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 12 (twelve) weeks before you are actually leaving to 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. U.S. citizens)
• spouses and children of EU & EFTA citizens

The residence permit, once issued, is to be picked up at the issuing authority in Austria. 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.

With effect from July 1, 2009, all applicants have to pay a fee when applying for a temporary or permanent residence permit.

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 on TDY (temporary duty)
• Rotationsarbeitskraft = rotational employee (company representative/manager/executive)
• Selbständiger = 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 (some privat educational institutions or courses of privat educational institutions are accredited/recognised by the state)
• 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.-d. (no exeptions) must be translated into German by any professional translating service.
• Documents, e.g. birth- or marriage certificates, not issued by an Austrian authority, need to presented in original and, depending on the issuing State, be authenticated after the Hague Convention by an Apostille, or officially legalized (in case the issuing State did not sign the Hague Agreement) and translated. An Apostille on US documents is issued by the respective Secretary of State. For other foreign documents contact the diplomatic representation of your country. Information on the Apostille
• The residence permit fees have to be paid in advance at the time of application and are non refundable.
• 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 have to be submitted in person. 
  Public hours: Monday through Friday, 10.00 am until 1.00 p.m.; except Austrian Holidays
• If you wish to have your documents returned by mail please enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope (including postage for Certified Mail) with your application. To have your documents returned by overnight mail or courier service, please enclose respective envelope and postage. Documents will not be returned for C.O.D. The Austrian Consulate General will not be responsible for documents after they were mailed from the Consulate.
• 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.

Detailed information can be found on the following web pages:

Federal Ministry of Interior - Settlement and Residence
HELP-Service for Foreign Citizens - Residence
HELP-Service for Foreign Citizens - Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte (German only)
Municipal Council 35 Vienna (MA35) - Living & Working

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 passport picture, front view 
5. original or notarized copy of Birth Certificate 
6. original Certificate of Good Conduct/Criminal Record from all countries where one lived for more than six months. From the US a fingerprint record must be ordered by the FBI. 
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. marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, certificate giving evidence of relationship to another individual

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) students: original letter of admission to Austrian school or university, written confirmation that tuition has been paid and room/board have been requested
• d) au-pair: au pair contract (signed by both au pair and host family), letter of certification (issued by the Austrian Emplyment Service AMS)

Please note:

Proof of basic language proficiency in German

Third country nationals must submit proof of basic language proficiency in German when first applying for the following residence permit:

• Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus
• Familienangehörige
• Niederlassungsbewilligung
• Niederlassungsbewilligung – ausgenommen Erwerbstätigkeit
• Niederlassungsbewilligung – Angehöriger

Proof may be presented in the form of a publicly recognized language diploma or a language course certificate issued by a certified language school, confirming in writing that the individual concerned has reached at least a basic level of proficiency in the German language (level A1). The following language schools are recognized:

• Österreichisches Sprachdiplom Deutsch
• Goethe-Institut
• Telc GmbH or
• Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF)

The diploma or the certificate may not be older than one year at the time of the application. Austrian representations abroad will be able to tell you which language schools in your country of origin are certified.

The following individuals are exempt from the obligation to provide proof:

• Individuals who are under-age at the time of their application
• Individuals for whom the procedure would present an undue burden due to physical or psychological health problems (these must be confirmed by a public health officer)
• Relatives of or holders of the following residence permits: the Austrian Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card, or Daueraufenthalt-EG (the latter is accepted only if the person in question was initially in possession of the blue EU card).

Foreign Researchers seeking employment in Austria will find more informations below:

Guide to Residence and Employment of Foreign Researchers in Austria

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