Country guide
Country guideAustria
Low public tuition, German language study at a gentler pace than Germany, and a job seeker permit for graduates.
- Study applications
- Work visa, if you already hold an offer
Austria offers much of what makes Germany attractive, at a smaller scale and with less competition for places. Public university tuition for non EU students is modest, Vienna is consistently ranked among the most liveable cities in the world, and the research base in music, medicine and engineering is serious.
More programmes are taught in German than in English, so this is a destination where language study genuinely changes what is available to you. That is also an advantage: the same German that opens Austria opens Germany and Switzerland.
Graduates of an Austrian degree can apply for a permit to look for work, and the Red White Red card system gives a points based route into skilled employment afterwards.
We cover Austria for study applications. We do not run a job search here, though we will prepare your work permit file if an employer has already made you an offer.
What it costs
Our fee, and everybody else's
Starting prices for the services we run for Austria. Every package has a published price and an exclusions list, and the scope is agreed in writing before you pay anything.
Study abroad
Shortlisting with the reasoning written next to every university, applications, statement review and the full document set.
From₹24,000
What is includedWork abroad
Route selection, eligibility scoring and the full application file. Germany and Canada are where we go deepest, but we will work on Austria with you either way.
From₹24,000
What is includedVisa and documentation
File preparation and two full review passes, with the weak points named in writing before you submit rather than after.
From₹14,000
What is includedProfile building
For people who are not eligible yet. A written plan for the twelve months that would make you eligible, and the work to get there.
From₹9,000
What is included
Already have a job offer?
We support work abroad for any country on this site, whether or not you already hold an offer. Where you have one, the work is the visa file. Where you do not, it is route selection, eligibility scoring and the search itself.
These are starting prices. Every package and every exclusion is on the pricing page, at the same figures quoted on a call.
Who is being hired
Occupations in demand in Austria
- Engineers, mechanical and electrical
- IT and data specialists
- Nurses and care workers
- Skilled trades: welders, roofers, electricians
- Hospitality and tourism
Read this before you plan around it
Being in a shortage occupation is not eligibility. It usually changes a salary threshold, a points score or a processing queue, and it never removes the need to qualify. These lists are also revised often, so treat this as where demand has been concentrated rather than a promise about today.
Indicative, last reviewed 26 August 2026. The position that governs is on Red White Red card, shortage occupations.
Routes
Ways into Austria, and what each one needs
Route 01
Student residence permit
People admitted to an Austrian public or private university.
Requirements
- An admission or conditional admission letter
- Proof of sufficient means at the published monthly rate
- Health insurance valid in Austria
- Documented accommodation in Austria
- German or English at the programme's required level
Realistic timeline
Ten to sixteen months, and permit processing is not quick
Route 02
Job seeker permit after graduating
Graduates of an Austrian degree seeking skilled work.
Requirements
- A completed Austrian qualification
- Application before the student permit expires
- Leads to the Red White Red card once you hold a qualifying job offer
The bigger picture
Costs that are not fees at all
| Public university tuitionSubstantially lower than the English speaking destinations. Private universities charge far more. | Modest for non EU students, plus a students' union fee |
|---|---|
| Proof of meansThe threshold differs by age, which surprises people. Check which applies to you. | A published monthly figure, higher if under 24 |
| Residence permit feesApplication, issuance and card production are billed separately rather than as one fee. | Several separate charges |
| Health insuranceAvailable once you are enrolled, but you need cover from the day you arrive. | Student self insurance is available at a low monthly rate |
| AccommodationVienna student residences are good value but fill early, and the permit expects an address. | Must be documented for the permit |
Refusals
Why applications get refused, and what helps
- 01
Means below the age based threshold
What helps
Austria sets a different monthly figure above and below 24. Apply the right one and evidence it for the full period. - 02
No documented accommodation
What helps
A signed contract or residence confirmation. A booking reference is generally not enough. - 03
Underestimating processing time
What helps
Austrian permits are slow. Start as soon as you hold admission rather than close to the intake.
Immigration rules change constantly, and a page like this is a starting point rather than an authority. Every figure here is approximate and every claim links to the government source that governs it. Before you commit money to any of it, check the current position, or ask us to check it against your profile.
Other countries
Comparing this against somewhere else
What happens next
Find out whether Austria is realistic for you
Thirty minutes on video, then a written note within two working days scoring you against the published criteria. If the honest answer is a different country, or a different year, the note will say so.
- 01Free assessment
- Thirty minutes on video with the person who would actually handle your file. Education, work history, language levels, savings, timeline. We tell you which routes are open to you and which are not.
- 30 minutes, no cost
- 02Written plan with your realistic odds
- Your profile scored against the published criteria, the routes worth pursuing, the total cost including every fee that does not come to us, and our honest read on your chances. Some of these plans say the answer is no.
- Within 2 working days
No obligation to buy anything, and we will not call you repeatedly afterwards.