Absence notes, leave from school and school applications in Austria
School law in Austria is federal: the Compulsory Schooling Act for children of compulsory-school age, the School Education Act for the others. Parents report every absence without delay to the class teacher or the head, orally or in writing with the reason, and in writing if the school asks (absence note); after a week's illness the school may ask for a doctor's note. Leave for a child of compulsory-school age is granted up to a day by the class teacher, up to a week by the head and beyond that by the Land's education directorate (§ 9(6) SchPflG; request for leave from lessons).
The documents are written in German, under Austrian law, and each one's page describes it in English. A child who turns six by 1 March of the following year can be admitted early to primary school on a written application within the enrolment period (§ 7 SchPflG). Attending a school outside the catchment area is a matter for each Land (request). Childcare is the Länder's too; only Tyrol gives a right to a place, from the 2026/27 childcare year, for children from two registered in time (request for a place). The pick-up authority for kindergarten and after-school care follows the facility's and the Land's rules.
For family allowance for an adult child in education the tax office wants an attendance certificate; the school issues a copy or duplicate of a report, and for a closed school the education directorate knows who holds the records. For a physical disability or a health risk the school adapts how performance is assessed (§ 18(6) SchUG; request for adjustments); at university a student can ask for a different exam method (§ 59(1)(12) UG). None of it is legal advice.
The documents
10 forms available to fill out or download.
Request to attend a school outside the catchment area (Austria)
The parents' request for their child to attend a public compulsory school — a Volksschule or Mittelschule, for instance — outside the catchment area (Schulsprengel) the child belongs to. The federal framework is § 13 of Austria's Compulsory Schools Maintenance Framework Act; each Land makes the rules: in some Länder the municipality of residence decides, the consent of the body maintaining the chosen school is required, and the deadline falls early in the year. With the Land, the child, the main residence, the chosen school, the reasons and the consent. In German, ready to print and sign.
Request for exam adjustments at school for a disability (Austria)
The request to an Austrian school's head to take a pupil's disability or health condition into account in class tests (Schularbeiten), tests and exams — with more time, a separate room or an oral instead of a written form, say — without lowering the curriculum's standard. It rests on § 18 Abs 6 of the School Education Act (SchUG), applies in every Land and describes the effects, not the diagnosis; a medical or specialist report is enclosed. The Matura and dyslexia have rules of their own. For parents and adult pupils. In German.
Request for a copy or duplicate of a school report (Austria)
The written request to an Austrian school for a copy or a duplicate of a school report — the annual report, a leaving certificate or the Matura certificate (Reifeprüfungszeugnis) — when the original is lost, damaged or destroyed or another copy is needed. It gives the report, the school year, the years at the school, the date of birth and the name used at school, so the school can find its records. The school will tell you whether there is a charge; the letter asks, and asks who holds the records if the school no longer does. In German.
Note excusing a pupil's absence from school (Austria)
The written note by which parents — or pupils of full age themselves — tell the class teacher in Austria why a pupil stayed away from lessons: with name and class, the days, the reason without a diagnosis and the day the school was told. Under Austria's Compulsory Schooling Act (§ 9 SchPflG) and School Education Act (§ 45 SchUG) the school must be told without delay, in writing if it asks — the same in every Land. For illness, a medical appointment that could not be moved or an urgent family matter. In German, ready to print and sign.
Request for a certificate of school attendance (Austria)
The written request to an Austrian school's office for a certificate of attendance (Schulbesuchsbestätigung) — for instance for the family allowance (Familienbeihilfe) of an adult child still in education, for which the Finanzamt Österreich asks for proof, or for an office abroad. It gives the pupil's name and date of birth, class and school year, who the certificate is for, the number of copies and the date it is needed by. For parents of pupils under 18 and for adult pupils themselves, for use in every Land. In German, ready to print, sign and hand in.
Request for a childcare place in Tirol (Austria)
The written request to the municipality of residence to find a childcare place for a child registered in Tirol, from the second birthday. Since the 2026/27 childcare year Tirol's Childcare and Education Act obliges the municipality to place every child registered in time whose main residence is there, in the municipality or within a reasonable distance. Registration itself is free on the Land's FRIDA platform; this letter does not replace it, but records with a date that you are claiming the place. Only Tirol has this right. In German.
Application for a different exam method at university (Austria)
The application by a student with a disability for a different exam method at an Austrian university — an oral instead of a written exam, more time or a separate room, for instance. Under § 59 Abs 1 Z 12 of Austria's Universities Act (UG) there is a right to it where the disability makes the prescribed method impossible and the exam's content and standard stay the same. With student number, programme, exams, effects, the method asked for and evidence. Apply in good time; if your university has its own free form, as the University of Vienna does, use that. In German.
Request for leave from lessons at a school (Austria)
The written request by which parents — or pupils of full age themselves — ask an Austrian school in advance to let a pupil stay away from lessons, for instance for a wedding or funeral in the family, therapy or a competition. For children of compulsory-school age, leave is granted only as far as strictly necessary: single lessons up to a day by the class teacher (Klassenvorstand), up to a week by the head, longer by the Land's education directorate (§ 9 Abs 6 SchPflG); past compulsory schooling, beyond a day by the head (§ 45 Abs 4 SchUG). Many schools post their own form free on their website — if yours requires it, use that. In German.
Request for early admission to primary school (Austria)
The parents' written request to the head of an Austrian primary school (Volksschule) to admit a child not yet of compulsory-school age to the first year early — for children who turn six by 1 March of the following calendar year (§ 7 of the Compulsory Schooling Act, SchPflG, the same in every Land). It is made within the enrolment period; the school checks readiness for school and social skills by meeting the child and through a school doctor's report. With a choice on a school psychologist's report. Enrolment itself is in person; if the school has its own form, use that. In German.
Authority to collect a child from kindergarten or after-school club (Austria)
The written authority by which parents holding custody tell a kindergarten, crèche or after-school club (Hort) in Austria who else may collect their child — grandparents, neighbours, older siblings. With the child, the parents and each authorised person, valid until revoked in writing. Kindergartens are a matter for each Austrian Land: the Land’s and the facility’s rules, such as a minimum age, take precedence, and if the facility has its own form, that applies. In German, ready to print, sign and hand in.
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