Published on and written by Cyril Jarnias
Moving to Austria isn’t just about packing your bags and hopping on a train to Vienna or Graz. The country is very organized, and this rigor is reflected in the administrative procedures that fill the first few months on the ground: visas, residence permits, address registration, health insurance, opening a bank account, getting a tax number… Everything is regulated, with different rules depending on whether you are an EU/EEA citizen or a third-country national.
This guide offers a structured overview of these formalities, based on the European and Austrian legal framework, and delves into practical details where the procedures become most complicated.
Understanding the Main Expat Profiles and Applicable Rules
Before filling out any form, it is essential to identify which legal category you belong to. Austria clearly distinguishes citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area from third-country nationals, with very different obligations.
EU/EEA/Swiss Citizens: Freedom of Movement, but Mandatory Registration
Citizens of the EU, the EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), and Switzerland benefit from freedom of movement. They therefore do not need a residence permit to settle in Austria, but they are not exempt from formalities.
For the first three months, no residence document is required. Beyond that, a declaration of residence is mandatory, formalized by a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung). This document certifies that the stay meets the conditions of European law (activity, studies, resources, insurance) but is not a residence title that confers a right; it has declaratory and identification value.
Family members who are EEA nationals also receive this certificate, while family members from third countries obtain a specific residence card, based on the same EU directive on free movement (2004/38/EC).
Third-Country Nationals: Visas and Residence Permits
Individuals who are not citizens of the EU, the EEA, or Switzerland are considered third-country nationals. For them, the rules are much stricter:
For a tourist or short-term stay in Austria, conditions vary: visa-free travel or a Schengen C visa is often sufficient for less than 90 days. For a stay between 90 days and six months, a national D visa is generally required. For stays over six months, obtaining an Austrian residence permit is mandatory.
This distinction between short stays / long stays is fundamental: if you use up your full 90-day visa-free stay within the Schengen area, you must then leave and submit your permit application from abroad, at an Austrian consulate.
Entering the Country: Visas, Durations, and Precautions
Entry formalities then condition all subsequent residence procedures. Austria, like other Schengen countries, applies the 90-day rule within any 180-day period.
Main Types of Visas
For nationals of third countries, visas come in several categories, depending on the purpose of the stay.
A C visa allows a short stay (tourism, visits, prospecting). It is a classic Schengen visa valid for up to 90 days. The D visa, on the other hand, is an Austrian long-stay visa, generally valid from 91 days to six months (sometimes up to twelve months in specific cases, e.g., for certain programs). There are special notations, notably the “Erwerb” notation for any visa authorizing work, even unpaid, such as an internship.
Several stay programs in France rely on dedicated visas or permits. This is the case for the researcher visa, the au pair permit (“special cases of salaried employment” category), and the Working Holiday Visa, available to under-30s from certain partner countries.
Common Requirements for Most Visas
Visa applications must be submitted in person at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate in the country of residence. Applications can be submitted at the earliest six months before departure, and it is strongly recommended to do so at least four weeks before the planned arrival date, as processing times can take several weeks.
The standard application always includes: necessary administrative documents, proof of personal situation, required attestations, forms to complete, and case-specific documents.
For a Schengen visa application, you must provide a valid passport, a completed application form, photos conforming to ICAO standards, and travel health insurance of at least €30,000. You must also prove sufficient means of subsistence, accommodation, and the specific purpose of your stay (work, studies, research, etc.).
For a first residence permit, a criminal record certificate is required, generally less than three months old, along with legalization of certain civil status documents through an apostille.
Beware of Overstaying
Stays beyond 90 days without authorization carry significant risks: fines, entry bans, even arrest and deportation. Once the 90 days are used up, you cannot regularize your situation by submitting a permit application from Austria if you are not authorized to do so: you must leave and apply from abroad.
Residence Permits for Living and Working in Austria
Once a project exceeds six months, the issue of the residence title becomes central. The Austrian system is highly structured, with cards targeting specific profiles: highly qualified workers, researchers, students, retirees, family members, etc.
Overview of Main Residence Titles
There are many titles, but they can be grouped into a few categories.
The best-known is the Red-White-Red Card. It targets skilled workers coming to pursue salaried or self-employed activity (key workers for the economy, graduates, start-up founders). In principle, it is issued for up to 24 months and combines the right of residence and the right to work, often for a specific employer or sector.
The Red-White-Red Card Plus is intended particularly for family members (spouse, registered partner, minor children) of holders of a Red-White-Red Card, an EU Blue Card, or other specified permits. It generally grants broader access to the labor market.
The EU Blue Card is for highly qualified workers with a university degree and a job offer paying above a set threshold. It is generally valid for up to 24 months.
Maximum duration in years for which a “residence permit – settlement” can be issued if integration conditions are met.
The Long-Term Resident – EU category targets individuals who have been continuously present for five years, are integrated, and have stable resources. This title, valid for five years, grants a durable right of residence and broader access to the labor market.
Finally, temporary residence titles (“Aufenthaltsbewilligung”) cover time-limited projects: studies, volunteer work, intra-corporate transfers (ICT), student or researcher mobility, etc., often for twelve months, sometimes longer for certain student programs.
In all cases, residence cards are issued as a plastic document in credit card format, separate from the passport.
Basic Common Conditions
Regardless of the title, three conditions consistently recur: resources, health insurance, housing, to which are added security requirements and sometimes quotas.
The authorities require a stable level of income sufficient to cover expenses without recourse to social welfare. The amounts are aligned with the “reference rate of the compensatory supplement” and change annually. For 2025, you must have at least the following monthly amounts available after deducting rent exceeding €376.27:
| Family Situation | Minimum Monthly Amount (2025) |
|---|---|
| Single person | €1,273.99 |
| Married couple or registered partner | €2,009.85 |
| Per dependent child | + €196.57 |
For titles of the “settlement – independent income (without employment)” type, the thresholds are higher (e.g., €2,547.98 for a single person, €4,019.70 for a couple).
For a residence permit, health insurance must be valid in Austria, offer coverage at least equivalent to the Austrian social system, without caps or waiting periods, and allow direct payment of benefits locally. Accepted insurances include: public insurance (linked to employment), voluntary insurance within the Austrian system, or a compliant private policy. A simple travel insurance policy, although necessary for the entry visa, is not sufficient for the residence permit.
Regarding housing, you must prove a legal right to housing that meets local standards (lease, deed of ownership). “Free but revocable” housing is insufficient. Some titles, notably the Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card, or permits for students and researchers, are exempt from providing this proof, but housing costs are nonetheless included in the resource calculation.
The authorities also verify that the stay does not pose a threat to public order, security, or international relations. Convictions, entry bans, or prior return decisions can constitute compulsory grounds for refusal. Sham marriages or fictitious adoptions for migration purposes are also grounds for rejection.
Finally, certain titles remain subject to annual quotas, particularly settlement permits without gainful activity.
Procedure for First Application and Renewal
The first application for a residence permit must generally be submitted in the country of residence, at an Austrian representation (embassy or consulate). The applicant cannot apply from within Austria, except for exceptions provided by law (nationals exempt from visas during their stay, researchers, students, certain family members, former Austrian citizens, etc.).
The competent authority in Austria is usually the governor of the province (Land), who delegates to the district administrative authorities (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or municipal offices (Magistrat). In Vienna, it is the municipal department MA 35 – Immigration and Citizenship that handles these cases.
Competent Authority in Austria
Once the application is accepted, the consulate generally issues a D visa allowing entry into the country, after which you can collect the residence card from the local authority.
For renewal, the application is made directly in Austria to the same authority. You can apply up to three months before the expiry of the title. If the application is submitted in time, the stay remains legal throughout the processing period, even if the old card has expired in the meantime. A late application is treated as a new first application, unless the delay was due to an unavoidable event.
Processing times vary depending on the title. In practice, the administration has a maximum of six months, but several types of cards (Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card, Researcher Permit, ICT) benefit from shorter target processing times, around eight weeks.
Registering Locally: Meldezettel, Meldebestätigung, and Registration Certificate
Even with a visa and permit, a new arrival is not really “in the system” until they have registered their address. This step, often underestimated, is actually the key to many other procedures.
The Meldezettel: An Essential Formality for Anyone Residing in Austria
Anyone moving into a dwelling in Austria must fill out a Meldezettel, the residence registration form. This obligation applies to Austrians and foreigners alike, for internal moves or moving in from abroad, and for each member of the household, including children.
Registration must be completed within three days of moving into the new dwelling. It cannot be done before you have actually moved in. The form must be signed by both the person registering and the housing provider (landlord, main tenant, property management, etc.). In the case of ownership, the owner’s signature is sufficient.
The authority records this data in the Central Residents Register (Zentrales Melderegister, ZMR) and issues a Meldebestätigung, a registration certificate used subsequently for many procedures: opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, enrolling at university, linking with social insurance, etc.
The initial certificate is issued free of charge. Administrative fees apply for obtaining additional copies. The amount of these fees varies depending on the method of request (in person or online) and the intended use of the document.
Failure to comply with this obligation, or providing inaccurate information, constitutes an administrative offense punishable by fines of up to €726, or even €2,180 for repeat offenses.
Where and How to Register?
In Vienna, registration is done at the Meldeservicestellen, the registration offices located in the district offices (Magistratische Bezirksämter). There are 19 centers, and you do not need to go to the one in your district of residence: any Viennese center can process the request.
In other cities, the contact point is the Magistrat, and in smaller municipalities, the Gemeinde (town hall). A search tool by postal code helps find the correct office.
The process can be done in person, by mail, or via a courier service, but not by fax or simple email. Online services exist for certain changes of main residence, often reserved for individuals with an Austrian digital identity (ID Austria).
When leaving a dwelling, you must deregister (Abmeldung) within three days before or after moving out. Note: registering a new main residence in Austria may automatically deregister the old address.
Main and Secondary Residence: A Status with Consequences
The system distinguishes between the main residence (Hauptwohnsitz), the center of a person’s life (where they spend most of their time, work, send their children to school), and secondary residences, which may serve, for example, for leisure or occasional work.
You can only have one main residence, but multiple secondary residences. This status affects access to certain services (schools, childcare, resident parking permits, local voting rights, local benefits, etc.).
Short tourist stays (less than two months in a hotel, campsite, hostel, etc.) do not require a Meldezettel, as the establishment keeps its own guest register.
Registration Certificate for EU/EEA Citizens
In addition to the Meldezettel, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens staying longer than three months must submit a declaration of residence to the competent authority (in Vienna, MA 35). This procedure leads to the issuance of the Anmeldebescheinigung, the registration certificate under the Free Movement Directive.
They must bring a valid passport or ID card, proof of their status (employee, self-employed, student, person with sufficient resources), and proof of health insurance coverage. Moderate fees are charged for issuing this certificate, typically between €15 and €65.
Health Insurance: Legal Requirement and Pillar of the Social System
Living in Austria requires having adequate health insurance coverage. For stays longer than six months, health insurance is mandatory and is part of the conditions for obtaining or renewing most residence titles.
A Nearly Universal Public System
Austria operates with a two-tier healthcare system, public and private, but the foundation remains a mandatory public health insurance, financed through social security contributions. It is estimated that approximately 99.9% of the resident population is covered by public insurance.
For employees, affiliation is automatic: the employer registers them with the competent insurance fund and deducts contributions from the salary, paying an equivalent share. In 2025, the standard health insurance contribution is approximately 7.65% of gross salary, roughly split equally between employer and employee.
The main insurance bodies are:
| Body | Main Target Group |
|---|---|
| ÖGK – Österreichische Gesundheitskasse | Employees, apprentices, retirees |
| BVAEB | Public servants, railway workers, miners |
| SVS | Self-employed, liberal professions, farmers |
Since a structural reform that came into effect in 2020, most former regional or branch funds have been merged into the ÖGK.
Spouses, partners, and children can be co-insured subject to income and family situation conditions. Children are covered free of charge up to age 18 (or 26 if studying). For some spouses without children, a surcharge of about 3.4% of gross income may apply, unless exemptions exist (low income, caregivers, etc.).
For those without automatic coverage, self-insurance options exist: general voluntary insurance, student-specific insurance, low-income self-employed insurance, family caregivers, with premium amounts set annually.
The E-Card and Procedures for Foreigners
Once affiliated, each insured person receives an E-card, the access card to the healthcare system. It must be presented at the doctor’s, hospital, and pharmacy. It also includes the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) on the back, useful for stays in other EU countries.
To obtain an E-card with a photo, individuals without Austrian nationality must appear in person at a registration office, usually by appointment, with a passport-style photo less than six months old, their Austrian social security number, and a valid travel document. This step is a priority after obtaining a job or voluntary insurance.
Health Insurance and Residence Permits
In the context of residence permit applications, the authorities carefully examine the type of coverage. A simple limited travel insurance policy with significant deductibles is not sufficient. The policy must cover “all risks” with benefits similar to those of the Austrian social security system, without waiting periods or caps that would leave the applicant reliant on social welfare.
International students, for example, can opt for student self-insurance with the ÖGK, with a monthly premium around €73.48 in 2025, provided they are enrolled in an eligible program. Nationals of certain countries with bilateral agreements (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey) have facilitated access.
The German Language and the “Integration Agreement”: A Major Issue for Third-Country Nationals
For EU/EEA and Swiss citizens, no proof of language skills is required to settle, even though speaking German is very useful. The situation is radically different for third-country nationals, for whom Austria has established a system of gradual language requirements.
Proof of A1 Level Before Immigration
At the first application stage for a residence permit, many applicants must provide proof of an A1 level in German (elementary level according to the CEFR). This requirement applies to most settlement-type permits for family members, artists, certain work cases, or holders of the Red-White-Red Card Plus when issued to a spouse or child.
The certificate presented must not be older than one year at the time of filing. It must come from a recognized institution, for example:
– the Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch (ÖSD),
– the Goethe-Institut,
– telc GmbH,
– or the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
The exam must mandatorily assess all four language skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, speaking, and writing. Online tests are accepted provided the candidate’s identity can be verified, for example via a photo or video recording.
Exemptions exist, notably for minors under 14, individuals with a proven permanent disability confirmed by an approved medical report, spouses of highly qualified workers (EU Blue Card, researchers, certain Red-White-Red Cards), or those who declare in writing that they will stay less than 24 months within a three-year period and irrevocably waive renewal.
Holders of certain diplomas (higher education, university entrance diploma, secondary vocational school) may also be exempted, as their diploma counts for both the initial A1 requirement and subsequent steps of the integration agreement.
The Integration Agreement: Modules 1 (A2) and 2 (B1)
Once on the ground, most holders of a settlement permit are required to fulfill the integration agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung), which aims to strengthen their language proficiency and knowledge of Austrian democratic values.
Module 1, corresponding to A2 level, must generally be completed within two years of obtaining the first residence title. The most common proof is an A2 exam certificate from the Integration Fund. Its completion is required, among other things, to convert a two-year residence permit into a three-year title.
Module 2 sets the bar at B1 level. It is not systematically mandatory, but it is essential for obtaining Long-Term Resident – EU status and, in most cases, for applying for Austrian naturalization. Again, a B1 exam certificate from the ÖIF or specific school or university credentials can serve as proof.
Partial exemptions exist, for example for preschool children or adults with long-term health issues. Holders of certain diplomas or higher language certificates may be deemed to have already fulfilled the modules.
The ÖIF and other organizations offer preparatory courses, sometimes free or subsidized via language vouchers, assistance from the employment agency (AMS), or regional funds (like WAFF in Vienna).
Opening a Bank Account and Getting a Tax Number
Many procedures (phone contracts, internet subscriptions, salary payments, rent payments via standing order) require having a local bank account. At the same time, anyone earning taxable income will eventually need to obtain an Austrian tax number.
Opening a Bank Account (Girokonto)
The standard current account is called a Girokonto. It comes with an IBAN, a debit card (Bankomatkarte), and access to online banking. Major branch banks (Erste Bank & Sparkassen, Bank Austria, Raiffeisen, Volksbank) coexist with online banks and fintechs (N26, Revolut, Wise for multi-currency services, etc.).
Opening a bank account in Austria is possible for foreigners, including non-residents. However, the procedure is generally simpler for individuals already registered in the country. In practice, most banking institutions require certain conditions or specific documents for non-resident customers.
You can open an account once you have a residence address. The required documents usually include:
– a passport or valid ID card (for EU citizens);
– proof of address in Austria, most often the Meldebestätigung from the Meldezettel;
– sometimes proof of income (employment contract, pay slips) or a certificate of enrollment for students.
Accounts can be opened in person or, for residents, online via identification systems like ID Austria, video identification, or procedures via the post office. Non-residents often need to appear physically at a branch.
Most accounts incur monthly maintenance fees, the amount depending on the services included. These fees may be waived for certain categories such as students or young people. Transactions within the SEPA zone are generally free, unlike international transfers outside the euro zone and cash withdrawals at the counter, which may incur additional charges.
Getting a Tax Number (Steuernummer and UID)
On the tax side, the key identifier for individuals is the Steuernummer, sometimes also called Abgabenkontonummer (ATIN). It is assigned by the Finanzamt Österreich, the tax administration, usually when you file your first tax return or start a taxable activity. Unlike in some countries, a tax number is not automatically assigned to all residents, but only to those who actually become taxpayers.
The Steuernummer typically consists of 9 digits in a format like
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Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.
On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.
Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.
