Austria Visa RequirementsFor Afghanistan passport holders
Afghan citizens require a Schengen visa to visit Austria, costing €90 ($98 USD). With Austrian Embassy operations in Kabul suspended, Afghans apply at the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad or the Austrian Consulate in Dubai. Austria is a Schengen and EU member bordering Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and others.
Afghanistan passport holders require a visa to enter Austria.
Apply at the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad or the Austrian Consulate in Dubai. Required documents: completed Schengen form, valid Afghan passport (at least 3 months beyond planned return), two biometric photos, travel insurance (minimum €30,000 Schengen-wide), confirmed return flights, accommodation bookings, 3 months of bank statements, employment letter, and evidence of ties to current country of residence. Processing takes 15 business days on average.
Austria is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Current Travel Situation
Afghanistan to Austria: What You Need to Know
Austria is a Schengen member: an Austrian Schengen visa grants access to all 27 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The Schengen fee is €90 since June 2024. The Austrian Embassy in Kabul has suspended operations since 2021. Afghan nationals apply at the Austrian Embassy in Islamabad or the Austrian Consulate in Dubai. Austria houses a significant Afghan diaspora, as it was one of the main destinations for Afghan refugees during the 1980s Soviet-Afghan War and subsequent conflicts. The Austrian government has historically had a significant Afghan community.
How to Get There
No direct flights connect Afghan airports to Austria. Route via Dubai (DXB) with Austrian Airlines from DXB to Vienna (VIE), or via Istanbul (IST) with Turkish Airlines then Austrian Airlines or another carrier to Vienna. From Islamabad, connect through Gulf hubs. Vienna Airport has excellent rail connections (16 minutes to central Vienna). Total journey time from Kabul is typically 10 to 16 hours.
Money & Banking
Austria uses the euro (EUR). Visa and Mastercard are accepted everywhere. Austria is moderately to expensively priced: Vienna accommodation from €50 per night in budget options, coffee house meals from €8 to €15, restaurant meals from €15 to €25. The Vienna public transport system (U-Bahn, trams, buses) is excellent. ATMs are widely available. Tipping 5 to 10 percent is customary in restaurants.
Practical Tips
Vienna is one of Europe's great imperial capitals: the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Belvedere Palace (home to Klimt's "The Kiss"), Schonbrunn Palace and Gardens (UNESCO), and the Spanish Riding School are highlights. The Vienna Philharmonic's New Year Concert is broadcast globally. Innsbruck in the Tyrolean Alps offers skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Salzburg (UNESCO) is the birthplace of Mozart and has a spectacular mountain fortress. The Salzkammergut lake region is among Austria's most scenic. Austria has a significant Afghan community particularly in Vienna and Graz.