To enter Austria and the other Schengen Area nations, Afghan nationals must get an Austria Schengen Visa. This is because Afghanistan is not one of the nations that may travel to the Schengen region without a visa.
General eligibility requisites
Various criteria must be met to be eligible for an Austria-Schengen Visa in Afghanistan. The general requirements for eligibility are summarized as follows:
Citizenship
Holders of Afghan passports are eligible to apply for Austria-Schengen visas.
Residency
An Austria-Schengen Visa is available to Afghan nationals who are lawfully resident in Afghanistan. You must provide evidence of your legal resident status, such as a current long-term Afghan visa or residence permit.
The objective of the visit
You must be quite clear about why you are visiting Austria. You must provide pertinent supporting documentation to prove your objective, regardless of whether it is for business, tourism, family visits, or any other legal cause.
Financial capacity
You must show that you have the financial resources to meet your expenditures while visiting Austria. This covers money for lodging, travel, food, and any other necessary expenses. You may demonstrate your financial stability with a bank statement, a letter of sponsorship, or other documentation of your work and income.
Travel protection
For the length of your visit to Austria, you must have travel insurance that includes coverage for medical emergencies and repatriation. The insurance must fulfill Austrian government regulations and have a minimum quantity of coverage.
Return or onward travel
You must provide proof that you intend to depart Austria and the Schengen Area before your visa expires. A confirmed return ticket to Afghanistan or evidence of subsequent travel to a non-Schengen nation may be used to demonstrate this.
Sincere motives
You must provide proof that you want to go to Austria for the specified reason and that you’ll abide by all immigration laws. A thorough trip itinerary, hotel bookings, invitation letters, or other pertinent papers might be provided to corroborate this.
The Austrian embassy or consulate in Afghanistan will evaluate your application based on these standards, it’s vital to know. Depending on the precise reason for your visit, additional criteria could be necessary.
Permanent residence
When staying in Austria for more than six months, Afghan nationals must get a residency visa. There exists a wide variety of residence permits. For stays lasting up to six months, individuals typically do not require a residence permit; instead, a visa suffices.
Austrian immigration based on criteria
The Red-White-Red Card is required if you are an eligible worker and citizen of Afghanistan intending to reside and work in Austria. The Red-White-Red Card Plus is something you may apply for on your family’s behalf. Categories eligible for a Red-White-Red Card are:
- Highly qualified personnel.
- Skilled personnel in shortage professions.
- Additional important personnel.
- Graduates from higher education institutions in Austria.
- Regular employees in the tourism, agriculture, and forestry industries.
- Self-employed key personnel.
- Start-up founders.
Standard prerequisites for granting residency permits
You must have a stable and consistent personal income that enables you to pay for your living expenses without turning to local government social assistance. The normal monthly income must match the General Social Insurance Act’s equalization supplement reference rate at the time of application. The reference rate for the equalization supplement as of January 1, 2023:
- Individuals: €1,110.26
- $1,751.56 for couples
- Additional € 171.31 per kid
Proof of social benefits, such as equalization supplements or welfare payments, that you become eligible for only after receiving a residence permit is not taken into account.
Conclusion
Immigration rules evolve; thus, check the Austrian government’s official website or contact the nearest Austrian embassy/consulate for the latest and comprehensive immigration details from Afghanistan to Austria. Additionally, seeking legal advice or assistance from immigration experts can help navigate the immigration process.
You may also like these articles: