Entry and Residence Permit Regulations

In order to study in Austria all students without Austrian citizenship, with the exception of citizens of EU countries plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland, need a residence permit.

More information concerning residence permits

All those who need an entrance visa for Austria have to submit their first application for a residence permit at an Austrian consulate in their home country.

Persons who do not need an entrance visa can submit the application for a residence permit at the competent Municipal Department (MA 35) in Vienna. More detailed information may be obtained at the Austrian representations in your country (please see also www.bmeia.gv.at). The procedure needs to be completed within your visa-free stay in Austria (normally three months).

In addition to the application form completed in German, the following documents are required:

• valid passport and recent passport photo
• birth certificate or comparable document
• police record/record of good conduct
• proof of accommodation in Austria
• proof of a health insurance valid in Austria
• proof of sufficient financial means to finance your stay
• proof of admission to studies

The application and the attached documents are forwarded by the consulate where you made your application to the competent Municipal Department (MA 35) in Vienna which checks the documents. In some cases, further documents are requested. This screening procedure normally takes two months. Following a positive decision the applicant is contacted by the consulate in order to submit the required application for a visa. The visa application is forwarded by the consulate to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior and checked there (screening period: approx. one to two days). After receiving the visa, the person may enter Austria and obtain their residence permit from the MA 35 upon presentation of the valid D-visa.

The fees for issuing a residence permit amount to EUR 100, excluding any possible costs for documents issued by foreign authorities. In addition, certified translations have to be submitted for documents which are not in English.

Since 1 January 2006, in addition to reporting their residence in Austria (main residence or secondary residence), citizens of the European Economic Area and Switzerland have to apply for an EU proof of residence at the MA 35 in Vienna within three months after their entrance into Austria.

Students need the following documents:

• passport or ID card
• proof of admission to studies
• residence confirmation
• proof of valid health insurance
• proof of sufficient financial means to finance your stay (scholarship, subsistence allowance, etc.)

The fees for issuing a EU proof of residence amount to EUR 15, excluding any possible costs for documents issued by foreign authorities.

According to the Municipal Department 35 in Vienna, students who do not request a proof of residence on time may have to pay a fine for committing a regulatory offence.

All those holding a "student" residence permit are allowed to work part time. In such cases, the prospective employer has to file an application for a work permit. The salaried part time job must not jeopardize the actual studies (time factor). During holidays (summer) the student can work full time.

Attention: Persons holding a residence permit for "special cases of employment" are not allowed to work.