Schools in Austria for American families

For American parents, a move to Austria brings two big questions: where the children go to school, and what support the family can count on. Austria's answers are firmly set in law. School is compulsory for every child who lives in the country, whatever their citizenship. The last kindergarten year is compulsory and free. And families with a long-term residence permit can claim a monthly family allowance. This guide covers each in turn, using the federal portal oesterreich.gv.at and the Federal Chancellery.

Compulsory schooling

### Who it applies to

The federal portal states that all children who live permanently in Austria are subject to general compulsory schooling, not only Austrian citizens. If you move with school-age children on a residence permit, they must attend school.

### When it starts and how long it lasts

Compulsory schooling is written into the Federal Constitution. It begins on the September 1 following a child's sixth birthday and lasts nine school years.

The timing rule has a technical quirk. Legally, a year of life is completed when the day before the birthday ends. So a child born on September 1 starts compulsory school on their sixth birthday, while a child who turns six on September 2 or later starts the following September.

### The school stages

The portal sets out how the nine years are completed:

• Years 1 to 4, usually ages 6 to 10: primary school, the Volksschule.
• Years 5 to 8, usually ages 10 to 14: the Mittelschule or the lower level of an academic secondary school, the AHS.
• Year 9, usually ages 14 to 15: a pre-vocational school, the upper level of an AHS, or a vocational school.

Children with special educational needs are entitled to attend a special school.

The choice at age 10, between the Mittelschule and the academic AHS, is earlier than American parents are used to, and it shapes later options. Start learning about local schools well before your child finishes the fourth year.

### Private, international and home schooling

Children can also meet the requirement through equivalent instruction. This covers a private school without public-law status, home schooling, a private school that does not match a regulated school type, or a school abroad. Three conditions apply:

1. The arrangement has been reported to the local education directorate, the Bildungsdirektion.
2. The directorate has confirmed its equivalence.
3. The child passes an annual examination showing adequate progress.

Many international schools fall into this category, so ask any school you consider how its students meet the annual examination requirement. Breaches of compulsory schooling are administrative offences and are penalized.

Kindergarten

### The compulsory, free year

Half-day kindergarten, at least 20 hours a week, is compulsory and free for all children who turn five by August 31. It runs from September to June, excluding school holidays. Families can also take up to five weeks of holiday in addition to the school holidays and free days.

According to the Federal Chancellery, exemptions are possible for children who start school early, for whom attendance is not reasonable because of illness, disability, medical reasons or a remote home, and for children cared for at home or by childminders. An exemption requires a written application by the parents to the provincial government. Home care is only possible if the child does not need support in German, the language of instruction.

### Provincial programs go further

Kindergartens are a provincial matter, so numbers, opening hours and costs vary. The federal portal lists provincial initiatives that go beyond the compulsory year. Vienna's free full-day kindergarten for children up to six is a major benefit for working parents there. In Salzburg, half-day attendance is free for ages three to six. Some cities scale fees to parental income.

### Applying for a place

You usually apply for a public kindergarten place at the municipal office, sometimes directly at the kindergarten. In Vienna, the main registration period for city kindergartens is in November and December for the following kindergarten year. You can apply online, by email, fax, post or in person at a kindergarten service center.

If you are moving in the middle of the year, contact the service center as soon as you have an address. Do not wait for the next November window.

### What to look for

The portal suggests checking that the teaching concept matches your expectations, that the location and opening hours suit your needs, that group sizes allow individual attention, and that the rooms are bright, ideally with a garden or outdoor play area.

Family allowance

### Who qualifies

The Familienbeihilfe is a monthly payment for children. For citizens of countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the Federal Chancellery says they qualify if they reside lawfully and permanently in Austria. Lawful residence must be shown with a residence title under Section 8 of the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG). Both the parent and the child need a valid residence title.

The federal checklist for third-country nationals adds that the residence title must be designed for long-term settlement, that your center of life must be in Austria, and that you must live in a common household with the child. You apply at the tax office. The entitlement covers all children under 18; payments after the 18th birthday apply only under certain conditions.

### Amounts for 2026 and 2027

The federal portal lists these monthly amounts per child living permanently in Austria:

| Age of child | Per month | |---|---| | From birth | €138.40 | | From age 3 | €148.00 | | From age 10 | €171.80 | | From age 19 | €200.40 |

The total rises for siblings: by €8.60 per child for two children, €21.10 for three, €32.10 for four, €38.90 for five, €43.40 for six and €63.10 for seven or more. A supplement of €189.20 a month applies for a child with a significant disability.

### Extras paid with it

• Child tax credit. The Kinderabsetzbetrag, 70.90 euros per child per month, is paid with the family allowance. It needs no separate application.
• School start payment. Each August, 121.40 euros is paid for every child aged 6 to 15, together with the August allowance, again without a separate application.

Payments arrive in your current account by the 8th of the month at the latest, for accounts in the SEPA area.

### Which parent receives it

If the parents live together, the entitlement belongs to the parent who runs the household, presumed by law to be the mother. The mother can waive it in favor of the father by declaration with form Beih99, with the claim filed on form Beih100.

A plan for the first year

1. Check whether your child is of compulsory school age from the September 1 rule.
2. Contact the local school or Bildungsdirektion as soon as you have an address.
3. If you choose an international or private school, confirm how it meets the annual examination rule.
4. Register younger children for kindergarten at once.
5. Claim the family allowance once you hold a long-term residence permit.

Common questions

Do American children have to attend school in Austria? Yes. Compulsory schooling applies to all children living permanently in Austria, regardless of citizenship, for nine years from the September 1 after their sixth birthday.

Is kindergarten free in Austria? The last year before school, at least 20 hours a week half-day, is compulsory and free nationwide. Several provinces go further; Vienna offers free full-day kindergarten for children up to six.

Can Americans get the Austrian family allowance? Yes, if parent and child hold valid residence titles under the NAG designed for long-term settlement, your center of life is in Austria and you live with the child.

How much is the family allowance? For 2026 and 2027, €138.40 a month from birth, €148 from age 3, €171.80 from age 10 and €200.40 from age 19, plus sibling increases.