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Student visa for Austria
Money to show for the visa: €722.58 a month under 24, €1,308.39 a month from 24, for twelve months. Work while you study: 20 hours a week. Checked against the official pages on 24 September 2026.
The numbers
- Money you must show
- €722.58 a month under 24, €1,308.39 a month from 24, for twelve months
- Visa fee
- €218
- Work while you study
- 20 hours a week
- Stay after you graduate
- 12 months to look for work or start a business
2026 rates: €8,670.96 or €15,700.68 a year. If your rent is above €386.43 a month, you must show more.
OeAD: Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation, checked 2026-09-24
Application fee for the residence permit 'Student', not a visa fee. Not refunded if the application is refused.
OeAD, checked 2026-09-24
Your employer needs an employment permit, which is granted without a labour market test. More hours are usually possible in the summer and winter breaks.
OeAD, checked 2026-09-24
Renewal of the student permit after graduating. A matching job leads to a Red-White-Red Card for graduates.
Migration.gv.at: Austrian Federal Government, checked 2026-09-24
Worth knowing: The proof of funds nearly doubles at age 24 (EUR 15,700.68 a year) and rises further if rent exceeds EUR 386.43 a month.
The visa
Austria's permit for degree study is the residence permit "Student" (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student). It is a residence permit, not a visa. Most non-EU applicants must apply from abroad, at an Austrian embassy or consulate, before entering. Nationals of visa-exempt countries may instead apply in Austria at the local residence authority after arrival.
The fee is €218, not refunded if you are refused.
The money. You must show that you can support yourself for twelve months in advance. The 2026 amounts:
- Under 24: €722.58 a month, €8,670.96 for the year
- 24 and over: €1,308.39 a month, €15,700.68 for the year
These amounts assume housing costs of up to €386.43 a month. If your rent is higher, you must show more to cover the difference. For most students in Vienna this means the real figure is higher than the headline one, so add the gap between your actual rent and €386.43 for every month.
Processing. The authority has 90 days to decide, extended by another 90 days if documents are missing. OeAD advises applying about six months in advance. Once approved, you have three months to apply for the D visa to travel and six months to collect the permit card in Austria.
Renewal. To renew each year you must show study progress. The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna gives the requirement as 16 ECTS credits, or eight semester hours, in the previous academic year.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens
No student visa is needed: citizens of the EU, the EEA and Switzerland may live and study in Austria. For more than three months you normally register your residence after you arrive, and show that you are enrolled, insured and can support yourself.
Where to apply
At the embassy or consulate of Austria that covers your country, or through the visa application centre it names. Book early: in the busiest months appointments can be weeks away. Apply only through the official website; nobody can sell you a faster place in the queue.
Official pages: oead.at · oead.at · migration.gv.at · oesterreich.gv.at · bmfwf.gv.at · studyinaustria.at. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you apply.
Government scholarships to study in Austria
- Ernst Mach Grant Worldwide open, closes 1 December 2026
Which of these are open to your nationality
By nationality
From Algeria
From Armenia
From Azerbaijan
From Bangladesh
From Brazil
From Cameroon
From Canada
From China
From Colombia
From Egypt
From Ethiopia
From Georgia
From Ghana
From India
From Indonesia
From Iran
From Iraq
From Japan
From Jordan
From Kazakhstan
From Kenya
From Lebanon
From Malaysia
From Mexico
From Morocco
From Nepal
From Nigeria
From Pakistan
From Philippines
From Russia
From Saudi Arabia
From Senegal
From South Africa
From South Korea
From Sri Lanka
From Syria
From Tanzania
From Tunisia
From Türkiye
From Uganda
From Ukraine
From United Arab Emirates
From United States
From Uzbekistan
From Vietnam
From ZimbabweQuestions students ask
How much money do I need to show for a Austria student visa?
€722.58 a month under 24, €1,308.39 a month from 24, for twelve months. 2026 rates: €8,670.96 or €15,700.68 a year. If your rent is above €386.43 a month, you must show more. (OeAD: Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation, checked 2026-09-24).
How much is the student visa fee for Austria?
€218.
Can international students work in Austria?
20 hours a week.
Can I stay in Austria after I graduate?
12 months to look for work or start a business.
Do EU citizens need a student visa for Austria?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and study in Austria without a student visa. For a stay of more than three months they normally register their residence after arriving.
This page is general information from official sources, not immigration advice. For a decision about your own case, the official source or a regulated adviser is where that belongs.