VISA GENERAL INFORMATION

Participants should be aware of visa requirements to visit Austria. Please plan your travel well in advance and allow plenty of time to apply for a visa if necessary. The information provided below is accurate at time of publication.

You won’t need a visa to visit Austria if:
You are a citizen of all countries of the European Union, Switzerland, Croatia, Israel, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, most of the countries of North and South America, members of the Schengen treaty and some other countries do not need a visa. Simply a valid passport is required to enter Austria. In case of doubt please contact the Austrian Consulate or Embassy well in advance before departure. Current member countries of the Schengen treaty are:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria**, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland*, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein*, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway*, Poland, Portugal, Romania**, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland*.
* non-EU members.
** Schengen Air & Sea agreement.

Nationals of other countries might require a visa in order to enter the Schengen Area or the Austrian territory.

Who requires a Visa for travelling to Austria? 
Travelers from other regions kindly consult the respective Austrian or Schengen-Partner representations regarding the current status. Travelers possessing a valid visa can travel freely within the Schengen zone for three months, enabled by a Schengen visa issued by any Schengen-treaty member country. Further information about visa regulations and Schengen visas can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. As a rule, the processing time of an admissible Schengen visa application should not exceed fifteen calendar days. If further checks are necessary, the processing time may increase to forty-five calendar days. Applications should be submitted at your earliest convenience – max. 6 months prior to arrival, and at least 4 months prior to the symposium.

Please check the information on whether you require a visa or not on the website of the Federal Ministry Republic of Vienna at:  https://www.bmi.gv.at/202/Fremdenpolizei_und_Grenzkontrolle/Visumpflichtige_Laender/start.aspx 

Different types of visas:

  • Type A visa: airport transit visa
  • Type C visa: short-stay visa
  • Type D visa: long-term visa

Find out more information at the official website

How can you get an official invitation letter?

After completing your registration, please fill out the invitation request form. The organizer will issue an official invitation letter for you to ease your visa application process. This letter will serve as confirmation of your participation in the conference and can be submitted along with your visa application to the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country.

Register for the Symposium and begin your visa application as soon as possible to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience.

For queries, please contact Nthabiseng Letsoalo at [email protected]

Safe travels and we can’t wait to see you at IVIS2025.