Residence Permit

If you answer yes to one of the following questions, you will most likely need a residence permit in order to both come and stay in Austria.

1. Do you plan to move to Austria permanently because you are retiring or you are married to an Austrian citizen?

2. Will you be transferred to your company´s office in Austria for more than 6 months?

3. Do you plan to study at a university/college or to attend school (grade 1-12) in Austria for a period exceeding 6 months?

4. Will you be working as a researcher (as stipulated by Austria´s "Alien Employment Act") at an Austrian university for more than 6 months?

5. Do you plan to take up a one-year-job as an "au-pair" in Austria?

As of January 1, 2006 new regulations are in effect:

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 to the Austrian Consulate General before you actually leave for Austria. In general, you are not allowed to go to Austria as long as your application has not been approved.

Yet, spouses and minor children of EU & EFTA citizens residing permanently in Austria file their application after their arrival in Austria. The same is true for all foreign nationals who may enter Austria under the visa waiver-program (e.g. U.S. citizens, Canadians, Mexicans, Brazilians).

The residence permit, once issued, is to be picked up at the issuing authority in Austria. The fee (approximately € 100) is payable at the time of pick up. 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

III) Aufenthaltstitel "Familienangehöriger" (issued to spouses and minor children of EU or EFTA citizens having permanently resided in Austria)

IV) Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - EG" (issued to foreign nationals who have had the right to stay in Austria for at least the last five years; Integration Agreement has already been fulfilled)

V) Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - Familienangehöriger" (issued to individuals who have held an Aufenthaltstitel "Familienangehöriger" for at least the last five years; Integration Agreement has already been fulfilled)

VI) Anmeldebescheinigung (EU & EFTA citizens [except Swiss] who both work and therefore take up residence in Austria; also issued to accompanying EU & EFTA spouses and minor children)

VII) Daueraufenthaltskarte (for non-EU & non-EFTA spouses and minor children of  EU & EFTA citizens [except Swiss])

PLEASE NOTE: Since the data on our website are constantly up-dated, please refrain from confirming the listed requirements by telephone.

Application procedure:

• All foreign-language papers and documents listed below from number 5. through 10. and a)-e) (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 notarized by a notary public.
• The Austrian Consulate General will accept only complete applications.
• Applications must be submitted in person (no exeptions). Please call for appointment.
• Public hours: Monday through Friday, 9.00 am until 12.00 p.m.; Austrian Legal Holidays  
• Please note that there is no legal claim on obtaining the residency permit applied for.
• Please allow at least one month processing time since all applications are to be sent to Austria.

The following documents (if applicable) must be submitted:

1. valid and signed passport 
   (passport must be valid for at least three months beyond date of return and must have a blank page to affix the residence permit)
2. copies of previous passports
3. application form (see above I)) - completed and signed (available only in German; application forms pertaining to categories II) to VII) are listed on the website of the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior.)
4. one recent picture (passport format, color, front view)
5. original or notarized copy of Birth Certificate 
6. original Certificate of Good Conduct/Criminal Record 
   (not older than three months)  
7. proof of health/travel/accident insurance
   (original letter from insurance company confirming coverage in Austria)
8. 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)
9. proof of lodging in Austria (e.g. lease contract, ownership papers)
10. Statement of Financial Liability (Haftungserklärung; available only in German) if stay in Austria is sponsored by someone residing in Austria (does not apply to au-pair applicants)
11. one set of fotocopies of all supporting documents

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

a) employee: work permit (issued by the Austrian Employment Service AMS), statement of salary or income, letter by employer
b) self-employed: last income tax statement, contract letter, business plan, letter of agreement, etc.
c) family reasons/reunion: marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, certificate giving evidence of relationship to another individual
d) students: original letter of admission to Austrian school or university/college
e) au-pair: au-pair contract (signed by both au pair and host family), letter of certification (issued by the Austrian Emplyment Service AMS)

FURTHER DOCUMENTATION MAY BE REQUIRED ON A CASE-TO-CASE BASIS!

Detailed information can also be found on the following webpages:
Austrian Government Help Service
Austrian Ministry of Interior (only available in German)
Magistrat  35