Students from third countries (non-EU/EEA/Switzerland) who are planning to stay in Austria for less than six months must apply for one of the following visas at the respective competent Austrian authority (Embassy, consulate-general) in their country of residence:

  • Visa C - for stays of up to 90 days. Exception: students who are entitled to enter Austria without a visa.
  • Visa D - for stays of more than 90 days up to a maximum of 180 days. Exception: Japanese nationals.

Further information, application forms, and document requirements can be found on the OeAD database.

Visa applications within the EU are only possible at the Austrian Embassies in Bratislava, Ljubljana or Munich - as long as you have a valid residence title of an EU country.

Information for British nationals https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/brexit/

Information for  US and Canadian exchange students / Fulbright scholarship holders: https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/consular-section-of-the-austrian-embassy-in-washington/travel-to-austria/studying-in-austria/

Exceptions for students from third countries with a residence title 'Student' from another EU country (except Ireland and Denmark)

Students who are taking part in a Union or multilateral mobility programme (e.g. Erasmus+, OeAD scholarship) or for whom an agreement between two or more higher education institutions is in place and who are in possession of a valid residence title "Student" of another EU member country (not Denmark and Ireland) are allowed to enter Austria without requiring a visa and to stay in Austria for up to 360 days.

Complete the 'Confirmation of participation in a Union, multilateral mobility programme, or agreement between two or more higher education institutions' form and have it signed by your BOKU coordinator!

To prove that you are residing in Austria legally, you need:

  • a signed copy of the form above,
  • a valid travel document (at least valid for another 3 months, no older than 10 years, at least 2 pages long)
  • a valid residence title 'Student' from another EU country
  • valid health insurance
  • proof of entry date into Austria (passport stamp, train/bus/flight ticket, petrol station receipt,...)

Students from third countries with a valid residence title 'Student' from Ireland or Denmark, who are planning to stay in Austria for a period of 3-6 months, require a visa which can only be applied for at the Austrian respective authorites in Bratislava, Ljubljana, or Munich.

Please note: You cannot extend your visa in Austria! If you are planning to stay in Austria for more than 6 months, then you must apply for a Residence Permit 'Student' before you enter Austria.

Entry/Exit system (EES) for short-term stays

The Entry/Exit System (EES) applies to travellers who are non-EU citizens and are travelling for a short-term stay (up to 90 days) are travelling to a European country that uses the EES and either:

  • are in possession of a short-stay visa (travel visa, visa C); or
  • are not in possession of a visa for a maximum stay of 90 days within a period of 180 days.

The EES will apply from 10 November 2024 and there will be no changes to the border control process for EU citizens and citizens of Schengen-associated countries (such as Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein) as well as persons with a residence permit or a visa for a longer-term stay in the EU. If these residence authorisations are only acquired on the territory of the EU Member States, registration in the EES is mandatory for the first entry into the territory of the Member States.

Further information on the new EES and information on changes to border controls due to the EES can be found here (only German version is legally binding)