Question 1

What is Migrada?

Accepted Answer

Migrada is a digital platform that helps non-EU students build their Austrian student residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student) application. You upload your documents, fill in your personal details, and Migrada maps everything into the official Austrian application form, checks for completeness, and delivers a ready-to-submit package.

Migrada supports students from over 50 nationalities with country-specific document guidance, including exact apostille and legalization requirements for each country.

Question 2

How much does Migrada cost?

Accepted Answer

Migrada costs €149 as a one-time payment. This includes the Immigration Expert conversation, document validation, all 46 form fields auto-filled, 23 rejection trigger checks, and an embassy-ready PDF package.

You start for free. Once your application is 50% complete, you pay €149 to finish and download. No hidden fees, no subscriptions, no recurring charges.

Question 3

What documents do I need for an Austrian student residence permit?

Accepted Answer

Non-EU students applying for a student residence permit in Austria need: a valid passport with at least 18 months remaining validity, a biometric passport photo (35 × 45 mm, ICAO standard), a birth certificate that is apostilled or diplomatically legalized and translated to German, a university admission letter (Zulassungsbescheid) from an Austrian higher education institution, proof of accommodation in Austria for at least 3 months, proof of financial means for 12 months accessible from Austria, health insurance covering all risks valid in Austria, a criminal record certificate not older than 3 months that is apostilled or legalized and translated to German, and proof of where your funds come from.

The specific requirements for document legalization depend on your nationality. Migrada shows you exactly what your country requires.

Question 4

Which nationalities does Migrada support?

Accepted Answer

Migrada provides fully personalized guidance for students from Turkey, Iran, India, China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Egypt, the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Japan.

Regional guidance is available for students from South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and others), East Asia, and Arabic-speaking countries. All other non-EU nationalities are supported with general Austrian residence permit guidance and document checklists.

Question 5

How long does the Austrian student residence permit take?

Accepted Answer

The official processing time is up to 90 days from receipt of a complete application. Actual times vary by embassy. Western embassies (US, Canada, Japan, South Korea) typically process in 2 to 4 weeks. Turkish embassies process in 2 to 6 weeks. Indian and Chinese embassies take 4 to 8 weeks. Iranian embassies take 4 to 12 weeks. Central Asian embassies (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan) take 2 to 4 weeks. African embassies (Nigeria, Egypt) take 6 to 12 weeks.

Document preparation (translations, apostilles, bank arrangements) adds 2 to 8 weeks before you can even submit. Start at least 6 months before your planned arrival in Austria.

Question 6

Is Migrada a law firm?

Accepted Answer

No. Migrada is not a law firm, not an immigration consultancy, and does not provide legal advice. Migrada is a software platform that helps you prepare, organize, and verify your residence permit application documents.

The platform fills the official Austrian application form (Antrag auf Erteilung einer Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student) with your data, checks your uploaded documents for completeness, and packages everything for submission to the Austrian embassy or immigration authority (MA35). This is a document preparation service, not legal representation.

Question 7

What is an apostille and do I need one?

Accepted Answer

An apostille is a standardized certification under the Hague Apostille Convention that authenticates the origin of a public document for international use. If your country is a Hague Convention member (including Turkey, India, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, the United States, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, and others), your birth certificate and criminal record certificate need an apostille before submission to Austrian authorities. If your country is not a Hague member (including Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria), your documents require diplomatic legalization: certification by your country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs followed by legalization at the Austrian Embassy. Diplomatic legalization takes 2 to 4 weeks longer than apostille. Migrada automatically tells you which process applies based on your nationality.

Question 8

Can I apply after arriving in Austria?

Accepted Answer

Only if you are from a visa-free country. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, and other visa-free nations can enter Austria without a visa for up to 90 days and apply at the local immigration office directly. In Vienna, this is the MA35 (Magistratsabteilung 35). In other cities, apply at the Bezirkshauptmannschaft. However, the OeAD recommends applying from abroad even if you are visa-free, because if processing exceeds 90 days, you may be required to leave the Schengen area. Students from visa-required countries (Turkey, Iran, India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria, and most others) must apply at the Austrian Embassy in their home country before traveling to Austria.

Question 9

How much money do I need to prove?

Accepted Answer

As of 2026, students under 24 must demonstrate at least €722.58 per month in available funds. Students aged 24 and over must show at least €1,308.39 per month. These funds must be proven for 12 months in advance, meaning approximately €8,671 (under 24) or €15,701 (24 and over) must be accessible in a bank account that works from Austria. If your monthly rent exceeds €386.43, additional funds are required to cover the excess. Acceptable proof includes savings account statements, blocked account confirmations, scholarship letters, or a declaration of guarantee (Haftungserklärung) from an EU resident. You must also show where the money comes from, such as parental employment certificates or loan documentation.

Question 10

What is an Aufenthaltstitel?

Accepted Answer

Aufenthaltstitel is the German legal term for a residence permit in Austria. For students, the specific type is called Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student, which is a temporary residence permit issued to non-EU nationals enrolled at an Austrian university or accredited higher education institution. The Aufenthaltstitel is issued as a credit-card-sized biometric card after your application is approved. First-time applicants typically apply at the Austrian embassy in their home country. Renewals are handled by the local immigration authority in Austria (MA35 in Vienna, Bezirkshauptmannschaft in other cities). Migrada helps you prepare your Aufenthaltstitel application by checking your documents for completeness and filling the official form.

Question 11

What if my application is rejected?

Accepted Answer

A rejected application means you must address the stated reason and reapply. Common rejection reasons include missing documents, insufficient financial proof, expired criminal record certificates, missing translations, or incomplete apostille or legalization. Reapplying costs the full application fee (€218) again and restarts the processing timeline, which can delay your studies by 3 to 6 months. This is why thorough preparation matters. Migrada's completeness check identifies missing or incorrect items before you submit. Every application goes through 23 rejection trigger checks before you can download.

Your student visa, to Austria.

Your student visa,
to Austria.

These get applications rejected. Every week.

Immigration Expert.

Conversational, not forms

Document validation

23 rejection triggers checked

6 sources. 1 application.

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Frequently asked questions.