Most people wanting to stay for longer than three months in Austria will need some sort of visa. Unfortunately, they are not easy to get and may sometimes be expensive.
For example, a visa to study German will let you live in Austria for six months - as long as you prove you will be able to pay all your expenses, including the course and living expenses while in Austria.
There are however other options.
People who want to stay legally in Austria for up to six to twelve months and perhaps spontaneously work or take a course may apply for a Working Holiday Visa.
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The Austrian government says the working holiday programmes were set up to "meet the relevant demands" and enable young people to finance their holiday stay abroad - at least to some extent - themselves, gather practical vocational experience in another country and benefit from the local educational facilities.
"Under these programmes, young people may gather professional experience abroad and acquire/improve foreign language skills, which are important aspects when starting a career. Another objective is promoting young people’s understanding of other countries and cultures."
However, there are several restrictions and pre-requisites that you need to be aware of.
Who can apply for a working holiday visa?
There are two main requirements to be able to apply for the visa. First, the Working Holiday Program exists as a dual agreement, so Austria needs to have an agreement with each country so that the citizens can participate in the program.
Currently, only citizens from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Chile, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and Taiwan are allowed to apply for the vista.
Additionally, the program aims to facilitate the entry of young people whose primary goal is not study or work. Therefore, only people aged 18 to 30 can apply.
What other requirements are there?
There are other things to be aware of. For example, if you have already completed a working holiday stay, you may only apply for another stay for another country.
Applicants also need a passport valid at least three months after the planned return journey, a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one, enough financial resources for the stay, and prove adequate insurance coverage.
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They must also meet health and reputational requirements, meaning they must not have been convicted of a criminal offence.
Finally, there is also a visa fee (€150 for most countries) that needs to be paid and is not waived or refunded even if the visa is rejected or cancelled.
How long can I stay?
Usually from up to six to twelve months, depending on the country of your citizenship. For example, nationals of Argentina are allowed to stay for twelve months but may not work for more than six months for the same employer.
People from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Korea and Taiwan can stay up to twelve months. New Zealanders can stay for up to six months.
The specific requirements may also change depending on your citizenship. You can find more information here.
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Austria's Foreign Ministry also states that using a working holiday visa does not affect the provisions for visa-free residence in Austria and the Schengen area.
"Even if this visa-free stay should occur immediately before and after, no departure is necessary".
This means that you can stay in Austria for the entire duration of your working holiday visa (be it up to six to twelve months) and then stay in Austria or another Schengen country for another three months - if you are a citizen of a country with Schengen visa-free country.
You can also enter and leave Austria multiple times while holding this visa, so travelling within the EU (and further) is not a problem.
How do I apply for the visa?
The application should be addressed to the respective Austrian representation, meaning the Austrian consulate or embassy in your country.
You should check the websites of the Austrian representatives in your country to find out more.
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For example, citizens of some countries, like Canada and Australia, can book their visa appointment online and apply through the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in Munich, Ljubljana, Bratislava and London during their legal stay in Europe.
You will need to complete an Austrian Visa D application form (available with the Austrian embassy in your country), have a passport-sized photo less than six months old, and bring your proof of income or financial resources.
You can find more information here.
What if I want to stay for longer?
Working holiday visas are usually not extendable, and you cannot stay in Austria working or studying after it expires without changing your permit.
You may apply for other visas to stay for longer, including an employment or job seeker visa.
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