Population: 9,159,000 · Languages: DE
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Austria is a landlocked Central European nation situated primarily within the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states with Vienna as its capital and most populous center. The country shares borders with eight neighbors, including Germany, Italy, and Hungary. Much of the territory is characterized by high altitude, with only a small fraction of the land lying below 500 meters, resulting in a predominantly alpine climate.
The state emerged from the historical territories of the Habsburg monarchy. Two formative events include the collapse of the empire after World War I and the subsequent occupation following World War II. Since 1945, the country has maintained a permanent neutrality status. It is currently organized as a federal republic with a constitutional framework that balances power between the federal government and the states.
The economy is driven by high-value manufacturing, tourism, and services. While structural strengths lie in specialized engineering and pharmaceuticals, regional disparities exist between the industrial hub of Vienna and more rural alpine areas. Foreigners are most likely to find employment in technical fields and healthcare, though administrative roles in local government are less accessible. The market remains heavily dependent on the stability of the EU single market.
You will find a stable environment with high living standards, but the cost of living in Vienna is significant. While English is widely spoken in professional settings, proficiency in German is essential for social integration and most non-technical jobs. The diaspora presence is growing but remains fragmented. A specific friction you will encounter is the country's formal social etiquette and a perceived rigidity in professional hierarchies.
| Indicator | Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 117 | Eurostat — AIC per capita, volume index (prc_ppp_ind), 2023 | |
| 2023 | €31,506 | Eurostat — Median equivalised net income (ilc_di04), 2023 | |
| 2023 | 117 | Eurostat — Comparative price levels (prc_ppp_ind), 2023 |
| Indicator | Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5.0 % | Eurostat — Unemployment rate (une_rt_a), 2024 | |
| 2024 | 10.0 % | Eurostat — Youth unemployment rate (une_rt_a, 15-24), 2024 |
| Indicator | Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| As of 2024 EF English Proficiency Index 2024 | 2024 | 620.0 | EF English Proficiency Index 2024 |
| Indicator | Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 67.0 | Transparency International — Corruption Perceptions Index 2024 | |
| As of 2025 ILGA-Europe Rainbow Europe Index 2025 | 2025 | 47.3 | ILGA-Europe Rainbow Europe Index 2025 |
| As of 2024 RSF World Press Freedom Index 2024 | 2024 | 80.0 | RSF World Press Freedom Index 2024 |
| Indicator | Year | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| As of 2024 World Happiness Report 2024 | 2024 | 7.0 | World Happiness Report 2024 |
| 2020 | 46.0 | MIPEX 2020 — Migrant Integration Policy Index |
Along the migration timeline: what to clarify, file and plan, and when. Click any chapter for the detail; each phase carries its own links, forms and contact points.
Austria has around 9.2 million inhabitants and is one of the EU countries with the highest migration rates, with approximately 18% of its population being foreign residents. The administrative structure is federally organized, with central migration decisions made by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the municipal authorities (Magistrate) or district administrative authorities (Bezirkshauptmannschaft). Recognition offices are standardized nationwide. The following chapters follow the timeline of migration: what you need to clarify in your home country, what happens in the first weeks in Austria, what is required in the first months, how your stay stabilizes, and which contact points can assist you at each stage.
Cities & Regions
All 35 entities are listed; none has sent a self-presentation yet. Be the first.
Residency permit options, job or study placement search, initiating recognition, language, documents, housing search, digital preparation — many things run in parallel.
Much of this phase runs in parallel and not in a fixed order — those with a study place apply for the visa with it; those coming as skilled workers first clarify the points for the Red-White-Red Card. Plan realistically 3 to 9 months for Phase 1.
Which title suits you depends on the reason for migration. The most important ones for third-country nationals:
The official portal migration.gv.at has an interactive guide with classification of RWR points and linking to the correct municipal department or district authority.
Study. The central platform for non-EU students is the OeAD Study Place Registration (oead.at) with counseling and admission tips. Applications are made directly to the respective university — no central application portal like in DE or NL. Application deadlines vary greatly: usually February–April for the winter semester, October–November for the summer semester. The most important universities: University of Vienna, TU Wien, Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz, University of Innsbruck, University of Salzburg, JKU Linz, plus universities of applied sciences such as FH Technikum Wien, FH Wien der WKW.
Preparatory Course Equivalent: Preparatory Course at several universities, primarily for students whose higher education entrance qualification is not directly recognized. Language requirement B1+ German.
Scholarships: OeAD awards scholarships from federal funds. Ernst-Mach Scholarship for students from certain countries, Franz-Werfel Scholarship for German studies. In addition, university scholarships.
Vocational Training. The dual training system is open to third-country nationals, but access-dependent — training contract and usually B1 German are required. Platform: AMS Apprenticeship Exchange (ams.at/jobs). The shortage occupation list also includes apprenticeships.
Job. For an RWR Card as a key worker, the employer usually needs approval from the AMS (Public Employment Service). Sources for job search:
Specifics of the Austrian application: Tabular CV (max. 2 pages, photo still often expected), Cover Letter standard, Letters of Recommendation less common than in DE or UK.
The Austrian system distinguishes between academic and professional recognition:
Practically helpful: the Recognition Portal of the Ministry of Social Affairs (anerkennung.at) is a searchable directory of all professions requiring recognition with the respective competent authority.
The required minimum level depends on the title:
Where to Learn German Before Entry:
Recognized Exams:
What you should obtain in your home country:
Certified Translations into German by sworn translators in Austria (list via the Federal Ministry of Justice under sdgliste.justiz.gv.at). Some authorities also accept translations made in the home country with Apostille or Legalization.
The Austrian housing market varies greatly regionally — Vienna is relatively moderate with around €15–25/m² cold rent for regular rental apartments, Salzburg and Innsbruck are more expensive. Finding a regular apartment directly from abroad is difficult — landlords require on-site inspection and credit check.
Strategy: furnished bridge apartment for 2–3 months, then search for a regular apartment from Austria.
Furnished Apartments and Co-Living, bookable from the home country:
Student Dormitories via OeAD Housing Service for scholarship holders, plus the major providers STUWO, WIHAST, akademikerhilfe, base11. Rents between €350–€600/month depending on city and standard.
Regular Housing Search via willhaben.at (#1 for renting and buying), immobilienscout24.at, derStandard Immobilien, WG-Gesucht (for shared flats).
Social Housing: Municipal Apartments from Wiener Wohnen and comparable city housing companies have very long waiting lists in Vienna and the requirement of main residence with Vienna familiarity (residence permit after 2 years in Vienna can be applied for). Not a Phase 1 topic.
Bank Account Before Entry:
An Austrian IBAN (AT…) is not mandatory, but preferred by some landlords, insurers, and the ÖGK. Traditional Austrian banks (Erste Bank, Bank Austria (UniCredit), Raiffeisen, BAWAG PSK, Easybank, bank99) usually require registration in Austria to open an account — Phase 2.
Service Account as a right under the Payment Account Directive (ZaKG) — provided by every bank.
SIM Card / eSIM:
Digital Identity and Apps:
Apps to Pre-Install:
Third-country nationals need a residence permit or settlement permit for a longer stay, applied for from the home country at the Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate). Procedure:
Waiting times for an appointment vary greatly by region — from a few weeks to 6 months. Book the appointment as early as possible.
Standard documents: application form, passport, biometric photos, proof of health insurance for the trip, proof of means of subsistence, proof of accommodation, employment contract or admission letter, recognition certificate for regulated professions, police clearance certificate, birth certificate, if applicable marriage certificate, A1 German certificate for family reunification. Visa fee approximately €120.
Health insurance is mandatory for all residents in Austria. The system:
For the travel period and before registration you need a travel health insurance (Care Concept, MAWISTA, European Travel Insurance, generali, Allianz Travel). Approximately €30–€80/month.
Links and sources
Forms and downloads
Contact points
Country-specific particularities you might not anticipate even from the surrounding-EU vantage point. Not exhaustive — observable facts that shape everyday life or administrative reality.
Registration at the ZMR, residence card, social security number, e-card, bank account — the order is important, the bottleneck is usually the Magistratabteilung in Vienna.
The first weeks in Austria follow a fixed sequence: no registration at the ZMR means no residence card; no residence card and social security number means no full bank access. The bottleneck is usually the appointment at the Magistratabteilung 35 in Vienna (residence matters) or the district authority in the federal states.
Within 3 working days after moving in, you must register with the Central Register of Residents (ZMR). The responsible authority is the registration office of the city or municipality — in Vienna any of the 23 district offices (e.g., district office Innere Stadt at Wipplingerstraße), in the federal states the respective municipality.
You need to bring:
Registration is free of charge and usually possible immediately (5–15 minutes). You will receive a registration confirmation, which is mandatory for the following steps.
Important: The ZMR is NOT the same as the main residence. The initial registration is always as "main residence" — a later change of the main residence requires a separate registration (e.g., after moving to a new apartment).
With the registration confirmation, you can collect your residence card (settlement permit, residence permit, RWR, Blue Card EU) from the responsible authority:
You need to bring: Passport with D visa, registration confirmation, application form, health insurance proof, employment contract or admission letter, rental agreement, biometric photos, police clearance certificate (if not yet submitted), recognition certificates. Fee approx. €120 for the first issue.
The physical card is produced centrally and will be sent to you 2–4 weeks after the appointment by post. Until then, the D visa or a confirmation sticker in your passport serves as proof of residence.
When starting a social security-obligated job, your employer will automatically register you with the ÖGK — Austrian Health Insurance Fund. You will receive:
The SV-Number is required for: opening a bank account with traditional Austrian banks, activating FinanzOnline, contract management (electricity, internet, mobile phone contract), rental agreement with reduced credit check.
For students without social security-obligated employment: student self-insurance with the ÖGK itself — application with enrollment confirmation from the university, contribution ~€60–€70/month (2026).
For self-employed: Registration with the SVS — Social Insurance for the Self-Employed within 1 month after starting the activity.
The Austrian tax number (tax identification number) is automatically created after ZMR registration and appears on your pay slips. Activation in FinanzOnline via ID Austria or with the access data sent by post.
With registration confirmation, SV-Number, and ideally residence card, you can open an account with an Austrian bank: Erste Bank, Bank Austria, Raiffeisen, BAWAG PSK, bank99 (postbank), Easybank (online).
Standard documents: Passport, residence card or visa, registration confirmation, SV-Number (or employment contract as interim), photo ID. Some banks (especially bank99 and Easybank) offer almost complete online account opening.
An Austrian IBAN (AT…) is often explicitly required for rental agreements, insurance, and social benefits. However, online banks remain useful as a backup.
With registration confirmation, residence card, employment contract, and Austrian bank account, you gain access to the regular housing market. Platforms: willhaben.at (#1), immobilienscout24.at, derStandard Immobilien, wohnnet.at.
Standard requirements from the landlord:
Rental agreements: In Austria, there are fixed-term (5–10 years, more common) and indefinite rental agreements. For fixed-term agreements, at least 3 years must be agreed upon at the first conclusion.
Rent subsidy from the city of Vienna for people with low income — strict requirements, primarily for Austrian citizens and permanent residents. Not relevant in the first years.
Links and sources
Forms and downloads
Professional recognition, ÖIF integration course and values module, tax return, housing search definitely.
If the preliminary research and application with AST were already initiated in Phase 1, now comes the concrete step for regulated professions — mostly only possible in Austria.
Medicine (ÖÄK):
Nursing (ÖGKV / Federal States):
Teaching:
Legal Profession: Austrian Bar Association — Aptitude test in Austrian law plus practical experience in an Austrian law firm.
Architects, Engineers: Federal Chamber of Civil Engineers — Recognition procedure with professional authorization exam.
Apprenticeship / IHK Professions: WKO — Apprenticeship exam procedure or recognition-required pre-qualification procedure via the recognition and assessment centers of the respective professional group.
Counseling: Recognition counseling by the AK (Chamber of Labor), WKO, or specific counseling centers such as Diakonie Bildung, Volkshochschulen (with a focus on migrants) are free of charge and highly recommended.
Those with a residence permit for employment, family reunification, or settlement with subsequent use are often required to participate in an ÖIF integration course:
Providers: Volkshochschulen (VHS), bfi, WIFI, Berlitz, inlingua, plus several online providers. The ÖIF language certificate A2 / B1 is the standard exam.
The deadline for the voluntary employee tax assessment in Austria is 5 years retroactively — this provides flexibility, but it is already worth it in the first year because work-related expenses (commuting allowance, family home visits, training costs, special expenses) often lead to significant refunds. Online via FinanzOnline with ID Austria.
Specifics for third-country nationals:
Double taxation agreements between Austria and most countries prevent double taxation.
When the bridge apartment expires, now the regular market. Often, the Wohnticket registration in Vienna for municipal apartments of Wiener Wohnen is worthwhile — long waiting lists (4–8 years for young single persons), but the most cost-effective option in Vienna in the long term.
Cooperative housing ("Volkswohnungen", Sozialbau AG, EBG, Familie, Heimat Österreich, etc.) is a middle ground between the private market and municipal housing. Entrance fee (cooperative share) of €5,000–€20,000 as a prerequisite, in return for permanently lower rent.
For third-country nationals with proven employment, the Austrian social system applies almost fully:
Exception: Means-tested minimum security (social assistance) — for third-country nationals only after 5 years of residence with settlement permit.
Counseling centers: Caritas Austria (very strong in migration counseling), Diakonie, Volkshilfe, Hilfswerk. Migration-specific: Integration Center Vienna, Counseling Center for Migrants Vienna, Helping Hands (near TU Wien).
Links and sources
Multiple perspectives
What the data says
Tourism contributes around 7 % of Austria's GDP and is the largest single employer in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg. Each winter and summer season the industry hires tens of thousands of seasonal staff — kitchen, housekeeping, lift operations, ski schools — under contracts that run six to nine months. For young third-country nationals it is one of the few low-language-threshold entry routes into the Austrian labour market: many resorts operate in English; basic German is welcome but not required for back-of-house roles.
Practical upsides
Seasonal work pays surprisingly well by Austrian wage standards once tips and on-site accommodation are factored in. Employers usually arrange residence permits, housing and health insurance as part of the contract. The work is intense but social: ski-resort villages with mostly young, internationally mixed crews. For someone testing whether Austria fits, a season is a fast, structured way in — and the seasonal-worker quota for third-country nationals (Saisonkontingent) is the most accessible legal pathway.
Practical downsides
Seasonal contracts do not lead to permanent residence. The Saisonkontingent permit ends with the season — staying on requires switching to a different residence title (Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte, student visa, family reunification), which is restrictive and certificate-heavy. Rents in tourism regions are among the highest in Austria; off-season the regions empty out and jobs disappear. Year-round career building from a seasonal start is possible but not common — most seasonal workers are either Austrians and EU citizens cycling between summer and winter or third-country nationals who go home between seasons.
What research finds
Austria's seasonal-worker quota system has been examined by AMS labour-market reports and the WKO tourism federation: it relieves staff shortages in alpine regions reliably but offers limited transition into permanent settlement. OECD International Migration Outlook 2023 highlighted the structural mismatch between Austria's seasonal-permit volume and its long-term integration outcomes for third-country workers.
Questions to ask yourself
Renewing the residence card, permanent residence-EU, family reunification, changing jobs.
After the first few months, your perspective shifts. The initial bureaucratic whirlwind fades, and new topics emerge between the first and fifth year: renewing your residence card, completing the next integration stage, possibly bringing your family, changing jobs, or laying the groundwork for an unlimited permit. As a third-country national, your legal situation is often more comfortable in this phase than when you first arrived—you have work history, likely B1 German or higher, and a social network. However, the Austrian Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG) and Fremdengesetz (FrG) remain detailed, and the choice of your initial permit continues to have an impact.
The renewal of your residence card must be applied for at least 3 months before expiry—in Vienna at the MA 35, in the federal states at the respective district authority. For the first renewal, you will usually need to complete Module 1 of the Integration Agreement: A2 German plus the values and orientation course from the ÖIF. The MA 35 in Vienna is notoriously slow—processing times exceeding legal deadlines are the norm rather than the exception. This is a structural burden you should plan for: submit applications very early, ensure all documents are complete, and keep all confirmation receipts. In Graz, Linz, Salzburg, or Innsbruck, the same process is usually completed within weeks—a reason to consider moving to a federal state if your job allows it.
If you arrived with the Red-White-Red Card, you have a special condition: the card is employer-bound. Changing employers is possible but must be reported—your new employer typically needs a notification confirmation, sometimes a new AMS approval. In practice, switching to the Red-White-Red Card plus after 24 months is often the easier option: this follow-up permit allows free access to the labor market, is no longer tied to an employer, and simplifies future self-employment. The requirements are essentially the same as for the RWR plus a fulfilled Integration Agreement. If you want to become self-employed, you should consult the responsible authority (or the BFA for more complex cases) before taking any steps and use the Austrian Chamber of Commerce (WKO) for startup advice.
Family reunification often becomes relevant in this phase because income and housing are now stable enough to meet the requirements. Spouses generally need A1 German before entry (exceptions include holders of the Blue Card EU and highly qualified individuals); children under 18 can join without a language certificate. You must prove sufficient income according to the ASVG guidelines and adequate housing for all family members joining you. The income thresholds are tightly calculated and increase with each additional family member—this is a significant hurdle, especially in Vienna with its high rents. If you are preparing for permanent residence-EU, you should also keep track of the 60 months of mandatory insurance with the ÖGK and secure the necessary documents.
Additionally, it’s worth using the counseling network strategically. The migration counseling centers of Caritas Austria, Diakonie, Volkshilfe, and the Chamber of Labor (AK) offer free support for renewal applications, family reunification, and recognition issues. In cases of workplace or housing discrimination, the Equality Body and regional anti-discrimination agencies are points of contact. For structural background, see the topic article Integration courses and accompanying programs — what each EU state offers.
Links and sources
Permanent residence-EU, naturalization after 10 years (6 years with extended requirements), dual citizenship very restrictive.
After five or more years, two fundamentally different paths are open to you: an unlimited residence permit as a third-country national or Austrian citizenship. Both are achievable, both come with different statuses, and you don’t have to decide immediately — many third-country nationals live for decades with the Permanent Residence-EU, while others actively pursue naturalization. Which path suits you depends on your future plans, the situation in your country of origin, and your own sense of identity. Austria is stricter than most EU neighbors — you need to keep this in mind before planning.
The Permanent Residence-EU under § 45 NAG is the realistic unlimited permit for most people. Requirements: 5 years of legal and uninterrupted settlement, secured livelihood according to ASVG guidelines, health insurance, adequate housing, and the Module 2 proof of the Integration Agreement — B1 German plus extended knowledge of values and society, assessed by the ÖIF. The permit is unlimited, grants full access to the labor market, and allows EU-wide mobility: You can move to other EU countries and apply for simplified residence there — not automatically, but structurally faster than with the initial application from outside the EU. Longer stays abroad of over 12 months can cause the permit to expire; for stays outside the EU, you should clarify this with the authorities beforehand.
Austrian citizenship is traditionally restrictive compared to other EU countries. Regulated by the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz, it generally requires 10 years of legal residence, including at least 5 years with a settlement permit or Permanent Residence-EU. The shortened 6-year variant requires sustainable personal integration: B2 German, at least 36 months of employment in the last six years, voluntary engagement, or comparable achievements. Additionally, you need to pass the citizenship test on Austrian history, constitution, and federal state context, secure livelihood for at least three of the last six years, a clean record, and a solemn oath of allegiance. The application office in Vienna is MA 35, in the federal states it is the state government; the process often takes 12 to 24 months, and the fees are in the low four-digit range.
The most sensitive issue for many third-country nationals is dual citizenship. Unlike Germany since 2024, Austria only allows dual citizenship in narrowly defined exceptional cases — the main rule remains the renunciation of the original citizenship within two years of naturalization. Exceptions exist for citizenship acquired at birth, special hardships of renunciation, countries of origin that refuse renunciation, and special rules (§ 58c StbG for descendants of NS victims). If you want to keep your original passport for family, inheritance, or political reasons, you will often have to live permanently with the Permanent Residence-EU in Austria — and thus also with its political limitations.
An important difference is the voting rights, especially because this is often misunderstood. With Permanent Residence-EU, you remain a third-country national — and thus without national voting rights and also without municipal voting rights. Unlike in Luxembourg, Sweden, or the Netherlands, municipal voting rights in Austria are only available to Austrians and EU citizens. Even after thirty years of residence, you as a third-country national are not allowed to vote for your district head. If you want to participate politically, you cannot avoid the Austrian passport. This phase therefore raises questions that cannot be answered with official forms: Accepting the Austrian passport — and giving up the passport of your country of origin for it — means changing a part of your self-understanding. Some experience this as a formal conclusion of a long-established home, others as a break, and still others as a conscious pragmatic decision about travel freedom and voting rights. There is no right answer. For structural background, see the topic article Identity after five years — who you are when you're no longer just arriving.
Links and sources
Bureaucratic terms that appear on this country page, briefly explained.
Official sources we monitor for changes. Click the title to open the original page.
Language & integration courses
Naturalisation
Residence permits
Work & job search