Austria Family Reunification Visa Application Process
The Austrian family reunification visa is a type D (long-term) visa that can be applied for by people who have a first-degree family member living in Austria. The family reunification visa, also known as the Austrian marriage visa, grants the holder the right to live and work with a family member living in Austria.
Who can apply for an Austrian family reunification visa?
Austria family reunification visa is granted to the following persons provided that they meet the necessary conditions.
- Married couples
- Civil union partners
- Unmarried children
Qualification Criteria for Family Reunification in Austria
The criteria you must meet to travel to Austria for family reunification are listed below.
- Age limit: Spouses who wish to apply for an Austrian family reunification visa must be over 21 years of age and children must not be over 18 years of age.
- Language proficiency: Applicants must have German language skills at at least A1 level.
- Financial eligibility status: ApplicantsThey must have sufficient financial means to ensure that they do not need social support during their stay in Austria.
- Accommodation options: Applicants must submit a rental contract or title deed for a house in Austria that is large enough for all family members.
Language Proficiency Level
As a language requirement for family reunification in Austria, the applicant is expected to provide proof from an official language institution that he/she has basic German language skills at A1 level.
The Austrian family reunification language exam result of the visa applicant must be submitted in the visa application file along with other required visa documents.
Persons Exempted from Language Requirement
Persons who are exempt from the language requirement for an Austrian family reunification visa are listed below.
- Persons who have not reached the age of 14 at the time of visa application
- Persons whose language proficiency level is not required due to their health conditions
- Holders of a red-white-red card, a residence permit issued for researchers, or a European Union blue card
- The family member who will sponsor the applicant must be a red-white-red card holder, a residence permit holder for researchers, or a European Union blue card holder and a long-term European Union citizen.
- Family members of refugees
- Persons who have notified the relevant institutions in writing that they will not stay in Austria for more than 24 months within 3 years.
Financial Adequacy Status
The income of the applicant for family reunification in Austria is expected to be equal to or higher than the standard income amount. The standard income amount in Austria for 2024 is determined as 1,030.49 euros for singles, 1,625.71 euros for married couples and 159.00 euros for each child.
Austria Family Reunification Visa Application Process
To apply for an Austrian family reunification visa, you must follow the steps listed below.
- Fill out the Austrian D type visa application form.
- Prepare the required documents for the family reunification visa.
- Make an appointment at the intermediary visa application center.
- Complete the document submission and biometric procedures on the appointment date.
- Pay the type D visa fee and the intermediary service fee.
Where Should I Apply?
Austria family reunification visa applications are made to the VFS Global application centers, which are authorized intermediary institutions for Austrian visa procedures in Turkey.
The persons listed below must apply for a family reunification visa from Austria.
- Family members of Austrian citizens
- Babies up to 6 months old if the sponsor has a valid residence permit
- Family members eligible for visa-free entry
- Family members of residence permit holders for researchers
When Should I Apply?
The Austrian family reunification visa application must be made after the family member has obtained a residence permit, as the sponsor’s residence status must be proven at the time of application. If the sponsor has a residence permit or citizenship already obtained for the Austrian family reunification visa, the application must be made at least 3 weeks before the trip.
Documents Required for Austria Family Reunification Visa
The documents required for family reunification in Austria are listed below.
- Passport
- Austria family reunification visa application form
- Biometric photo
- International birth certificate (Formula A)
- International marriage certificate (Formula B)
- Criminal record certificate
- Austria visa application form
- Transportation reservations
- Travel and accident insurance policy
- Proof of language proficiency
- Accommodation documents
- Military service status document
- Documents for an Austrian citizen spouse
You can find a detailed list of the criteria that the documents listed above must meet on the documents required for an Austrian visa page.
Documents to be submitted by the Austrian citizen spouse
The documents that spouses of Austrian citizens must submit for family reunification are listed below.
- A petition written in German stating the intention to apply for family reunification
- Austrian citizenship certificate and passport photocopy
- A current residence permit copy
- Documents showing the person’s income, which must be at least 1,625.71 euros after deducting their expenses.
- Pay slip containing information for the last 3 months
- KSV casting document
- Original copy of the full civil registration certificate and a notarized copy translated into German
- A photocopy of the rental contract or title deed for the place where accommodation will be held in Austria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions we receive regarding the Austrian family reunification visa and the rights granted to the holder.
How Much Is the Austrian Family Reunification Visa Fee?
There is no fee for Austrian family reunification visa applications if your family member living in Austria is an Austrian citizen.
If your family member living in Austria is a foreign national with a residence permit, you must pay a family reunification visa fee of 150 euros for applicants aged 6 and over, and 75 euros for children under 6 years old.
The cost of applying for an Austrian family reunification visa for 2024 varies between 600-650 euros, including visa fee, travel insurance, reservation procedures, sworn translation and consultancy fees.
How Many Days Does It Take to Get an Austrian Family Reunification Visa?
Austrian family reunification visa procedures are finalized within a maximum of 6 months. The evaluation period of Austrian Consulate family reunification visa applications may vary depending on the density of the foreign missions or the request for additional documents from the visa applicants.
At the end of the Consulate General evaluation process, the result of the Austrian visa application can be learned after the passport is received back from the intermediary institution.
How Long Can I Stay in Austria with a Family Reunification Visa?
The validity period of an Austrian family reunification visa is generally 12 months, but the visa period may vary depending on the legal residence period of your family member living in Austria.
An Austrian visa extension for family reunification must be made 3 months before the visa expires.
Can I Get Permanent Residence Permit with a Family Reunification Visa?
Yes, it is possible to obtain a permanent residence permit with an Austrian family reunification visa.
People who have lived in Austria for 5 years with an official residence permit have the right to apply for a permanent residence permit in Austria , provided that they meet the necessary conditions . People who want to apply for a permanent residence permit in Austria must meet the conditions in the second module of the Austrian Integration Agreement .
Can I Obtain Austrian Citizenship Through Family Reunification?
People who want to obtain Austrian citizenship with a family reunification visa must have lived in Austria for at least 10 years.
People who want to apply for Austrian citizenship with a family reunification visa are expected to meet the conditions in the first and second modules of the Austrian Integration Agreement.