🎒 Schools & kids

Training obligation until 18

After the 9 years of school, young people who live in Austria must stay in education or training until 18. This is the Ausbildungspflicht (training obligation). School, an apprenticeship or approved courses all count. The obligation ends earlier if your child finishes a further qualification. Ignoring it can lead to an administrative fine.

The Matura

The Matura (Reifeprüfung) is the school-leaving exam at AHS and BHS. It gives access to university. Written exams are central and the same across Austria. In 2027 the central Matura starts on 5 May with German.

Without a Matura, the Berufsreifeprüfung or the Studienberechtigungsprüfung can also open the way to university.

Starting first grade in Vienna

• Vienna runs the school enrolment (Schuleinschreibung) in November, about 10 months before school starts.
• For 2026/27 the window was 10 to 21 November 2025. Watch for the 2027/28 dates from the Bildungsdirektion Wien (Vienna Board of Education).
• You register at one public Volksschule and can name a second choice. Distance and siblings at the school count.
• Bring the Meldezettel (registration form) and your child’s birth certificate. Report any disability or chronic illness.
• In early February you get a letter with the assigned school. A second meeting checks school readiness and German.
• Children who turn 6 between 2 September and 1 March can start early if they are ready.

Arriving mid-year

1. Register your address: get your Meldezettel first. Schools and the city need it.
2. Contact the Bildungsdirektion Wien: its information centres help children who arrive during the school year or whose first language is not German.
3. Bring documents: passport, birth certificate, last school reports, ideally translated.
4. Placement: the board assigns a school with a free place, usually near your home.
5. German test: if your child’s German is weak, the school tests it with MIKA-D (see below).

Public bilingual schools

Vienna Bilingual Schooling (VBS) is a public programme in some Volksschulen, Mittelschulen and AHS. Children learn in German and English. Public schools charge no tuition. Places are limited, so ask early.

Before you choose

• Many employers of expats pay part of the fees. Ask before you sign your contract.
• International schools often have waiting lists, especially for primary grades.
• Even at an international school, learn German as a family. It helps your child with friends and later jobs.

Familienbeihilfe (family allowance)

Plus a sibling supplement per child: €8.60 with 2 children, €21.10 with 3, €32.10 with 4, €38.90 with 5, €43.40 with 6 and €63.10 with 7 or more. For a child with a severe disability you get €189.20 more per month.

Paid with it

• Kinderabsetzbetrag (child tax credit): €70.90 per child per month. It comes automatically with the Familienbeihilfe.
• Schulstartgeld (school start money): €121.40 per child aged 6 to 15, paid in August with the Familienbeihilfe. No extra application.
• Payment is monthly and reaches your account by the 8th of the month.
• You get Familienbeihilfe until 18, and until 24 if your child is in training or studies. A few cases extend to 25.
• You apply at the Finanzamt Österreich (tax office). You can claim back up to 5 years.

Karenz (parental leave)

As an employee you have a legal right to unpaid parental leave. Your employer cannot refuse it, but you must keep the notice deadlines.

• Karenz lasts until the child’s 2nd birthday if both parents share it. One parent alone can take it until the end of the 22nd month.
• The minimum is 2 months. Both parents cannot be on leave at the same time.
• Mothers tell their employer by the end of the maternity protection period (Mutterschutz). Fathers tell their employer within 8 weeks after the birth.
• You are protected from dismissal during Karenz.
• Karenz and Kinderbetreuungsgeld are separate. Their lengths do not have to match.
• Elternteilzeit (parental part-time) is possible until the child’s 8th birthday in firms with more than 20 staff, after 3 years in the job.

Who can get family benefits?

• Everyone: you must live in Austria legally and permanently, or have your centre of life here. Your child must live in your household.
• EU, EEA and Swiss families: you get the same benefits as Austrians. If one parent works in another EU country, EU rules decide which country pays first. Austria may pay the difference.
• Non-EU families: you and your child each need a valid residence title under section 8 or 9 of the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG). See our guide to residence permits.
• Refugees: people with asylum get benefits. Since 12 June 2026 people with subsidiary protection get them if they do not receive basic care (Grundversorgung).
• Kinderbetreuungsgeld also needs Familienbeihilfe for the child. Non-EU parents must meet extra residence rules.