Students from third countries staying up to six months

Students from a third country (i.e. not from the EU or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway & Switzerland) staying in Austria for up to 6 months usually need to apply for either a travel visa C (for stays 90 days or less) or a residence visa D (for stays of 91 days up to six months). Please note that the visa is valid for the whole Schengen area. Citizens of some countries may enter the Schengen area visa-free but need a visa D as soon as they stay longer than 90 days within the Schengen area.

Regarding the visa application process, please check with your local Austrian authority (embassy/consulate general). Visas must be applied for at and issued by the appropriate Austrian authority in your home country or country of residence before leaving for Austria. Please apply for your visa at least 4-6 weeks before your intended departure.

List of Austrian embassies around the world

Students from third countries staying longer than six months

Students from a third country (i.e. not from the EU or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway & Switzerland) staying in Austria for more than six months need to apply for a “residence permit – student”.

Exception: Students from third countries holding a valid “residence permit – student” from another EU member state and participating in a mobility program are entitled to enter and stay visa-free in Austria for up to 360 days. This does not apply to residence permits issued by the Cyprus, Ireland, and Denmark.

Please read this page on entry regulations for third country nationals, which contains an extensive explanation and a list of the required documents compiled by Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD).

Students have two options for submitting your residence permit application:

Option A: Application in your home country

Please apply in person for a “residence permit – student” at the local Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate general) in your country of residence before travelling to Austria. You should apply at least five months before your intended entry into Austria. After your residence permit has been granted, you may apply for a visa D (in case you cannot enter Austria visa-free). In the next step, you must collect the issued visa. Please do so before you leave for Vienna in order to enter Austria legally. After you have arrived in Austria, you must collect your residence permit in person at MA35.

Option B: Application in Austria

If your citizenship allows you to enter Austria visa-free or you enter Austria with a valid visa, it is possible to applyfor a “residence permit – student” at the Municipal Department 35 (MA35) in Vienna. The application must be submitted immediately after your arrival in Austria as it may take up to 90 days to be processed. Please note that only complete applications will be processed. An open application does not allow you to remain in Austria longer than specified in your visa or visa-free stay.

This information is subject to change and provided without liability. Last date: April 15, 2024.