Student Residence Permits and Visas

• Non-EU/non-EEA Citizens: Check this list from the OeAD to determine if you can legally enter Austria without a visa. If your country of citizenship is not on the list, you can only submit a student residence permit application in your home country.
• Third-country nationals with visa-free entry should still apply for an Austrian student residence permit in their home country. Any delay in the application processing in Austria may force you to leave the country at the end of your visa-free stay, interrupting your studies. Note that starting in 2025, the new European Travel Information and Authorisation System or ETIAS will take effect.
• Citizens of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a student residence permit but must still apply for a Confirmation of Registration or “Anmeldebescheinigung” within 4 months of their arrival in Austria. Visit the Vienna city government site for details.

Important: Please make sure you know exactly how many days are left in your visa-free stay or on your Schengen short-stay visa. Those who overstay may find it hard to receive a visa or residence permit in the future. Use the online calculator to determine the number of remaining days allowed in the Schengen territories.

Find the address of Austrian embassies in each country or region.

For those who wish to apply at the immigration office in Vienna, please see the address and office hours of the MA35 central office in Vienna at Magistratsabteilung (MA) 35 Wien.

Appointments must be made ahead of time using the MA35 online booking systems.

Refer to the OeAD for the most up-to-date information.

1. Application form for a student residence permit in German or English ("Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltsbewilligung — Student").
2. Valid travel document (e.g., passport) — ideally should be valid for at least 1 1/2 years upon application.
3. Current biometric passport photo — the photo can be no older than 6 months.
4. *Birth certificate or other equivalent document — with Apostille or diplomatic certification.
5. Legal proof of adequate accommodation (e.g., proof of ownership, lease or rental agreement).
6. Document showing the monthly rent and/or running costs of the accommodation (shown on rental contract).
7. Proof of health insurance valid in Austria and covering all risks — for travel health insurance before you arrive in Vienna, you can sign up for private health insurance options recognized by the MA35 / Austrian immigration authorities through insurance agencies such as FeelSafe and CareMed.
8. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence in Austria (e.g., bank account statements, proof of regular payments made to a bank account fully accessible from Austria). Prescribed minimum amounts (excl. higher accommodation costs and tuition fees):
   1. persons under 24 years of age must show available funds of at least 8,071.68 euros for one year (672.64 euros per month).
   2. persons over 24 years of age must show available funds of at least 14,615.52 euros for one year (1,217.96 euros per month).
9. Proof of source of funds (for example: certificate of employment with salary information from student or parents, pay slips, loan confirmation from a bank, official financial aid or scholarship confirmation). If your parents or relatives are funding your studies, please submit their employment documents with salary information.
10. For first-time applications, in addition to the above, please submit:
    1. *Police clearance certificate (Auszug aus dem Strafregister): no older than three months with Apostille or diplomatic authentication from your country of origin.
    2. Notice of admission by the university or other institution of higher education ("Zulassung") — this is the acceptance letter in German issued by a WVPU Admissions Officer.
    3. As previously mentioned: proof of a travel health insurance (covering costs of at least 30,000 euros, costs for treatment of the COVID-19 disease and guarantee to cover possible recovery and repatriation costs) valid in the Schengen area for the period between entering Austria and e.g. the start of coverage within the student insurance in Austria. Students who have not yet arrived in Austria can sign up with health insurance providers such as FeelSafe and CareMed.
11. For RP extensions or renewals:
    1. Proof of academic success (Studienerfolgsnachweis) during the previous academic year, confirmation of your continuing university enrollment or notification/confirmation of admission of an Austrian higher education institution for another degree program after completion of a degree program in Austria.
    2. Current extract from the files of an officially recognized credit reference agency, such as the Kreditschutzverband - KSV 1870 Information GmbH.
12. Only if applicable: Declaration of Liability (Haftungserklärung ) accompanied by an income statement and statement of monthly expenditures of the person vouching for the applicant.
13. Only if applicable: *Marriage certificate; *Civil partnership certificate; *Divorce certificate; *Certificate of dissolution of a civil partnership; *Adoption certificate and *Documents proving family relationships.

* These documents must be certified by diplomatic certification or Apostille. In some cases, additional documents may be required.

** Documents issued in a language other than German must be filed together with a official German translations (issued by a certified court translator).