Residence Permit

If you intend to stay in Austria for a period exceeding 6 months you must apply for a residence permit and not for an entry permit (visa). Residence permits are issued by the authorities in Austria and are solely issued for stays exceeding six months.

PLEASE NOTE that you must file your application for a residence permit before actually leaving for Austria. In general, you are not allowed to go to Austria as long as your application has not been approved.

The following individuals, however, may file their application after their arrival in Austria:

• Foreign nationals who may enter Austria under the Visa Waiver Program (e.g. EU citizens)
• Spouses and children of EU & EFTA citizens

The residence permit, once issued, is to be picked up at the issuing authority in Austria. The fees charged amount in most cases to € 100. In addition, (almost) all non-EU or non-EFTA citizens who both apply for a residence permit and plan to stay in Austria for more than 24 months must sign an Integration Agreement.

There are different types of residence permits in Austria:

I) Aufenthaltsbewilligung (temporary stay in Austria for a certain purpose = Temporary Residence Permit), i.a:

• Betriebsentsandter = employee sent TDY (temporary duty)
• Rotationsarbeitskraft = rotational employee (company representative/manager/executive)
• Selbsttändiger = self-employment
• Forscher = researcher (individual doing research work at an Austrian academic, research or educational institution)
• Künstler = artist (self-employed or employed)
• Sonderfälle unselbständiger Erwerbstätigkeit = e.g. journalist, guest lecturer, au-pair
• Student = student attending college/university in Austria
• Schüler = student attending school (grade 1-12) in Austria

II) Niederlassungsbewilligung (for foreigners who plan to live in Austria for a longer time period = Permanent Residence Permit), i.a:

• Any purpose, private reasons (e.g. move to Austria in retirement)
• Employment or self-employment under certain circumstances
• Family members of aliens living in Austria, family re-unification

Application procedure:

• All foreign-language papers and documents listed below from number 5. through 10. and a.-d. (no exeptions) must be translated into German by any professional translating service.
• If the applicant is a minor, the application must be signed by both parents or legal guardians. These signatures must be legalized.
• The Austrian Embassy will accept only complete applications.
• The applicants are requested to come personally to the Embassy at the time of application.
• There is no legal claim on obtaining the residency permit applied for.
• Since all applications are to be sent to Austria, the Embassy cannot predict the processing time.

The following documents plus one copy thereof must be submitted:

1. Valid and signed passport
2. Birth certificate
3. One recent passport picture (min. 3,5 x 4,5 cm max. 4,0 x 5,0 cm)
4. Marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, certificate giving evidence of relationship to another individual 
5. Proof of accomodation in Austria (e.g. lease contract, ownership papers) 
6. Proof of health/travel/accident insurance (original letter from insurance company confirming coverage in Austria) 
7. Proof of sufficient financial means (e.g. scholarship, letter of grants, bank statement of last two months [parent's account accepted for students only], other proof of income)
8. Letter of guarantee (Haftunserklärung)

In addition to the above mentioned documents the following items must be submitted:

• Employee: work permit (issued by the Austrian Employment Service AMS), statement of salary or income, letter by employer
• Self-employed: last income tax statement, contract letter, business plan, letter of agreement, etc.
• Students: original letter of admission to Austrian school or university, written confirmation that tuition has been paid and room/board have been requested
• Au-pair: au pair contract (signed by both au pair and host family), letter of certification (issued by the Austrian Employment Service AMS)

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS MAY BE REQUIRED ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS!