21.6% of the 48,761 Schengen applications made to Austria from India in 2025 were refused — high refusal by Schengen standards.
For centuries the seat of the Habsburg empire, Austria still carries that imperial polish — grand Vienna boulevards, gilded opera houses, and a countryside of mirror lakes and Alpine peaks. It's a place that rewards slowing down.
Applying from India · the real numbers
High refusal- 48,761
- Applications
- 76.1%
- Approved
- 21.6%
- Refused
Handled by VFS Global. Consulates in New Delhi.
2025 figures · European Commission DG HOME (applications made in India). Across all applicants — not a forecast for your file.
Don't-miss places
- Schonbrunn PalaceVienna
- Hallstatt lakeside villageSalzkammergut
- Salzburg Old TownSalzburg
- Grossglockner High Alpine RoadTyrol / Carinthia
- Innsbruck & the Nordkette cable carInnsbruck
- Melk Abbey & the Wachau ValleyLower Austria
Things to do
- Ride the Ferris wheel at the Prater in Vienna
- Swim in the Wörthersee or Hallstätter See
- Take the Grossglockner high-alpine drive
- Linger for hours in a Kaffeehaus
What to eat
- Wiener Schnitzel
- Sachertorte
- Tafelspitz
- Apfelstrudel
- Kaiserschmarrn
The culture
Try Wiener schnitzel and a slice of Sachertorte with unsweetened coffee. Coffee houses are a way of life, not a pit stop, so linger. Austrians are formal and punctual, and the classical-music heritage (Mozart, Strauss) is everywhere.
When to go
Summer (Jun–Sep) for the lakes and mountains; December for Vienna's Christmas markets and the start of ball season.
Good to know
- Capital
- Vienna
- Language
- German
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Flight from India
- ~9-11 hrs (1 stop typical)
- Ideal trip length
- 5-7 days
Did you know? Vienna has been ranked the world's most liveable city more times than any other.
Austria is a common first-Schengen pick, and its appointment slots fill fast in summer. Run your free check early so nothing catches you out.
Photo: Panoramic view of Hallstatt village and shoreline from lake · David Kernan · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons