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