# Student work rights in Austria

> Rules for working while studying in Austria, including work limits, internships, tax steps and post-study routes where covered by the guide.

Source of record: https://versityspot.com/study-abroad/austria/work-rights
Confirmation: 16 of 16 sections confirmed against their official source (last 2026-08-08).

## Part-time Jobs

Third-country students holding a Residence Permit – Student may be granted an employment permit for work of up to 20 hours per week. The prospective employer must apply for the Beschäftigungsbewilligung with the Public Employment Service (AMS) before you start; for this student allowance there is no labour-market test. EU/EEA/Swiss students have broader free-movement work rights.

The permit requirement also applies to small-scale or marginal employment when the work falls under the Foreign Nationals Employment Act. The EUR 551.10 monthly marginal-employment threshold for 2026 concerns social insurance and tax treatment; it is not an immigration exemption.

Work must remain compatible with study as the primary purpose of residence. If you want to work more than the standard student allowance or in an unusual arrangement, check with AMS before accepting the job.

*Source: https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/residence-permit-student-no-mobility-programme*

## Post-study Work

Eligible third-country graduates of Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences and accredited private universities can renew the Residence Permit – Student once for twelve months to look for employment or start a business, provided the general residence requirements are met.

If you find a job that matches your qualification level during that period, the graduate route to the Red-White-Red Card does not use a points system or labour-market test. The job must meet the route’s requirements, including locally customary gross pay for comparable Austrian graduate entrants.

This is a separate application from the student permit, so plan the transition before your current residence title expires and use the official Migration Austria guidance for the current document list.

*Source: https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/graduates/*

## Common questions

### What should international students know about work in Austria?

Third-country students need an AMS employment permit from the employer, normally for up to 20 hours/week; marginal jobs are not exempt from that permit rule.

### What should international students know about post study in Austria?

After eligible Austrian study, third-country graduates can extend the student permit once for 12 months to seek work or start a business.