Working while studying at a glance
- Who applies for the work permit
- Your employer, at the AMS
- Weekly limit without a labour market test
- Up to 20 hours
- More than 20 hours
- Only if no registered job seeker can fill the job
- Marginal employment limit (2026)
- €551.10 per month
- Compulsory internship
- No permit; employer notifies the AMS at least 3 weeks before
- After graduation
- Permit extended by 12 months to look for work
The basic rule: studies come first
As a non-EU student you may work, as long as your studies stay the main purpose of your stay in Austria. Work must not get in the way of your education. This is the rule on the official government portal, and it is also what the authority looks at when you renew your residence permit.
In practice, the permit renewal depends on your study progress: students report that you must pass courses worth 16 ECTS credits a year. Working too much and failing exams is the fastest way to lose your permit.
What you need before you can start
To work legally you need two things, as students report and as our overview guide explains:
- Your residence card (the residence permit for students).
- Your address registered with the municipality (Meldezettel), which must be done within three days of moving in.
On top of that, your employer needs a permit. Any job in Austria, including marginal part-time work, needs an employment permit (Beschäftigungsbewilligung) that the employer applies for at the AMS. You cannot apply for it yourself.
How many hours can you work?
| Hours per week | What applies |
|---|---|
| Up to 20 | The permit can be issued without a labour market test |
| More than 20 | Possible, but only if the job cannot be filled by registered job seekers |
Student jobs such as delivery work are available to students who have a permit. Next to full-time studies, a job of 10 to 20 hours a week is the realistic range for most students, in our experience. In the national survey, the average student works about 20 hours a week.
Marginal employment
A job is "marginal" (geringfügig) when it pays no more than €551.10 a month in 2026, according to the AMS. Marginal jobs are common among students. Remember that for non-EU students, even a marginal job still needs the employment permit.
Internships
If an internship is compulsory for your programme, you do not need an employment permit. Your employer must notify the AMS at least three weeks before it starts, and the AMS issues a confirmation of the notification. For voluntary internships, check with the AMS or your university before you begin.
After you graduate
Graduates of an Austrian university, university of applied sciences or accredited private university (Diplom, bachelor's, master's or doctorate) can:
- Extend the student residence permit by 12 months to look for work or to start a business.
- Move to the Red-White-Red Card for graduates, if they have a job offer that matches their qualification and pays at least what comparable Austrian graduates earn. No labour market test applies, and general requirements such as health insurance must be met.
This is one reason to study in Austria: the path from student to worker is written into the law.
Practical tips from students
- Do not start work before you have your permit, your residence card and your registered address.
- Keep savings for your first four months, so you are not forced to accept a bad job.
- Learn German before you come. It makes finding a job easier and, in the long run, a job in your own field.
- Keep your grades up: your permit renewal depends on them.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work as soon as I arrive?
No. You need your residence card and your registered address, and your employer must obtain the work permit first.
Can I work more than 20 hours a week?
It is not forbidden, but the permit is only granted if no registered job seeker can fill the job, so it is harder.
Do I need a permit for a small part-time job?
Yes. Marginal employment also needs the employment permit for non-EU students.
Can I stay after my degree?
Yes. You can extend your permit by 12 months to look for work, and then apply for the Red-White-Red Card for graduates if you find a suitable job.