Residence Permit – Student

The "Residence Permit – Student" is intended for nationals of third countries who have been admitted to study at a higher education institution in Austria. It may be granted in the following cases:

• Degree programme studies (ordentliches Studium) at an Austrian university, university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), accredited private university, or public or private university college of teacher education
• Non-degree programme studies (außerordentliches Studium) within the framework of a public or private certificate university programme, certificate university of applied sciences programme or certificate programme at a university college of teacher education with at least 40 ECTS credits. The course must not serve exclusively for the learning of a language.
• Non-degree programme studies (außerordentliches Studium) within the framework of a University Preparation Programme to prepare students for supplementary examinations prescribed in their notification of admission
• Non-degree programme studies (außerordentliches Studium) to establish equivalence of a foreign university degree (recognition, "Nostrifizierung")
• In case of extentions: Professional training course required by law after completion of a degree programme (e.g. court practice, aspirant traineeship ["Aspirantenjahr"])
• In case of extentions: Stay for job-seeking or setting up business after successful completion of a degree programme, a certificate higher education programme (see above), a programme to establish equivalence of a foreign university degree (recognition, "Nostrifizierung"), or a professional training course required by law following the regular degree programme studies (see above)

In most cases applicants still have to submit their application for a “Residence Permit – Student” at the competent Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate with power to issue visa) in their country of residence and await the decision there. In case of a positive decision about your application by the competent residence authority in Austria you can afterwards apply for a visa D at the representative authority to enter Austria. The representative authority will issue the Visa D for a validity period of four months. Subsequently, you can use your Visa D to enter Austria and collect your residence permit.

Students, who are entitled to enter Austria without requiring a visa, may alternatively submit their application at the locally competent residence authority in Austria.

Furthermore, it may be possible to submit a domestic application at the competent residence authority in Austria after entry with a visa that has been lawfully acquired for purposes other than the domestic application provided that the application at the Austrian residence authority directly was not the (hidden) reason for the visa application (case-by-case examination).

Please note that in those cases you are not permitted to overstay your visa-free stay or the period of residence defined in your visa. We therefore recommend that you apply as soon as possible after entry.
If the residence authority does not decide within the visa-free time period or the stay with a visa, you will have to await the decision in your country of residence. Please also inform the residence authority about your new contact details.

It is advisable to submit the application and all necessary documents at least three months before the planned entry at the application appointment. Please note that an appointment for the application may need to be made online in advance and this may also take some time. If legalisations are required, it is advisable to start the process even earlier in order to be able to submit the required legalisation.

If all necessary documents have been submitted, the residence authority will process your application within 90 days. Depending on the issuing country, it may take several months to legalise the documents required for an application. You have to submit your application in person.

Once you have got the notification by the embassy that the competent residence authority has accepted your application, you have three months to apply for a visa D to collect the residence title. Furthermore, you have six months after the notification to collect the residence permit in Austria.

If an entrance examination is required for admission at an Austrian higher education institution, you may follow the procedure below:

Upon application the university will issue a "conditional notification of admission" ("Bedingter Zulassungsbescheid"). With this conditional notification of admission and all other necessary documents (see Checklist) you have to apply in person for a "Residence Permit – Student" ("Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Student") at the competent Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate with power to issue visa) in your country of residence.

Sufficient financial means and accommodation only have to be “shown credibly” for the time being (e.g. by a confirmation of maintenance payments by your parents, a preliminary rental contract or reservation of a room in a student hall of residence).

Since you have to await the decision about your application in your country of residence you should apply for the residence permit at least three months before the date of the entrance examination. Depending on the issuing country, it may take several months to legalise the documents required for an application.

If the residence authority in Austria decides to grant you the residence permit, you have to apply for a visa D at the representative authority (embassy, consulate with power to issue visa) to be able to enter Austria. The representative authority will issue the visa D for a validity period of four months. The visa D allows you to travel to Austria and sit the entrance examination.

If you pass the entrance examination, you have to submit your definite notification of admission ("Zulassungsbescheid"/"Aufnahmebestätigung") and provide documents proving sufficient financial means (and also proof of accommodation) to the competent residence authority in Austria (see Checklist) to receive your residence permit. You have to collect your residence permit within the validity period of your visa.

If the entrance examination takes place a longer time before the possible start of your studies, you may also apply for a visa C at the Austrian representative authority, which will be issued for the period of the examination.

You will find all the requirements for granting a "Residence Permit - Student" in the checklist.

In principle a travel health insurance must be taken out to enter Austria. Please note that this insurance must be valid in Austria and provide sufficient cover for various health issues (insurance cover well over EUR 30,000 including guarantee to cover possible recovery and repatriation costs and costs for treatment of the COVID-19 disease).

Third-country nationals will only get a residence title if they can additionally provide proof of having a "health insurance covering all risks". Travel health insurance is only sufficient for the period until a "health insurance covering all risks" can be taken out after entry.

In case you have a valid national health insurance in a country that has concluded a social insurance agreement* with Austria you may bring along the A4 form (for stays with primary residence ("Hauptwohnsitz") in Austria) of your health insurance provider in your home country. You can then exchange this form for a confirmation of insurance at the competent Austrian national health insurance provider ("Österreichische Gesundheitskasse") that entitles you to medical treatment by doctors and in hospitals in Austria and can be presented to the residence authority.

Degree programme students ("ordentliche Studierende") at all universities and universities of applied sciences ("Fachhochschulen") as well as non-degree programme students ("außerordentliche Studierende") at University Preparation Programmes ("Vorstudienlehrgänge") fulfil the requirement of a “health insurance covering all risks” if they take out student insurance ("Studierendenselbstversicherung") with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse after entering Austria and enrolling at the higher education institution. The monthly insurance premium is EUR 69.13 [as of 2024].
A written statement that the student insurance will be taken out with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse after entry to Austria can be attached to the application form or stated in the application form under the point "health insurance" ("Krankenversicherung").
The main requirements are residence in Austria and a confirmation of admission or of continuing enrolment from the relevant higher education institution. Certain conditions (e.g. maximum duration of studies so far, income limits, possibly also study breaks and changes of fields of studies), however, have to be taken into account. Here you can check whether or not you fulfil these requirements and which documents are required.

By December 31^st of each year you have to submit a valid confirmation of your continuing university enrolment ("Fortsetzungsbestätigung") to the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse. This has to provide proof for the entire academic year that you are entitled to continue your studies as a degree programme student ("ordentliche/r Studierende/r") at the Austrian university (or as a non-degree programme student ("außerordentliche/r Studierende/r") in an University Preparation Programme ("Vorstudienlehrgänge").

Alternatively, you can also take out private health insurance covering all risks (e.g. via www.feelsafe.at or other insurance providers). The benefits of this insurance must “essentially” correspond to those of the national health insurance and not "considerably" differ from it. It is essential that the insurance does not have any waiting periods, cost caps or exclude certain risks. Moreover, the insurance must pay for medical treatment in Austria directly. To be recognised by the residence authorities as a "health insurance covering all risks" the relevant insurance company must provide an explicit written statement – in addition to the insurance policy – confirming that the insurance fulfils these requirements.

Further information about the topic "health insurance" can be found here.

* Social insurance agreements are currently in place with Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey.

If all requirements are met, the "Residence Permit – Student" will be issued for a period of 12 months. If you applied for a shorter term or your travel document is valid for a shorter period of time, your residence permit will be issued for a shorter period.

An occupation that is subject to the Act Governing Employment of Foreign Nationals may only be carried out with a work permit ("Beschäftigungsbewilligung"). The employer has to apply for this work permit at the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice/AMS) before the employee takes up the job.

Holders of a "Residence Permit – Student" will be able to get a work permit for working for up to 20 hours/week. This involves small-scale employment ("geringfügige Beschäftigung") as well. This permit will be granted without a labour market check.

Further information about the topic "work in Austria" can be found here.

You have to apply for a renewal of your residence permit at the competent residence authority in Austria (in Vienna: at the competent branch office of MA35) before your residence permit expires; however, at the earliest three months before expiry of the permit. Until a decision about your application for a renewal is taken you are considered to be lawfully resident in Austria, even if your current residence permit expires in the meantime.

The prolonged residence title will be issued only after expiration of the previous residence title.

If you want to apply for a renewal of your residence permit, you have to submit the confirmation of your continuing university enrolment ("Fortsetzungsbestätigung"), your record of studies ("Studienbuchblatt") as well as proof of academic success in the scope of eight semester hours per academic year or 16 ECTS credits per academic year (please see also checklist).

Alternatively, you may submit a confirmation of your academic progress from your academic supervisor (e.g. for doctoral/PhD studies).

It is also possible to change to another residence title if you meet the requirements for it.

Students who have completed their studies holding a "Residence Permit – Student" may apply for a renewal of the permit for another 12 months to look for a job or set up a business.
If your "Residence Permit – Student" has been renewed for this purpose, you may only change it to a "Red-White-Red Card" (e.g. for university graduates), a "Settlement Permit – Researcher", a "Blue Card EU" or a residence title "Family member" the next time.

Further information about the topic "renewal of residence titles" can be found here.

Change of study programme and simultaneous studies of two study programmes:

In case of change of study programme the residence authority needs to be informed and the notification/confirmation of admission of the new study programme shown.
The proof of academic success of the previous study programme may be needed as well for the prolongation of the residence title.
In case of simultaneous studies of two study programmes the proof of academic success (eight semester hours per academic year or 16 ECTS credits per academic year) of the main study programme has to be shown.

Family members* of students holding a “Residence Permit – Student” can apply for a “Residence Permit – Family Community”.

You can find all the requirements for this permit in the checklist.

As a rule family members have to apply at the competent Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate with power to issue visa) in their country of residence.
If the family members are permitted to enter Austria without a visa, they may alternatively apply at the locally competent residence authority in Austria.

* Spouses, partners in a civil union and unmarried minors. Spouses and partners in a civil union must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

The "Residence Permit – Student" will be issued in credit card format with a photograph and also serves as an ID document. You should carry your "Residence Permit – Student" at all times to prove your entitlement to residence in Austria.

During its validity period your "Residence Permit – Student" entitles you to travel through or stay in other Schengen countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Croatia) for a maximum duration of 90 days within a time period of 180 days.

You have to register within three working days of arrival in Austria with the registration office at your place of residence.
A registration with the registration office is not needed if you reside in a tourist accommodation (e.g., hotel, guest house, campsite, private room, AirBnB) for a maximum of 2 months.

In order to collect the residence permit from the competent residence authority in Austria you need to show the residence registration ("Meldezettel") and the final admission at the Austrian university. If it was stated prior to entry that a student self-insurance will be taken out upon arrival in Austria, the confirmation of insurance must also be collected from "Österreichische Gesundheitskasse" and subsequently presented to the residence authority.
It may be needed to show further documents upon request of the residence authority.

Please inform the competent residence authority in Austria in case of loss or theft of the residence permit as soon as possible together with a notice of loss (lost property office) or the theft report (police).

You have to enclose for the application photocopies of the following documents with your personally signed application form (explanation of the application form) and additionally show only the originals:

• Valid travel document
• Passport-sized photograph according to the ICAO criteria (colour photograph, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm) not older than 6 months
• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the living costs [as of 2024]:
  • Students under 24 years of age: EUR 672.64/month
  • Students as of the age of 24: EUR 1,217.96/month
  • Couples:  EUR 1,921.46/month for both
  • For each child additionally: EUR 187.93/month
  You have to prove these funds for twelve months in advance. The funds have to be in a (foreign) savings book or (foreign) bank account that must bear the applicant’s name and be accessible from Austria.
  An alternative possibility would be a declaration of guarantee ("Haftungserklärung") of a person residing in the European Union, the purchase of traveller’s cheques or a confirmation of the award of a scholarship.
  If the costs for accommodation exceed EUR 359.72/month [as of 2024], you have to prove additional funds. You also have to prove sufficient funds for the necessary health insurance.

• Upon request of the residence authority you should be able to prove the origin of the funds (possibly also by means of appropriate evidence).
  Examples of accepted proofs:
  • declaration of the applicant where the funds come from (e.g., savings, loan, scholarship, sale of an apartment/house, inheritance)
  • Bank statement of the last 6 months (including payments into the account, payment orders, etc.)
  • proof of employment of the applicant her- or himself if the money comes from employed and/or self-employed work (employment contract plus the last 6 pay slips and proof of payment of the salary or trade licence plus last tax assessment) of the applicant
  • confirmation of scholarship, sales contract, loan agreement etc.
  • bank statement of the account of your parents or other sponsors of the last 6 months if the money comes from them
  • declaration of the parents or the sponsor that the provided funds are on free disposal of the applicant and where the money comes from (e.g., savings, loan, sale of an apartment/house, inheritance) if the parents or a sponsor supports your stay financially
  • proof of employment of the parents or other sponsors if the money comes from their employed and/or self-employed work (employment contract plus the last 6 pay slips and proof of payment of the salary or trade licence plus last tax assessment)

• Declaration of regular expenses (loans, maintenance payments or other financial burdens)
• Accommodation in Austria for a minimum of 3 months (e.g. rental agreement, accommodation contract with a student hall of residence, accommodation agreement ["Wohnrechtsvereinbarung"]) in connexion with proof of the required funds to cover the living costs (the calculation is based on the presented costs for accomodation)
• Proof of health insurance covering all risks (e.g. by means of registration for student insurance after entry) in Austria

In case of first-time application additionally:

• copy of the passport (all pages)
• Police clearance certificate from your country of residence (in individual cases also from your country of origin) not older than 3 months at the time of application (legalised and afterwards translated)
• Notification/confirmation of admission of the Austrian higher education institution

In case of renewal application additionally:

• proof of academic success; doctoral/PhD students: confirmation of your academic progress from your academic supervisor
• confirmation of your continuing university enrolment
• record of studies
• Notification/confirmation of admission of the Austrian higher education institution for another degree programme after completion of a degree programme in Austria
• current extract from the files of an officially recognised credit reference agency (e.g., KSV 1870 Information GmbH)
• after graduation: proof of completion of a degree programme or a statutory professional training

It is recommended to submit all foreign documents in German language.

Foreign documents and proofs (e.g. birth certificate, police clearance certificate) need to be legalised according to the applicable regulations and have those translated afterwards into German language by a sworn and court-certified interpretor as the residence authority can ask for a German translation.

The residence authorities may require the submission of further documents and confirmations (e.g. birth certificate) in individual cases. In order to avoid delays, we recommend that you submit all the above-mentioned documents together with your application.

Further information can be found here.

Documents issued by authorities of a member state of the EU only need to be translated if the authority has not attached a multilingual form (will be issued by the authority of the EU member state) to the document as well.

Costs: EUR 160 (EUR 120 when submitting the application, EUR 20 when the permit is granted and EUR 20 fee for the collection of police identification data)
Additionally for foreign civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil union certificate) depending on the type of document: EUR 3,90, EUR 7,20 or EUR 14,30

The residence permit will be issued in credit card format with photograph and also serves as an ID document. It is recommended to carry it at all times.

You have to enclose for the application photocopies of the following documents with your personally signed application form (explanation of the application form) and additionally show only the originals:

• Valid travel document
• Passport-sized photograph according to the ICAO criteria (colour photograph, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm) not older than 6 months
• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover the living costs [as of 2024]:
  • Couples: EUR 1,921.46/month for both
  • For each child additionally: EUR 187.93/month
  You have to prove these funds for twelve months in advance. The funds have to be in a (foreign) savings book or (foreign) bank account that must be accessible from Austria.
  An alternative possibility would be the purchase of traveller’s cheques or a confirmation of the award of a scholarship.
  If the costs for accommodation exceed EUR 359.72/month [as of 2024], you have to prove additional funds. You also have to prove sufficient funds for the necessary health insurance.
• Upon request of the residence authority you should be able to prove the origin of the funds (possibly also by means of appropriate evidence).
  Examples of accepted proofs:
  • declaration of the applicant where the funds come from (e.g., savings, loan, scholarship, sale of an apartment/house, inheritance)
  • Bank statement of the last 6 months (including payments into the account, payment orders, etc.)
  • proof of employment of the applicant her- or himself if the money comes from employed and/or self-employed work (employment contract plus the last 6 pay slips and proof of payment of the salary or trade licence plus last tax assessment) of the applicant
  • confirmation of scholarship, sales contract, loan agreement etc.
  • bank statement of the account of your parents or other sponsors of the last 6 months if the money comes from them
  • declaration of the parents or the sponsor that the provided funds are on free disposal of the applicant and where the money comes from (e.g., savings, loan, sale of an apartment/house, inheritance) if the parents or a sponsor supports your stay financially
  • proof of employment of the parents or other sponsors if the money comes from their employed and/or self-employed work (employment contract plus the last 6 pay slips and proof of payment of the salary or trade licence plus last tax assessment)

• Declaration of regular expenses (loans, maintenance payments or other financial burdens)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria according to the local standards (e.g. rental agreement, accommodation contract with a student hall of residence, accommodation agreement ("Wohnrechtsvereinbarung"])
• Proof of a health insurance covering all risks (e.g. by means of dependent coverage within the student’s student insurance) in Austria

In case of first-time application additionally:

• copy of the passport (all pages)
• Police clearance certificate from your country of residence (in individual cases also from your country of origin) not older than 3 months at the time of application (legalised and afterwards translated)
• Proof of family relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil union certificate; legalised and afterwards translated) and of living together as a family in the home country

In case of renewal application additionally:

• current extract from the files of an officially recognised credit reference agency (e.g. KSV 1870 Information GmbH)

It is recommended to submit all foreign documents in German language.

Foreign documents and proofs (e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance certificate) need to be legalised according to the applicable regulations and have those translated afterwards into German language by a sworn and court-certified interpretor as the residence authority can ask for a German translation.

Further information can be found here.

Documents issued by authorities of a member state of the EU only need to be translated if the authority has not attached a multilingual form (will be issued by the authority of the EU member state) to the document as well.

Costs: EUR 160 (EUR 120 when submitting the application, EUR 20 when the permit is granted and EUR 20 fee for the collection of police identification data)
Additionally for foreign civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil union certificate) depending on the type of document: EUR 3,90, EUR 7,20 or EUR 14,30

The residence permit will be issued in credit card format with photograph and also serves as an ID document. It is recommended to carry it at all times.