What the Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Student is for
If you are a third-country national and you want to study in Austria for more than six months, you need the Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Student. It is a temporary residence title. It covers degree programmes at a university, university of applied sciences, private university or university college of teacher education. It also covers non-degree studies of at least 40 ECTS that are not only language courses.
Family members of a permit holder can get an Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Familiengemeinschaft. For shorter stays, a visa C covers up to 90 days and a visa D covers 91 days to six months. This guide is about the student permit itself.
Where and when to apply
You normally apply in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa, you can apply at the residence authority in Austria instead.
Timing matters. The OeAD recommends starting to prepare your documents 12 months ahead if possible, and applying at the latest three months before you plan to arrive. The residence authority decides within 90 days. If documents are missing, the OeAD says that period extends by another 90 days. The application fee is EUR 218.
Before you get to the permit stage, you need an admission decision. Admission is organised by each institution, not centrally. The OeAD does not handle study applications and there is no central application portal. You can browse universities to find the right place, then check its own admission pages. At public universities the general application deadline for most bachelor's programmes is 5 September for the winter semester and 5 February for the summer semester. Other programmes and applicants from outside the EU/EEA can have different deadlines, so confirm with the institution.
Documents you need
The OeAD lists these documents for the student residence permit:
- a valid passport
- a photo
- proof of means
- proof of health insurance covering all risks
- the admission decision
- accommodation for at least three months
- a police clearance certificate not older than three months
Get the police clearance certificate late enough that it is still valid when you submit, but early enough that you are not waiting on it at the last minute. Proof of means and insurance are the two items people most often underestimate. Check the current wording on oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at for what counts, and ask the embassy if you are unsure.
How long the permit lasts and how to renew it
The first permit is issued for one year. If you are taking part in a mobility programme or an agreement between higher education institutions, it can be issued for two years.
A renewal must be applied for in person before the permit expires. You cannot apply earlier than three months before it expires, and you need proof of study progress. Put the date in your calendar as soon as you get the card. A lapsed permit is much harder to fix than a renewal you started on time.
If you hold a Schengen visa or a valid residence permit, you can move in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within 180 days. That is separate from your Austrian permit and does not replace it.
What it costs to study once you are here
The student union fee (ÖH-Beitrag) is EUR 26.20 per semester and is compulsory for all students. At public universities, EU/EEA students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters. Most other students pay EUR 726.72 per semester. These figures come from the Austrian national register as of October 2026; confirm them with your institution before you budget.
Our catalogue lists 65 Austrian higher education institutions and 589 programmes with English among their languages of instruction, imported from the Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at). Of those, 455 are taught in English only and the rest in German and English. You can see them all when you browse all universities in Austria. Use that to shortlist programmes before you start the permit paperwork, because your admission decision depends on it.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying too late. Three months before arrival is the latest the OeAD recommends, not the ideal. Twelve months of preparation is better.
- Assuming the institution handles your visa. It does not. Admission and the residence permit are separate processes.
- Letting the police clearance certificate age out. It must not be older than three months when you submit.
- Forgetting the renewal window. You can apply no earlier than three months before expiry and must do it in person.
- Budgeting only for tuition. The EUR 218 application fee and the EUR 26.20 per semester ÖH-Beitrag are separate from tuition.
For the full picture of permits, renewals and what to do after you arrive, read our residence permit guide. If you are still choosing where to apply, the same student residence permit guide explains how the permit fits around your study plans. Do not treat any guide, including this one, as a decision: the residence authority decides on permits and the institution decides on admission.
Sources
- oesterreich.gv.at, Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Student
- OeAD, FAQ entry and residence for third-country students
- OeAD, residence permit student (no mobility)
- oesterreich.gv.at, admission of foreign students
- Study in Austria, tuition
- Study in Austria, application and admission
- Austrian national register (BMFWF open data and studienwahl.at), as of October 2026
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Austrian student residence permit cost?
The application fee for the Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Student is EUR 218, as listed on oesterreich.gv.at. That is separate from tuition and from the EUR 26.20 per semester ÖH-Beitrag. Check the current fee with the residence authority before you pay.
How long does it take to get an Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Student?
The residence authority decides within 90 days. The OeAD says this extends by another 90 days if documents are missing, so the total can reach 180 days. Apply at the latest three months before you plan to arrive, and start preparing documents 12 months ahead if you can.
Can I apply for the student residence permit in Austria?
Usually you apply in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. If you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa, you can apply at the residence authority in Austria instead. The residence authority decides on your case.
How long is the student residence permit valid and how do I renew it?
The first permit is issued for one year, or two years for participants in mobility programmes or agreements between higher education institutions. Renewal must be applied for in person before it expires, not earlier than three months before, with proof of study progress.