be older than 30 days at the time of submission.
- Show income for the last 3 months (only income, expenses are not needed).
- If desired, you can highlight the necessary lines with a marker.

### Banks that Accept
- Raiffeisen Banka Srbija
- Intesa Sanpaolo Banka Srbija
- Komercijalna banka
- Alpha bank Srbija
- Other Serbian banks are also suitable.

### Amount
There are no exact requirements, but the guideline is ≈€150 per day of stay. It's better to show a maximum of funds on all accounts.

### Sponsorship Letter (if there is a sponsor)
- A letter in free form in English, indicating the names of the sponsored, passport numbers, and travel dates.
- Attach documents on kinship with translation and sponsor's financial documents.

### For Self-Employed in Serbia
- Statement on the business account for 3 months.
- Certificate from the tax office on the state of obligations (not always required).
- Office rental agreement with translation.

## Cost and Terms

### Visa Fees (from 12.06.2024)
- Adults - €90
- Children 6-12 years - €45
- Children under 6 years - free

Payment - at the place of submission in dinars at the NBS exchange rate, cash.

### Processing Times
- Officially - 14 days.
- Actually - 7-14 calendar days; in summer, it may take up to 2-3 weeks.
- Expedited consideration is possible in special circumstances (report in advance).

### Obtaining a Passport
- The embassy calls when the visa is ready.
- You can pick up your passport on the same day after the call.
- If you need a passport urgently during consideration, warn in advance - they may return it temporarily.

## Types of Visas

### Tourist Visa C
- The first visa is usually single-entry for the dates of travel.
- If there is a second visa, two entries are possible for two trips.
- A multiple-entry visa is very rare; you need to prove regular trips to Austria.

### National Visa D
- For study, work, family reunification.
- The procedure is separate; appointments are made faster, and the list of documents differs from the tourist one.

## Life Hacks and Tips

- **Finances:** stable income to a Serbian account, better to show several sources.
- **Real Estate:** rental or purchase agreement in Serbia strengthens chances.
- **Family ties:** children in school, spouse works in Serbia - that's a plus.
- **Schengen:** previous visas without violations always work in your favor.
- **Travel itinerary:** specific route, dates, and confirmed accommodation for the first part of the trip.

### Connection with Serbia (proof of return)
- Rental agreement + translation.
- Certificate of employment in Serbia.
- Certificate from child's school.
- Permanent residence/residence permit must be valid for at least 3 months after return.

### Traveling by Car
- Vignette for Austria (can be bought online on asfinag.at).
- SAO-bračajna, driver's license, car insurance.
- Copies of car documents with translation; if rental - copy of rental agreement.

### Route
- Austria should have more days than other Schengen countries.
- You can enter through Hungary, the main thing is more nights in Austria.
- The first entry is not necessarily in Austria, but plan so that the main part of the stay is there.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I get a multiple-entry visa?**
Very difficult. Usually, it's given after 3+ Austrian visas and regular trips to Austria. Don't count on it for the first visa.

**Can I cancel booking after receiving a visa?**
Technically possible, but risky. Austrians don't check as strictly as Hungarians, but they might start. Better not to risk it.

**Do I need a certificate of no criminal record?**
For tourist visa C - no. Required only for national visa D.

**Do they accept Russian insurance policies?**
NO. The letter clearly states "Russian insurances are not accepted". Buy Serbian (Grawe, Dunav) or European policies.

**Can I submit documents on an empty passport?**
Yes, but attach copies of the old passport with visas and an explanatory letter.

**What about transit through Vienna?**
For a short transfer within one terminal, no visa is required. When changing terminals or flying - a visa is mandatory.

**How much money to show?**
There are no exact requirements, guideline ≈€150/day + reserve. The main thing is stable income in Serbia.

**When to apply for New Year's holidays?**
Send a request for a slot in July-August, considering a 4-month queue.

**Is the presence of all applicants mandatory?**
Yes, including children. Exception - children under 2 years.

**Can I pick up a passport for another person?**
Possible, but coordinate this with the embassy in advance.

*This article is compiled based on the experience of the Serbia community: visas for other countries. Information may become outdated - check official sources.*