Work in Austria While Studying and After Graduation (2026 Guide)

Yes, international students can work in Austria. With a Residence Permit – Student, you can work up to 20 hours per week once your employer has obtained an employment permit. After graduation, you can extend your permit once for 12 months to look for a job or start a business, and then switch to a work permit such as the Red-White-Red Card for graduates.

This guide explains the rules for working during your studies, the options after graduation, and the paths to longer-term residence, using official sources from OeAD and the Austrian government's migration platform.

Working while you study

According to OeAD, holders of a Residence Permit – Student can get an employment permit (Beschäftigungsbewilligung) for up to 20 hours per week, including marginal employment, without a labour market test.

• Your employer applies, to the Public Employment Service (AMS), before you start working.
• The limit is 20 hours per week. Work must not interfere with your studies.
• Study progress still comes first. To renew your permit each year, you must show 16 ECTS credits (or eight semester hours) of academic success.
• Work income is not proof of funds. You must show the full amount for your permit before you arrive: for 2026, €722.58 per month under 24 or €1,308.39 per month from 24.

Finding a student job

Many part-time jobs in Austria require at least some German, especially in retail and hospitality. Jobs at your university, such as research or teaching assistant roles, and internships linked to your field are often easier for English speakers. Universities of applied sciences frequently build internships into their programs, which gives you Austrian work experience before you graduate.

After graduation: the 12-month job-search extension

Graduates holding a Residence Permit – Student can apply for a one-time 12-month renewal to look for work or to set up a business. The migration.gv.at graduates page explains that you must meet the general requirements for this renewal, which include health insurance cover.

1. 1

   Apply before your student permit expires

   Apply at your residence authority in Austria, not abroad. Renewal applications can be filed at the earliest three months before expiry.

2. 2

   Search for a qualifying job

   The job must match your qualification level and pay the locally customary salary for comparable Austrian graduates.

3. 3

   Get an employer declaration

   Your employer completes a declaration for your Red-White-Red Card application.

4. 4

   Apply for the Red-White-Red Card for graduates

   Submit a valid travel document, a recent photo, proof of full health insurance, proof of completed studies and the employer's declaration.

Red-White-Red Card for graduates of Austrian universities

This is the most direct route for international graduates. According to migration.gv.at, it is available to third-country nationals who completed at least a bachelor's, master's, doctorate or second-stage diploma at an Austrian university, university of applied sciences or private university. There is no points system and no labour market test.

The government's permanent immigration overview states that a Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and allows fixed-term settlement and employment with the employer named in the application. Family members can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus.

EU Blue Card

If you get a highly paid job, the EU Blue Card is another option. For 2026, it requires a gross annual salary of at least €55,678 (including special payments), a completed higher education degree of at least three years, and a binding job offer matching your education. It is issued for 24 months.

Other options after your studies

• Further study: you can continue to a master's or PhD in Austria. You need a new admission letter, and your permit renewal requires confirmation of continuing enrolment.
• Research: OeAD notes that graduates may switch to a Settlement Permit – Researcher if they meet the requirements.
• Self-employment and start-ups: the 12-month extension can also be used to set up a business; migration.gv.at lists separate Red-White-Red Card categories for self-employed key workers and start-up founders.
• Paid PhD positions: some universities employ doctoral candidates, for example IT:U Linz at €2,832.10 gross, 14 times a year, for 30 hours per week.

Your path from student to worker at a glance

Keeping your permit valid while you study

Every option after graduation depends on keeping your student permit valid until you finish. The permit is issued for 12 months, and you renew it at the residence authority in Austria before it expires, at the earliest three months before expiry. You need a confirmation of continuing enrolment, your record of studies and proof of 16 ECTS credits (or eight semester hours) per academic year. PhD students can submit a supervisor's confirmation of progress instead. While a timely renewal is pending, you remain lawfully resident.

Bringing your family

If you want your family with you during your studies, spouses or registered partners (at least 21) and unmarried minor children can apply for a Residence Permit – Family Community, as a rule at the Austrian embassy for their place of residence. As of 2026, OeAD lists means of €2,064.12 per month for a couple plus €201.88 per child, legalised and translated proof of family status, a police certificate and accommodation, with a €218 fee. Once you hold a Red-White-Red Card, family members can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus.

Getting your degree recognised for work

If you studied in Austria, your Austrian degree is your main qualification. If you also hold a foreign degree, ENIC NARIC Austria can evaluate it for professional purposes (€150 for up to two qualifications, year not stated). Regulated professions, such as physician or nurse, require formal nostrification or professional recognition.

Tips to improve your chances

• Learn German. It is not required for the student permit, but many employers expect it.
• Do internships during your studies, within the 20-hour limit and with a valid employment permit.
• Choose a field with demand. Engineering, IT and data science programs are widely available in English in Austria.
• Plan your timeline. Apply for the 12-month extension before your permit expires; do not let it lapse while waiting for a job offer.
• Keep your documents ready. Your degree certificate, transcripts and health insurance proof are needed for every next permit.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Working before the employment permit is issued
• Working so much that you fall below 16 ECTS per year and cannot renew
• Letting your student permit expire after graduation instead of applying for the 12-month extension
• Accepting a job that does not match your qualification level or pays below the customary salary, which may not qualify for the Red-White-Red Card
• Relying on unofficial advice: always check migration.gv.at and your residence authority

Read the Austria student visa guide for permit basics and studying in Austria: pros and cons for the full picture. To plan your applications, track deadlines for free on FindUniPath and see all guides on the Austria hub.