Austria is definitely a place to study as it is located in the center of Europe with relatively small and beautiful universities ranking highly in the world. For their industrialization, Austria is one of the richest countries in the world.
The country is recognized for its cultural heritage and vast contribution to the arts – these include architectural monuments like Saint Stephen`s Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Hofburg Palace, etc.
If you have decided the study in Austria, then this article will direct you on the best possible way to apply for your Austria student visa and residence permit, the processes involved and the necessary documents required for your visa application.
Types of Austria Student Visa
Depending on the purpose of your travel to Austria, there are different types of visas that will apply to the occasion.
Whether you are planning to go on a visit, study, or work and reside in Austria permanently, you will have to apply for a different Austria Schengen Visa, accordingly.
As an international student intending to study in Austria, you will need a visa and/or a residence permit. The Austria student visa type D is issued to non-immigrant visas for individuals who intend to study in an Austrian institute, college, or university for a short period of 6 months.
For a period of more than six months, you will require a student residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierende) alongside your student visa which is issued by authorities in Austria.
Austria Student Visa Exclusion
All nationals, except citizens of Schengen States, must apply for a visa before visiting Austria. The Schengen states are situated in Europe.
However, not all EU members have signed the Schengen treaty and not all members of the European Union are members of Schengen. This implies that there may not be immigration checks but there may be spot customs checks.
Required Documents to Apply for Austria Student Visa
Depending on your purpose of travel, there is a list of documents required for applying for any visa to Austria. The following documents are required in order to apply for an Austria student visa:
- Visa Type D application form. This is grouped into adults and minors.
- Two recent, full-face capture passport photographs in dimensions of 35 – 40 mm.
- International Passport. This must be valid for at least three months after your intended stay, with two empty leaflets at the back. It also must have been issued within the last 10 years.
- Letter of admission issued by your Austrian university of choice confirming your admission.
- Proof of accommodation arrangements.
- Proof of health insurance – Your type of insurance should cover all the days of your stay in Austria, with medical costs of up to €30,000.
- Proof of sufficient funds in the form of bank statement, confirmation issued by a future employer, a bank account that can be assessed when in Austria, travelers’ cheque or scholarship grants issued by a sponsor. The required amount deemed sufficient as the cost of living is €487.53 per month for students aged 24 and below, and €882.78 per month for students aged 24 and above.
- Proof of tuition fees payment or grant/scholarship submission to cover tuition fees.
- Notarized letter signed by one or both of your parents declaring financial responsibility (not required if you are able to financially support yourself).
- Copy of your itinerary or round-trip ticket.
- Birth certificate.
- Police clearance certificate indicating that you have no prior convictions and are a model citizen.
As a rule, before filing your application for a residence permit, you will need to have your documents legalized.
Step by Step Procedures to Get Austria Student Visa
The following are the step-by-step procedures for you to get your Austrian student visa. They include:
Step 1: Secure an Admission into an Austria institute of learning
You should secure admission into an Austrian Institute of learning before you begin the visa process. Move on to the next step if you already have secured admission.
Step 2: Gather all documents
Get all the necessary documents (listed above) needed to process your Austria student visa. Make photocopies of all these documents because you will need to submit the photocopied documents at the embassy.
Ensure to fill the visa application form in block letters (capital letter) and put your sign under when you are done. You should also get a hotel reservation and a bank statement showing proof of sufficient funds.
Step 3: Submit all documents
Visit the nearest Austrian embassy to submit your documents. All applicants must submit biometric data (10 fingerprints). You need to schedule an appointment at the Austrian Embassy in your country in order to do this.
You are expected to wait for one to four weeks for the processing and approval of your student visa.
If you think that your application is delayed, simply track the visa application. Also, you can prevent yourself from the stress of passport collection when a decision has been made on your application by subscribing for text messages and courier delivery.
These services attract additional charges, however.
Step 4: Track your visa application
After submitting your visa application, you have the opportunity to monitor it stage by stage
Bear in mind too that you may be requested to visit the Austrian Embassy in your country for an interview. It is best to prepare ahead for this.
Step 5: Collect your passport
Once you receive the notification that your passport is ready, revisit the Austrian Embassy in your country where you applied for collection. Go along with your receipt and an identity card to claim your passport
Visa Application Fees
The consular fees of €50 for minors and €80 for adults are to be paid at the time of application in cash. Once issued, the residence permit has to be collected at the issuing authority in Austria.
For this, in most cases, you will need a visa to travel to Austria. Therefore, an additional visa fee of €100 will apply.
NOTE: Application for the Austria student visa (Type D) is done via the Austrian Embassy in your country. Find out the Consular office hours and visit duly. The Embassy is closed on Austrian holidays: 26 Oct, 1 Nov, 8, and 26 Dec.
Conclusion
A student visa does not only give you permission to study in Austria, but it can also give you an opportunity to work while you study.
You can start your application process immediately so as to hasten it.
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