Best Credit Cards for International Students With No Income in Austria

Best Credit Cards for International Students With No Income in Austria 

International students with no employment income have limited chances of obtaining a genuine credit card in Austria. The Bank Austria Mastercard Gold Student, Raiffeisen Gold Student Credit Card and PayLife Student Card are worth considering, but all applications remain subject to review or a positive creditworthiness assessment.

Austrian lenders assess income, assets and possible financial security before granting credit. Therefore, having no salary is different from having no financial resources: documented scholarships, savings or regular family support may strengthen an application, but none guarantees approval.

Best Credit Cards for International Students With No Income in Austria

1. Bank Austria Mastercard Gold Student — Best overall card to consider

• Designed specifically for students.
• No annual card fee for the first five years for eligible new applicants through December 31, 2026.
• €30 annual fee afterward.
• Available until studies end, but no later than age 30.
• Travel insurance included.
• Issuance requires a credit check.

2. Raiffeisen Gold Student Credit Card — Best regional student option

• Visa or Mastercard Gold, depending on the regional bank.
• First year free in the published Vienna offer.
• €36.56 per year afterward.
• Travel insurance included.
• Student account free until age 27.
• Approval and conditions may vary between regional Raiffeisen banks.

3. PayLife Student Credit Card — Best card outside a student bank package

• Intended for students under 27.
• PayLife GoldPlus costs €12.70 during the first year.
• Reduced student pricing afterward.
• Travel and purchase-related benefits available.
• Proof of university admission or enrolment required.
• Issued only after application and creditworthiness review.

4. Student debit card — Best realistic no-income alternative

• Available with student current accounts.
• Uses money already held in the account.
• No borrowing or monthly credit bill.
• Suitable for online, contactless and everyday payments.
• Easier to manage when income is irregular.

Can You Get a Credit Card Without Income in Austria?

Possibly, but there is no guaranteed credit card for students without income.

Austria’s official consumer guidance states that lenders must assess creditworthiness using sufficient information about the applicant’s income, assets and available security. The assessment determines whether the applicant is considered able to repay.

A bank may consider:

• Scholarship or grant payments.
• Savings held in an Austrian or European account.
• Regular financial support from parents.
• Paid internship income.
• Existing monthly expenses.
• Austrian residence status.
• Previous payment problems.
• The requested card limit.

A student who has no salary but receives a reliable monthly scholarship may be evaluated differently from someone with no recurring funds.

1. Bank Austria Mastercard Gold Student

The Bank Austria Mastercard Gold Student is the strongest student-specific option to consider.

The current promotion provides:

• No annual card fee for the first five contract years.
• A €30 annual fee from the sixth year.
• Travel cancellation and interruption protection.
• Coverage for qualifying illness abroad.
• International Mastercard acceptance.
• Apple Pay and Google Pay support.

The offer applies to eligible new applications submitted by December 31, 2026. The card is available until studies are completed, but not beyond age 30. Bank Austria explicitly states that issuance is subject to a credit check.

Can a student without income qualify?

The public page does not promise acceptance without income. A student may have a better case when they can document:

• A regular scholarship.
• Significant savings.
• Monthly parental support.
• A manageable requested limit.
• Low housing and debt obligations.

Best for: Students under 30 with documented financial support or savings who want travel insurance.

2. Raiffeisen Gold Student Credit Card

Raiffeisen offers student credit cards through its regional banks. In the published Raiffeisen Stadtbank Wien offer, students can choose a Visa or Mastercard Gold with travel protection.

The card currently costs:

• €0 during the first year.
• €36.56 annually afterward.

The associated student account is free until age 27 and includes a debit card. Because Raiffeisen operates through regional banks, eligibility, fees and required documents can differ according to where the student lives.

The account-opening documents normally include:

• Valid photo identification.
• University or university-of-applied-sciences enrolment confirmation.
• Additional identity or residence documents requested by the regional bank.

The card should not be assumed to be automatic merely because the current account is approved.

Best for: Students aged 18–26 who bank with Raiffeisen and can show scholarships, savings or reliable support.

3. PayLife Credit Cards for Students

PayLife offers discounted credit cards for students under 27.

The PayLife GoldPlus Student Card currently offers:

• A first-year price of €12.70.
• Reduced student pricing in later years.
• Purchase protection.
• Travel protection.
• Trip-cancellation insurance.
• Optional coverage for an overseas study semester.

Applicants must provide university admission or enrolment confirmation. PayLife reviews each application, assigns the card limit according to creditworthiness and sends the card only after a positive assessment.

This card may be useful when the student does not want to move their main current account to a different bank. However, enrolment alone does not replace the affordability assessment.

Best for: Enrolled students under 27 who want a standalone travel-oriented card and can document repayment resources.

4. Bank Austria Student Debit Card

Students who cannot pass a credit assessment can still open a student current account and use a debit card.

Bank Austria’s free student account is available to eligible students up to age 30, provided the account remains in credit. It includes a contactless debit card and mobile-payment support.

A debit card can generally be used for:

• Everyday purchases.
• Online shopping.
• Subscriptions.
• Contactless payments.
• ATM withdrawals.
• Apple Pay or Google Pay.

It does not provide borrowed money, so there is no card balance to repay later.

Best for: Students who need a reliable payment card but have no regular income.

5. Raiffeisen Student Debit Card

The Raiffeisen student account includes a free debit card and free account management until age 27 in the national student-account offer. Required documents include valid identification and proof of enrolment.

This is often more practical than applying repeatedly for credit because the student can spend only the money available in the account.

Best for: Students who want online and everyday payments without borrowing.

What About a Basic Payment Account?

Consumers legally residing in the European Union generally have the right to apply for an Austrian basic payment account. It provides deposits, withdrawals, direct debits and online card payments, but it cannot normally be overdrawn.

A basic account does not include a credit card. The Austrian Chamber of Labour specifically states that credit cards are not among the mandatory services of a basic payment account.

It remains a useful fallback when a student struggles to open a standard current account.

Documents to Prepare

International students should prepare:

• Valid passport or photo ID.
• Austrian residence permit.
• Austrian address registration or Meldezettel.
• University enrolment confirmation.
• Student identification card.
• Austrian or SEPA bank-account details.
• Scholarship award letter.
• Recent bank statements.
• Evidence of regular family transfers.
• Proof of savings.

Use consistent spelling of your name across all documents.

How to Improve Approval Chances Without Employment Income

Document other financial resources

Provide scholarship records, savings statements or regular support transfers when the application allows them.

Request a low limit

A modest card limit is more realistic than requesting several thousand euros.

Use your student account first

Regular deposits and responsible account activity may give your bank more information about your financial position.

Submit only one suitable application

Repeated applications do not solve an affordability problem. Choose the card whose student and age conditions fit your profile.

Avoid instalment repayment

Students without regular income should avoid revolving or instalment debt. Austria’s FMA warns that credit cards and similar deferred-payment products can be expensive and may make it difficult to track the true financial position.

Final Answer

The Bank Austria Mastercard Gold Student is the best genuine credit card to consider as an international student without employment income in Austria, but it still requires a positive credit check. The Raiffeisen Gold Student Credit Card and PayLife Student Card are additional possibilities for students who can document scholarships, savings or reliable family support.

When you have no dependable repayment resources, a Bank Austria or Raiffeisen student debit card is the safer and more realistic option. It supports most everyday and online payments without creating debt.

Official Sources

• Bank Austria — Mastercard Gold Student
• Bank Austria — Student Account
• Raiffeisen — Student Account
• Raiffeisen Stadtbank Wien — Student Credit Card
• PayLife — Student Credit Cards
• Austrian Government — Creditworthiness Assessment
• FMA Austria — Basic Payment Account