Important information

Depending on the citizenship and length of stay, different regulations for visas and residence permits apply to international students in Austria.

Important information:

Please keep yourself updated before travelling about the current travel regulations valid four your home country at the Austrian representative authority: Embassies and Consulates.

Detailed information on the procedure for residence permits are answered on the website of the federal Ministry of the Interior: Link to website.

Current information on visa applications in Vienna is available on the website of the competent authority: MA35 immigration office (in German only).

Exchange students:

Students who come to Austria for a semester or for a year in the context of the Erasmus program or a bilateral agreement between the Academy of Fine Arts and another university, please refer to the International Office.

International students who wish to complete a study program at the Academy:

Please check the regulations for visa application and legal stay in Austria, which is valid for you as a student, as soon as you passed the admission exam at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna!

The Student Welcome Center offers information and support in all questions regarding visas and residence permits for international students: studentwelcome@akbild.ac.at.

Mandatory residence registration:

All persons who reside in Austria are required to register with the authorities. This means that you have to register at your local district within three days after you have moved into a residence. More details are available from the OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation.

Overview:

An overview of the legal regulations regarding visas and residence permits can be found on the pages of the OeAD, Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation.

Visa-free stay and visa C:

If you entered Austria and the Schengen area visa-free or with a 90 days visa C, please be aware, that you are not allowed to overstay these 90 days in Austria. In this case your application for a residence permit will be denied.

Note on the renewal of residence permits:

Residence permits for students are given only for limited stays in Austria. The request for an extension of the permit must be made before the expiration date of the residence permit (at the earliest three months beforehand).