How Much Bank Balance for an Austria Student Visa? Indian Applicants

OeAD is the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation, and its 2026 checklist is the clearest statement of the money rule. The amount you need depends on the length of your course, because Austria uses two different routes. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist and work visas, see our Austria visa guide for Indians.

Which route are you on: D visa or student residence permit?

Most Indian bachelor's and master's students fall into the second row.

How much money do you need for a degree course?

The 2026 monthly rates from OeAD are set by age. You prove the full 12 months at the time you apply, not month by month.

Two costs sit on top of the base amount:

• Rent above EUR 386.43 a month. If your accommodation costs more than that, the difference must be shown in addition.
• Health insurance. Its cost is also added, and the policy must cover all risks in Austria.

To work out your own figure, multiply the monthly rate for your age by 12, then add the rent difference and the insurance cost.

One discrepancy to know about: Austria's migration platform (migration.gv.at) lists EUR 777.58 a month for under-24s, while OeAD's 2026 checklist and the 2026 ASVG reference rate give EUR 722.58. If your balance is close to the lower figure, ask the Embassy which rate it applies, or plan for the higher one.

What kind of account or proof is accepted?

OeAD lists these forms of proof:

• a savings book or bank account in the applicant's name, accessible from Austria;
• a liability declaration by a person resident in the EU;
• traveller's cheques;
• a scholarship confirmation.

The wording matters for Indian families. Money held only in a parent's Indian account does not match an account in the applicant's name, and a parent living in India cannot sign the EU-resident liability declaration. Put the funds in your own name, or use a scholarship confirmation if you have one.

What about short courses of 91 days to 6 months?

For a semester exchange, summer school or short programme, you apply for the Long Term (D) Student visa at VFS Global. The fee is EUR 195 / INR 21,260 for adults (EUR 97 / INR 10,580 under 6), with the rupee amount changing at every month end, plus the VFS service charge of INR 2,479.

The VFS checklist sets no fixed balance. Austria assesses means of subsistence case by case, with the EU reference-amounts table as a guide. What you file instead:

• original bank statements for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank, which VFS treats as mandatory;
• ITR with barcode for the last 2 years;
• evidence of tuition fee payment or a scholarship;
• an Electronic Declaration of Sponsorship (EVE) from a sponsor resident in Austria, if your own funds fall short;
• proof of accommodation or a dormitory place, and your admission certificate;
• travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 from an insurer on the approved list, required for applications lodged in India since 1 January 2026.

Processing usually takes 15 working days from receipt by the Embassy, counted from when all documents are in.

When should your funds proof be ready?

For the residence permit, the residence authority in Austria must decide without delay and at the latest within 90 days. OeAD says the 90 days are extended by another 90 if documents arrive later, and recommends applying at least 3 months, ideally 6 months, before entry. Have the full 12 months of funds in place before your Embassy appointment, together with your admission letter, police clearance certificate (not older than 3 months), insurance and accommodation proof for at least 3 months. After approval, you apply for the D entry visa within 3 months.

The funds are checked alongside your admission. OeAD accepts admission (Zulassungsbescheid) to a regular degree programme at a university, university of applied sciences, private university or university college of teacher education, or to a university course of at least 40 ECTS that is not only language learning. If your programme has an entrance exam, a conditional admission letter can be used.

Mistakes that weaken a funds proof

• Using the under-24 rate when you turn 24 before applying.
• Leaving out the rent difference above EUR 386.43 or the insurance cost.
• Funds in a family member's name instead of your own.
• Unstamped or unsigned statements in a D-visa file.
• Budgeting for the EUR 120 fee on the Embassy's older study page; the current residence permit fee is EUR 218.

For short-course D-visa files that need a flight reservation, accommodation booking or cover letter, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares these documents. Packages range from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Austrian student residence permit fee EUR 120 or EUR 218?

EUR 218 from 1 January 2026, according to the Austrian Embassy New Delhi, oesterreich.gv.at and OeAD. The Embassy's older 'Studying in Austria' page still shows EUR 120. It is paid in INR at the current exchange rate when you apply.

Can I work part-time while studying in Austria?

Yes. Students can get an employment permit for up to 20 hours a week without a labour market test. The employer applies for it at the AMS.

How long is the Austrian student residence permit valid?

It is issued for 1 year (2 years in mobility programmes) and renewed. After graduation it can be extended once for 12 months to look for work or start a business.

Do I need a fresh police clearance certificate for the funds application?

Yes, for the residence permit. The police clearance certificate from your country of residence must not be older than 3 months when you apply and must be legalised and translated.