Residence regulations in Vienna

Every person who comes to Austria from another country and wants to live here needs a purpose for doing so. The most important purposes are, for example:

• You are coming to Austria as a member of a family living in Austria (family reunification).

• You want to work in Austria (employed or self-employed).

• You are coming to Austria for education (e.g. as a student).

Only people who can show that they have a residence purpose may apply for a residence title.

Different regulations for people from

• EU countries, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.

• all other countries (= third countries).

Applying for a residence permit

Before you come to Austria, you have to apply in person at the Austrian Embassy in your home country. Every person who is 6 years or older must come along for the application because fingerprints will be taken. You have to bring all required documents as originals and copies of them. You have to pay a fee for each application.

After your initial application has been approved, you will be notified by the Embassy and can come to Austria with an entry visa. Once you are in Vienna, you have to pick up your residence permit in person at the Immigration and Citizenship Department of the City of Vienna (MA 35).

Your first residence permit is usually issued for 1 year and looks like a bank card. On the back of your card it says whether you are allowed to work in Austria. You should always have this residence permit with you as an ID card.

If you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa, you can also submit your initial application in person at the Immigration and Citizenship Department of the City of Vienna (MA 35). Make an appointment in advance. In this case, you also have to bring all the originals and copies of all required documents. You have to pay a fee for each application.
 

Extending your residence permit and permanent residence

You have to extend your residence permit before it expires. You have to make an appointment to apply for the extension in person at an office of the Immigration and Citizenship Department of the City of Vienna (MA 35). The office you have to go to depends on which district of Vienna you live in. Find office

If you submitted your application for extension on time, your residence and work permit remain valid while your application for extension is being processed.

After 2 years you can usually get a residence permit for 3 years. To do so, you have to fulfil Module 1 of the Integration Agreement and your passport must still be valid for at least 3 years.

After 5 years, you can usually get a permanent residence title for another 5 years. For this, you have to fulfil Module 2 of the Integration Agreement.

Further information on the requirements.

What is the mobility quota? 

If you come from a third country and have been granted the residence title "Permanent Residence-EU" by another EU country, you are not allowed to work in Austria immediately. You have to apply for a residence permit.

What is the Integration Agreement?

The Integration Agreement consists of 2 modules.

• Module 1: You must learn German (A2 level) and the values of the Austrian legal and societal system. After 2 years of residence in Austria you have to prove that you have passed the Integration German Examination. 

• Module 2: You have to further improve your German (B1 level) and learn more about the legal and societal system. This module must also be completed with an Integration German Exam. It is the prerequisite for permanent residence.

More information on the Integration Agreement and exam dates: Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF)

Who has to fulfill the Integration Agreement?

The Integration Agreement must be fulfilled by all persons who have newly arrived in Austria as family members (purpose "family reunification") from a third country.

Immigration for qualified workers and self-employed persons

If you come to Austria for work as a qualified worker, you can get the "Red-White-Red Card" or the "EU Blue Card". For this, you must have an employer in Austria.

As a self-employed person you can come to Austria under certain conditions. You have to submit your initial application in person at the Austrian Embassy in your home country. 

You can get more information about the application process for qualified workers and self-employed persons at the Business Immigration Office.

If citizens of other EU countries or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland want to stay in Austria for longer than 3 months, they must make an appointment to apply in person for a registration certificate at the Immigration and Citizenship Department of the City of Vienna (MA 35). This registration certificate is valid for an unlimited period of time.

Babies born in Austria are not automatically Austrian citizens. If the parents are not Austrian citizens, they have to apply for a residence permit before the baby is 6 months old.

You have to live in Austria continuously for at least 6 years - in many cases, longer than that - to be able to apply for the Austrian citizenship.

More information on the requirements for the Austrian citizenship.