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Austria is an attractive country, with its capital Vienna regularly ranked as having a very high quality of life. The combination of economic stability, a clean and safe environment, and an excellent infrastructure makes it an outstanding place of residence. The country has a vibrant culture and is home to many world-class museums, musical festivals, and impressive architecture. Austria also lays claim to beautiful natural attractions, from snow-capped mountains to a lush green countryside and lakes. Austria ranks among the European community’s richest countries. It has a well-developed economy, with the service sector contributing approximately two-thirds of the country’s GDP. The economy benefits from strong commercial relations with Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.
It is an excellent place to establish residence within the EU, and it is one of the only EU countries that have an established practice of offering citizenship and a passport to substantial investors without prior residence requirements, on the basis of a capital contribution to the country.
Austria, one of Europe’s wealthiest countries and one of the most attractive and well-developed countries in the world to live in, makes for an outstanding place of residence. Pre-immigration tax planning is required before establishing permanent residency in Austria, but interesting opportunities exist for wealthy families. An Austrian residence permit allows visa free travel to the Schengen area.
Austria offers 10 types of residence permits for the applicants and their families. The permits do not require an investment obligation and therefore the total costs of the residence permit application are comparably low. An Austrian residence permit allows visa-free travel to the Schengen area and the processing time can take from three to fourteen months, depending on the type of permit.
The grant of citizenship is subject to the discretion of the Austrian federal government. In general, a minimum of six and up to ten years of uninterrupted residency is normally required before one can apply for Austrian citizenship, depending on the category of the residence permit. Knowledge of the German language is required, as well as of relinquishment of all other citizenships.
The processing time for a residence permit can take from 3 to 14 months, depending on the type of the permit, which is fairly efficient when compared to other countries. The due diligence processes are reasonable with minimal bureaucratic and application requirements.
Citizenship is also possible to obtain where an applicant actively invests by economic contributions in the Austrian economy.
| Visa Type | Permanent Residence Permit |
| Time Frame | 3-12 months |
| Requirements | Proof of funds to finance daily life without working income; health insurance; accommodation in Austria; clean criminal record |
| Minimum Investment | None |
| Taxation | No wealth, net worth, gift or IHT tax; flat rate income tax of 25% on most interest payments received from banks, on dividend received from shares and on most capital gains; other income subject to max. tax rate of 50% |
| Years to qualify for Citizenship | 6-10 years residence |
| Language for Citizenship | Yes |
| Permanent Residence | n/a |
| Other requirements | None |
| Dual Citizenship | Restricted – possible under certain circumstances |
In order to apply for Austrian permanent residence, you must have met the following requirements:
Austrian permanent residence lasts for five years and after this, you will need to renew it. You should renew it before it expires, however, keep in mind that the renewal window opens three months before your residency expires. You will need to contact your provincial government authority to begin the renewal process, and as long as everything is in order, your renewal should proceed smoothly.
Family members of those with permanent residency can also receive it, provided that they meet the requirements. In this case, ‘family’ is defined as a spouse or civil partner and children (including step and adopted children) under 18. Fortunately, because you need to have lived in Austria for five years before you can qualify for permanent residence, chances are that your family has already been by your side for that time, too.
Unfortunately, it is possible to lose your Austrian permanent residence. Possible reasons include staying outside of the EU for more than 12 consecutive months or not living in Austria for six years. You could also lose residency if you become a public safety or criminal risk. Fortunately, though, losing residency is not very common.
Third-country nationals who stay or intend to stay in Austria for more than six months require a residence permit.
EEA, EU or Swiss citizens have to request a “confirmation of registration of Right of Residence under EU law” from the competent authority if they want to stay longer than 3 months in Austria.
Depending on the personal situation, various options for residence permits apply. The following applications are most frequently submitted to Austrian Consulates:
Information on these and other residence permits can be found on the migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government.
In principle, it is mandatory to submit the initial application for a residence permit in person to the Austrian Consulate of the applicant’s domicile prior to entry and await the authority’s decision abroad. It is not possible to submit an application to an external service provider, an embassy of another Schengen State representing Austria or an Austrian Honorary Consulate.
If you intend to stay in Austria for more than six months and are not an EEA citizen or a Swiss national, then you will need to get a residence permit. Austria offers different types of resident permits. However, if your period of stay is less than six months, you do not require a residence permit, but you will need a visa.
The application for a residence permit should be made in person and in your home country before you enter Austria. Residence permits are issued for either employment, study or research. You need to have a fixed and regular source of income to meet your living costs. The best cities to live in Austria include Vienna, Innsbruck and Salzburg.
To apply for permanent residency in Austria, you must meet the following requirements:
Austria is ranked 11th in the World Happiness Report 2022 and its nine million-strong population benefits from low unemployment rates and a thriving economy.
Making the move is also a great way to acquire a second language and give your CV a boost. While English is widely spoken, German is Austria’s official language, so you’ll need it to succeed in the workplace.
In your free time there’s plenty to do whatever your interests. For instance, you could you take on the hiking challenge provided by the Stubai Alps mountain range, attend the Formula One Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg (July), visit Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna or go on a Sound of Music tour in Salzburg – the city where the classic was filmed.
Austria boasts a well-developed economy that’s currently strong, stable and, unlike other European countries, is dominated by its small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
1. Black toppers
2. Engineers for agricultural machinery
4. Technicians with a higher level of training (engineers) for power engineering technology
5. Graduates in power engineering
6. Pavers
7. Special(ist) power engineers
8. Concrete fitters
9. Technicians with a higher level of training (engineers) for data processing
10. Carpenters
11. Special fitters
12. Graduate engineers for data processing
13. Technicians with a higher level of training (engineers) for mechanical engineering
14. Construction joiners
15. Physicians
16. Floor and wall tilers
17. Building plumbers
18. Graduate nurses
19. Pipe installers, pipe fitters
20. Graduates in weak-current and telecommunications engineering
21. Electrical installers, electrical fitters
22. Welders, cutting torch operators
23. Cost accountants
24. Metal turners
25. Graduate mechanical engineers
26. Milling machinists
27. Ophthalmic opticians
28. Special graduate engineers
29. Technicians with a higher education (engineer) for civil engineering
30. Special floor layers
31. Construction and furniture joiners
32. Special fitters
33. Bricklayers
34. Other civil engineering specialists
35. Specialist technicians for mechanical engineering
36. Payroll accountants
37. Wood machine workers
38. Graduate engineers – special professions
39. Varnishers
40. Motor vehicle mechanic
41. Glaziers
42. Train conductors, stokers
43. Building fitters, sheet metal fitters, construction fitters
44. Engineers/technicians for rough mechanicals
45. Special technicians for low voltage engineering and communication engineering
46. Other technicians for fuel and gas technology
47. Restaurant chefs
48. Painters, house painters
49. Stove fitters, potters, stove makers
50. Technicians with a higher level of training (engineer) for technical chemistry, chemical engineers
51. Plastic processors
52. Special technicians in business administration
53. Special technicians for civil engineering
54. Toolmakers, cutters and punchmakers
55. Dealers and sales clerks for iron and metal goods, domestic and kitchen appliances
56. Certified public accountants
57. Special technicians
58. Butchers
59. Vehicle body and radiator sheet metal workers
60. Machine fitters
61. Medical technology specialists
62. Special(ist) technicians for data processing
63. Stone masons, stone sculptors
64. Furniture makers
65. Qualified healthcare assistants
66. Healthcare assistants
67. Estate managers, other hotel and restaurant professionals, residence managers
68. Waiters / Waitresses
There are numerous advantages to working in Austria. As a scenic and affluent nation with an interesting cultural landscape and varied job market, it is a highly desirable destination for job seekers. However, in order to successfully gain employment in the country, candidates targeting the Austrian labor market should arrive fully prepared for what they might experience.
To help make the realities of working in Austria clearer this article analyses the necessary requirements to work in the country and the Austrian visas prospective workers will need. It also studies the ease of employment in the country for foreigners and considers the biggest advantages of working in the country.
There are many reasons that workers from abroad target Austria as a destination. Firstly, Austria is home to Vienna, which has been recognized as the World’s Most Livable City. Additionally, the country itself was ranked as number 12 in the World Happiness Report 2018.
The country also boasts high wages for workers, with a new national minimum wage of around €1,500 per month due to be implemented from 2020 onwards. In addition to this, jobs in Austria give employees a generous five weeks of vacation time a year.
Aside from the high quality of life in the country and its high salaries, Austria is known for its multicultural and vibrant culture and its beautiful natural landscape. The country is a hotspot for culture lovers and winter sports enthusiasts alike making it a great place to enjoy during downtime too.
Not every foreigner who enters Austria needs a visa. For example, European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) nationals do not need a visa. However, all applicants from outside these areas must apply at the closest Austrian embassy or consulate general in person. Since Austria falls within the Schengen area of Europe, all foreigners will apply for a Schengen visa, which is broken down into further categories depending on the applicant’s situation.
Some of the types of work visas in Austria include:
Austria uses a points-based system to help determine which category applicants fall under, including very highly qualified workers, skilled workers who can fill shortages, start-up founders, graduates of local higher education institutions, self-employed key workers, and other key workers. These categories then help determine what type of visa the applicant is eligible for.
All of these categories are eligible for a Red-White-Red Card, which is what most foreigners apply for when working in Austria. Keep in mind that requirements vary based on what classification your employees fall under and what kind of visa they apply for. For example, to be considered a very highly qualified worker, individuals will need:
Additionally, the eligibility criteria points system requires other measures of proof, including:
Keep in mind that EU and EEA nationals do not require a visa and can stay for more than three months as long as they have a registration certificate and adequate financial means of living in the country or attending college. After five years of living in Austria, anyone can apply for a long-term residence certificate.
