How to study in Austria
Compare each route by stay and permit, work rights, cost and who it suits. Sources are under each row.
How do you get there?
Choose a different route, and the permit you need changes.
Live in Austria on a working holiday
- Visum D (WHP) (National long-stay visa D marked "WHP" (Working Holiday))
Who it suits:For people who want to travel and live in Vienna or elsewhere in Austria for a while.
- Length and permit
Ages 18–30 · up to 12 months · no extension
You must be 18 to 30. If you apply before your 31st birthday, you may stay after that birthday. The stay is up to 12 months, counted from the first valid day of the visa, and cannot be extended.
- Can you work?
No separate work permit needed
During your stay you may take any job that helps pay for your stay or studies without a separate work permit. Work or study must not be the main purpose of the trip. Some jobs have their own access conditions.
- Cost
No visa fee
There is no visa fee.
Live in Austria on a working holiday
- Visum D (WHP) (National long-stay visa D marked "WHP" (Working Holiday))
Who it suits:For people who want to travel and live in Vienna or elsewhere in Austria for a while.
Length and permit
Ages 18–30 · up to 12 months · no extension
You must be 18 to 30. If you apply before your 31st birthday, you may stay after that birthday. The stay is up to 12 months, counted from the first valid day of the visa, and cannot be extended.
Can you work?
No separate work permit needed
During your stay you may take any job that helps pay for your stay or studies without a separate work permit. Work or study must not be the main purpose of the trip. Some jobs have their own access conditions.
Cost
No visa fee
There is no visa fee.
For Japanese citizens. Official names checked on government websites on October 31, 2026.
Sources (official government pages)
Live in Austria on a working holiday・Source: Austrian Embassy in Tokyo: how to apply (Working Holiday and visa-free entry for Japanese citizens)Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs: Working Holiday application (stay, fee and where Japanese nationals apply)Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: Working Holiday programmes (partner countries and number of participations) Wayback copy 2026-10-03
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