Frequently asked questions.

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.

Migrada costs €49 as a one-time payment. This includes full platform access, a nationality-specific document checklist, guided application building with automated form filling, completeness verification, and direct chat support.

Expert review by a professional who checks all your documents before submission is available for €149. A dedicated case manager who guides you through every step is available for €599. There are no hidden fees, no subscriptions, and no recurring charges.

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.

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.

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.

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). For the €149 and €599 service tiers, a professional reviews your documents, but this is a document preparation and review service, not legal representation.

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.

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.

As of 2026, students under 24 must demonstrate at least €703.58 per month in available funds. Students aged 24 and over must show at least €1,273.99 per month. These funds must be proven for 12 months in advance, meaning approximately €8,443 (under 24) or €15,288 (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.

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 (€120) 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. The €149 expert review provides a professional check of every document, translation, and apostille to catch problems before they reach the embassy.