You need to show you can pay for your stay in Austria before you get a Residence Permit, Student. The OeAD publishes the monthly amounts for 2026, and they depend on your age. If you are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen you do not need this permit at all, so this proof does not apply to you.
The amounts you have to show
These are the figures the OeAD lists for 2026. Treat them as the official page states them, and check the OeAD site again before you apply, because amounts change.
- Under 24 years old: EUR 722.58 a month
- 24 and over: EUR 1,308.39 a month
- A couple: EUR 2,064.12 a month for both of you
- Each child: an extra EUR 201.88 a month
You have to prove these funds for twelve months in advance. So it is not a monthly top-up. The authority wants to see the whole year covered up front.
One more thing: if your accommodation costs more than EUR 386.43 a month, you have to show additional funds on top of the figures above. And you must also prove you can cover the health insurance you need. If you want a general sense of what living here costs beyond the permit rules, our guide to the cost of living in Austria is a good place to start.
Where the money has to sit
The funds have to be in a savings book or bank account in your name. It can be a foreign account, but it must be accessible from Austria. That last part matters. An account nobody in Austria can reach does not help you.
You can combine sources. Parental support plus your own savings is fine. The authority may ask where the money comes from, so keep the paper trail. Accepted proofs include a written declaration of where the funds come from (savings, a loan, a scholarship, the sale of a flat or house, an inheritance), bank statements for the last six months, your own employment contract with the last six pay slips, or the same documents from your parents or sponsor together with a declaration that the money is at your free disposal.
Other ways to prove it
A bank balance is the obvious route, but it is not the only one. The OeAD lists these alternatives:
- A declaration of guarantee (Haftungserklärung) from a person living in the European Union
- Travellers cheques
- A confirmation that you have been awarded a scholarship
If you are applying for funding, our scholarships guide explains the options. One caution: the Ernst Mach grant pages say the OeAD does not ask for proof of your own funds, but the residence authority still may, for example when your accommodation costs more than the limit above.
What does not count
Social benefits you would only be entitled to once you hold the permit are not accepted. Social assistance is the clearest example, and the Ausgleichszulage is another. You cannot build your case on money that only appears after the permit is granted.
If you have an entrance examination
Some programmes make you sit an entrance exam before you are admitted. In that situation the OeAD says means and accommodation only have to be shown credibly at the first stage. A confirmation of maintenance payments from your parents, or a reservation of a room in a student hall of residence, can do the job for now. Once you pass the exam, you submit your definite admission letter and the full proof of funds to the residence authority in Austria.
How this fits the application
Proof of sufficient means is one item on a longer list. You also need a valid passport, a photo no older than six months, health insurance covering all risks, and your admission letter. The application fee is EUR 218, payable when you submit, and it is not refunded if the application is refused or withdrawn. The decision period is 90 days, but it can be extended by another 90 days if the authority asks for more documents. The OeAD advises applying six months ahead if you can. Our page on the Austrian residence permit walks through the rest of the process.
Quick comparison
| Situation | What you show |
|---|---|
| Under 24, living alone | EUR 722.58 a month for 12 months |
| 24 or over, living alone | EUR 1,308.39 a month for 12 months |
| Couple | EUR 2,064.12 a month for both |
| Each child | EUR 201.88 a month extra |
| Rent above EUR 386.43 a month | Additional funds on top |
Remember that higher education in Austria is free of charge for students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland, but that does not remove the need to prove living costs if you are a third-country national applying for the permit.
Practical steps
- Work out which monthly figure applies to you, based on your age on the day you apply.
- Multiply by twelve and check the total sits in an account in your name that is reachable from Austria.
- Check your rent. If it is above EUR 386.43 a month, add the difference to what you show.
- Gather source-of-funds documents: bank statements for six months, a short written declaration, and your sponsor's payslips if someone else is paying.
- Add proof you can cover health insurance.
- Submit everything together. Missing documents are the main reason decisions drag on.
Rules and amounts change. Before you apply, check the current figures on the OeAD page and the requirements on the official Austrian government portal, or ask the institution you are applying to. The authority decides your case, not this guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need to show for an Austrian student visa?
The OeAD lists EUR 722.58 a month for students under 24 and EUR 1,308.39 a month for students aged 24 and over, as of 2026. You must prove the funds for twelve months in advance. If your rent is above EUR 386.43 a month you have to show additional funds.
Can my parents' bank account be used as proof of funds?
Yes, if the money is at your free disposal. You would typically add a declaration from your parents about where the money comes from, their bank statements for the last six months, and proof of their employment. The funds themselves need to be in an account in your name that is accessible from Austria.
Do I need to show proof of funds if I have a scholarship?
A confirmation of a scholarship award is one of the accepted alternatives to a bank balance. The Ernst Mach grant pages say the OeAD does not ask for proof of your own funds, but the residence authority may still ask when your costs are higher than usual.
Do EU students need to prove they can support themselves?
No. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a Residence Permit, Student, so this proof does not apply to them. Third-country nationals applying for the permit do have to show sufficient means for living costs, accommodation and health insurance.
Sources
- OeAD: Residence Permit, Student (checklist), 2026 monthly amounts, twelve months, accepted proofs
- oesterreich.gv.at: Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student, Proof of means among the required documents
- OeAD: Ernst Mach grant FAQ (worldwide), Scholarship holders and proof of funds
Last checked: 29 October 2026. Rules and amounts change; confirm them on the official page before you act on them. This is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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