Austria Short-stay Schengen Visa (Type C) — Applying from Japan

Who this page is for

This page is for people who live in Japan and are applying for an Austria short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) — a stay of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Japanese nationals holding a valid Japanese passport do not need a visa for such tourist or business stays; a 1958 bilateral agreement (the Altabkommen) also applies, but its extra-90-day provision is limited to continuous stays inside Austria only and does not allow re-entry after leaving Austrian territory.

Long-stay or residence visas (National Visa, Type D) use a different form (Visum D v2018) and a different procedure; this page does not cover them. If Austria is the sole destination, the main destination (longest stay), or — on a tie in days — the first Schengen country of entry of a multi-country trip, you apply to Austria.

Schengen form and required documents

Austria does not use an online pre-fill system such as VIDEX or France-Visas for applications from Japan. Download the official Schengen C visa application form (PDF) from the embassy visa page, fill it in Latin letters, and sign it by hand. The embassy “How to apply” required-documents list asks, alongside the form, for your passport, Japanese residence card, travel medical insurance, proof of accommodation and transport, and means of subsistence.

The same list asks for one printed passport photograph meeting ICAO criteria — a light background with no blue, left uncut. The live digital biometric photo captured at the counter is separate from this print. For the photo size (35×45 mm) and face-ratio rules, see the Austria photo-requirements page; confirming the live embassy checklist before you book is recommended.

Where to apply: embassy and VFS centres

There is no residency-based jurisdiction split. The Austrian Embassy Tokyo (1-1-20 Moto-Azabu, Minato-ku) is the only Austrian mission in Japan, and residents anywhere in Japan may apply there or at the VFS Global visa application centres in Tokyo (Hamarikyu Parkside Place, 5-6-10 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku) and Osaka.

For trips with several Schengen stops, apply at Austria when Austria is the sole destination, the main destination (longest stay), or the first point of entry on a tie. Note that the Austrian Embassy Tokyo also receives Schengen C visa applications for Malta on Malta's behalf (if your main destination is Malta, you file at the same window with the same appointment, document and fee requirements).

Since 1 September 2016 the system is fully appointment-based. Embassy appointments are booked by email only ([email protected]); there is no online portal or telephone booking, and consular hours are Monday to Friday 9:00–12:00. Applying through VFS Global is voluntary and carries an added service fee; book a VFS appointment separately on the VFS portal (visa.vfsglobal.com). The embassy recommends requesting an appointment as early as possible once your trip is set, since peak periods mean a wait for a slot.

Fee, timing and return envelope

The Schengen C visa fee is 90 EUR (45 EUR for ages 6–12, free under 6) under the current Schengen Visa Code, payable in yen cash only at the embassy’s monthly euro reference rate; credit and debit cards are not accepted. As of the August 2026 re-check, the embassy’s English “Visa”, English “How to apply”, and Japanese visa pages all show the current 90/45 EUR figures, resolving the earlier 80/40 EUR discrepancy. Fees and the exchange rate change, so confirm the amount with the embassy before booking. The fee is non-refundable once the application is lodged.

Applications can be filed from 6 months before travel and should be lodged at least 3 weeks before departure (the Visa Code floor is 15 calendar days). Processing usually takes about 15 calendar days, up to 45 in justified cases; some nationalities require a consultation with other Schengen states that adds up to 7 days. Bring a return envelope as instructed — a prepaid self-addressed envelope or a Letterpack sold at the embassy; the embassy takes no liability for postal loss.

Biometrics, fingerprints and children

Under the Visa Information System (VIS), your 10 fingerprints and a live facial image are captured at the appointment. This capture is separate from the one compliant print you bring for the file. If your fingerprints were taken within the last 59 months, they may be reused, but you must still attend in person each time and the office can require a new capture if quality is poor.

Children must attend the appointment and a compliant photo is captured as part of biometrics. Under 12, fingerprints are not taken (the confirmed basis is the Schengen VIS common rule, stated on the embassy’s Japanese visa page). Austria-specific sources do not state separate child face-size numbers for the visa photo; for the photo specification, see the global Austria visa photo page. The visa fee is reduced to 45 EUR for ages 6–12 and free under 6. Minors’ files also need both parents’ or legal guardians’ passport copies and signatures on the form (or a separate consent letter), the child’s birth certificate, and custody-related documents as applicable; Japanese identity documents require an apostille.