AustriaStudy residence permit

Study residence permit in Austria

A title for the temporary residence of foreign nationals studying at Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences and other accredited institutions. It is issued to people admitted to study programmes of at least forty ECTS credits (excluding language courses). It allows lawful residence during the studies, work with restrictions and the option of family reunification.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at — Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Student

Who this programme suits

The permit is intended for foreign students from third countries who have been admitted to study in Austria.

Ideally suited to

Third-country nationals enrolled in ordinary study at a university, a university of applied sciences or a teacher training college
Students taking part in EU mobility programmes or studying under inter-university agreements
People who need lawful residence and the option to work while studying

Not suited to

EU citizens, who are entitled to freedom of movement
Foreign nationals studying on programmes of less than 40 ECTS or purely language courses
People without a letter of acceptance from an educational institution

When this programme will not suit you

Citizens of the EU and Switzerland

They are entitled to freedom of movement and need only a passport

Study lasting less than 6 months

Only a visa is required; a residence permit is not needed

Language courses or programmes of less than 40 ECTS

They do not meet the criteria for the study permit; other visa options are needed

What it costs

Fee for the permit applicationThe charge for examining the application at the residence authorities	218 EUR
Monthly income (students under 24)The minimum income that must be proved for each month of residence (a maximum of 12 months in advance)	703,58 EUR
Monthly income (students aged 24 and over)The minimum income for students over 24	1 273,99 EUR
Student insurance (self-insurance)The monthly contribution for voluntary insurance in the Austrian health system where there is no other cover	+78,84 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Student insurance (self-insurance)” adds 78,84 EUR; the “Monthly income (students aged 24 and over)” branch replaces the “Monthly income (students under 24)” line — 1 491,99 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	921.58–1 000,42 EUR

Paid separately

Social benefits (Sozialhilfe, Ausgleichszulage) — Not accepted as proof of means, since they only arise after the residence permit has been granted

Documents to gather

Prepare the following documents in order to apply:

A valid passport or travel document (issued no more than 10 years ago, valid for at least 3 months beyond the intended departure from Austria)
A colour photograph 45 x 35 mm, no older than 6 months
A letter of acceptance from the Austrian university or educational institution
Proof of financial means: salary certificates, employment contract, pension certificate, bank statements or evidence of a scholarship
Proof of health insurance covering all risks (valid from the time of approval or from the start of the studies)
Accommodation documents (where required): a copy of the tenancy contract or confirmation that accommodation is provided for at least 3 months
Where housing costs exceed EUR 376.27 per month: separate proof (payment receipts, tenancy contract)
On renewal: a certificate of academic progress and documents on the continuation of the studies
When looking for work after graduation: a certificate of completion of the programme

How the process runs

The process of obtaining the student residence permit:

1
Preparing the documents and lodging the application
3-6 months before the planned entry
It is advisable to lodge the application at an Austrian embassy or consulate abroad 3-6 months before the planned arrival. However, nationals of some countries may also lodge the application after lawful entry into Austria, with the local residence authority (Niederlassungsbehörde). The application is lodged in person.
2
Examination of the application
up to 90 days
The residence authorities must decide without delay, but no later than 90 days from the submission of the complete set of documents.
3
Receiving the permit
varies
After a positive decision the residence permit is issued for 1 year (usually) or 2 years (for participants in EU mobility programmes or under inter-university agreements). The permit may be issued as a sticker in the passport or as a separate document.
4
Registering for insurance and starting the studies
during the semester
After arrival you must register with the Austrian health system (student insurance) and with the educational institution in line with its requirements.

Timelines and rights

Work

A work permit is required, which the employer requests from the AMS. Up to 20 hours a week is granted without a labour market test.

Who you can bring with you

Close relatives of a student are entitled to a residence permit for family reunification.

Spouse or registered partner

At least 21 years old; proof of marriage or registration of the partnership is required. May obtain a "Familiengemeinschaft" residence permit and, where necessary, a combined work permit on taking up employment. The application fee is EUR 218.

Unmarried minor children (including adopted children and stepchildren)

Proof of the relationship (birth or adoption certificate). May obtain a "Familiengemeinschaft" residence permit. The application fee is EUR 218.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Students may also lodge the application in Austria after lawful entry. Proof of accommodation is not required, but housing costs are taken into account when calculating means.

The residence permit is subject to renewal. The renewal application must be lodged in person at least 3 months before the permit expires, but no later than the day of expiry. On renewal a certificate of academic progress and documents on the continuation of the studies are required. After the studies are completed the permit can be renewed once for 12 months in order to look for work, take up employment or set up your own company, provided the general requirements for a residence permit are met. The application should be lodged before the current permit expires.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Study residence permit	Red-White-Red Card	Blue Card
Visa term	1 year; for participants in EU mobility programmes or inter-university agreements — 2 years	Usually 24 months tied to the employer, then the RWR Karte plus	Up to 2 years (or the term of the contract plus 3 months), renewed for 3 years
Money	ASVG rates for 2026: under 24 — EUR 777.58 per month, 24 and over — EUR 1,308.39 per month	Sufficient means plus a salary above the sector collective rates; for a start-up — a business plan	An annual salary above the Austrian average (about EUR 45,595 for 2023, indexed)
Work	A work permit is required, which the employer requests from the AMS	Work with a specific employer; after the RWR+ the labour market is open	The right to work under the contract; a change of employer requires approval

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After completing the studies the title can be renewed once for 12 months to look for work or set up a company.

Frequently asked questions about Study residence permit

Can I work on a student residence permit?

Yes, but a work permit is required, which the employer requests from the Austrian employment service (AMS). A work permit for up to 20 hours a week is granted without a labour market test (that is, without first checking for unemployed EU citizens). If a student wants to work more than 20 hours a week, the AMS carries out a labour market test. Work that forms part of the study programme (placements) does not require a separate permit.

Which study programmes qualify for the student residence permit?

Ordinary study at universities, universities of applied sciences, accredited private universities and teacher training colleges. Postgraduate programmes, continuing professional courses or college courses of at least 40 ECTS credits (excluding purely language programmes) also qualify. In addition, compulsory professional training undertaken after completing the main studies qualifies.

For how long is the student residence permit issued?

The permit is issued for one year in the standard case. However, for students taking part in Union mobility programmes (Erasmus+) or other multilateral mobility programmes, or for students studying under inter-university agreements, the permit is issued for two years. The permit can be renewed provided the requirements are met.

Is proof of accommodation required for the student residence permit?

No, proof of accommodation is not required for the student residence permit (unlike other categories). However, if the student has housing costs above the basic amount (EUR 376.27 per month for 2026), these additional costs must be documented separately when the financial requirements are calculated. A copy of the tenancy contract or confirmation that accommodation is provided may be submitted.

What happens after the studies are completed? Can I stay in Austria?

After completing the studies the residence permit can be renewed once for 12 months for the purpose of looking for work, taking up employment or setting up your own business. If a graduate finds work matching their qualification with pay at the level of local graduates, they can move to the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Card) without a labour market test. The application must be lodged before the student permit expires.

What is the application fee and how long does the examination take?

The application fee is EUR 218. The residence authorities must decide on the application without delay, but no later than 90 days from the submission of the complete set of documents. In some cases (for example for family members of ICT specialists) the timescales may be shortened to 8 weeks.

Other ways to move to Austria

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Austria.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.