Miscellaneous (Residency Registration, Schools etc.)
A. Residency Registration:
According to the Austrian Registration Act of 1991, all individuals taking up long-term or permanent residence in Austria have to report their name and address to the local authorities (city, town, village) within three days by means of a special registration form (Meldezettel).
B. Currency:
Since 1999/2002, the Euro has been legal tender in Austria (as in eleven other member countries of the European Union).
Please be advised that Schilling banknotes and coins are no longer legal tender but still redeemable. They may be exchanged at the Austrian National Bank (Oesterreichische Nationalbank), Otto Wagner Platz 3, 1090 Vienna or at any of the branches of the Austrian National Bank located in the capital cities of the federal provinces. The exchange rate is fixed at 1 € = 13.7603 ATS.
C. Schooling:
Austria has an excellent public educational system. American children may attend Austrian schools the language of instruction of which is German. Private schools with instruction in German are available at all levels at reasonable rates.
The following English-language schools in Vienna offer the IB program:
- American International School
- Vienna International School
- Danube International School
The American International School Salzburg is the only American boarding school in Austria. The school provides a college-preparatory (grades 7-12) education to students from around the world. The curricular program is American and the International Baccalaureate diploma is available.
There is also a French school in Vienna (Lycée Français) which teaches students from kindergarten to grade 12. The French Baccalauréat and the Austrian Matura are offered.
D. Health insurance:
Tourists are not covered by Austrian public health insurance. Thus, before travelling to Austria, make sure you have adaquate health insurance coverage for your stay in Europe.
Persons employed in Austria and their immediate family members are covered by public health insurance. The same applies to individuals both receiving a pension from the Austrian Social Security Administration and residing in Austria. After establishing residence in Austria, a small portion of your pension is being withheld for this purpose. Special regulations apply to self-employed persons. Persons not automatically covered by public health insurance can apply for public health insurance by paying a monthly fee. Please be aware that there is a six-months waiting period before actual coverage sets in.
E. Purchase of real estate:
Purchase (but not inheriting) of real estate in Austria by non-EU nationals is restricted. Jurisdiction in matters of real estate transactions remains with the provincial governments. In general, real estate purchases by non-EU foreigners are either prohibited or have to be approved by a county commission. Any real estate agent in Austria should be able to provide you with the details of local requirements and conditions.
All real estate transactions in Austria have to be recorded in the real estate registers (Grundbuch), kept at federal district courts. Purchase of real estate is subject to a purchase tax of 8 percent of the value. A property tax of approx. 0.5 percent and a real estate tax of approx. 0.8 percent are levied annually on the assessed value of the real estate. Detailed information on this kind of taxation is best obtained from the local revenue offices (Finanzämter) in Austria.
F. Appliances:
The electricity supply in Austria is alternating current, 220 volts, 50 Hertz. Outlets have a maximum connection load of 2,000 watts and are two wire single phase. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts at a maximum charging rate of 20 amperes (approx. 2,000 watts) may be operated by using stepdown transformers of 220/110 volts connected to each outlet, provided that these transformers have two separate windings which will eliminate any danger of electric shock. Such transformers, which are required by the Austrian Electric Safety Code, are available but only at high cost. Canadian lamps can be used by simply inserting adequate bulbs.
