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Moving to : Austria

There are a number of things you will need to research or do before moving to Austria, these include:

• Local Culture 
• Residence Permits/Visa Requirements/Fees 
• How to search for work if you do not already have a job 
• The importance of your Contract of Employment 
• Self Employed? Starting a new business 
• Studying in Austria 
• School/Childcare - admissions, childcare, registration 
• Retiring to Austria 
• Accommodation, property search 
• Removal Companies and Personal Effects 
• Public Healthcare 
• Registering with a Doctor/Dentist 
• Medication 
• Private Medical Insurance, Healthcare and Hospitals 
• Banking 
• Setting up TV, Telephone and Internet 
• Registering for a mobile phone 
• Taking your car 
• Moving your pets 
• Make sure your passport is valid 
• Tickets for your move, hotel bookings and car rental 
• UK Voter Registration 
• Final Checklists 
• Final Notifications 

Austrian culture is defined in many ways. From their composers to their Wiener schnitzels! Clicking on the links below will help you understand the country and its unique appeal.

About Austria - Composers
Kwintessential - Language & Culture
The German Way - Austria

Each area of Austria will also have its own history and culture. Don't forget to run a search specifically on the area of Austria you are looking at moving to. We recommend Google for all searches and the easiest way of searching for local culture is to put "culture" + the area of Austria you are investigating.

European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) citizens and Swiss citizens as well as their family members (EU/EEA citizens or Swiss citizens) do not require a residence permit to enter and stay in Austria as they enjoy both exemption from a visa requirement and freedom of establishment.  You can stay in Austria for a maximum period of three months without any additional conditions and prerequisites (exception: you must have a valid personal ID or passport).

The following applies to longer stays in Austria:

• living costs and health insurance must be secured, or
• there are prospects of employment, or
• a valid employment contract or a freelance contract is in force, or a training program enrolment is applicable (apprenticeship, school attendance, university studies).

Prior to expiry of the three-month period EU/EEA citizens have to report their taking up of residence to the residence authorities (district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the municipal authority (Magistrat); the authorities will then issue a “registration certificate” (Anmeldebescheinigung).  If the family members (spouse, children, parents, parents in law, partners) are also EU/EEA citizens their taking up of residence.

Prospects - Visa and Immigration requirements
Help - EU Citizens

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Registering your arrival in the Country.

Some online resources.

Job Centre Plus
4ICJ 
Euro Jobs - Finding work in Austria
Jobs Abroad
Executives on the Web
Tip Top Jobs

The Austrian Employment Service, better known as the Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS) runs offices at the national, provincial and regional level.

The Austrian Employment Service (AMS) is responsible for consultation, job referral, financial support and subsistence insurance (e.g. unemployment benefits and emergency assistance) for job seekers or persons registered as unemployed who are either permanent or temporary residents in Austria. All services of the Austrian Employment Service are free of charge.

Job seekers and unemployed persons may register at their local Austrian Employment Service (the competence follows their principal residence, also see:

AMS 

At the AMS Internet you can also find more details regarding: 

• job vacancies in the eJob Room (self-defined qualifications and requirement profiles, direct e-mail contact between job seekers and enterprises, etc.)
• professions and training
• job profiles and profession-related information
• further training opportunities
• assistance when drafting letter of application

Be aware that although we have linked you to the English version, much of the site is in German.

Austria also has the added bonus of hosting the UN (United Nations).  Jobs within this organisation can be found here: 

The United Nations

This site may also be of help:

Help - Working in Austria

According to law, normal working hours (Normalarbeitszeit) are:

• a working day of 8 hours (within a 24-hour period)
• a weekly working time of 40 hours (working period from Monday to Sunday)
• Collective bargaining agreements have shortened the working week in many branches of business.

If the working time exceeds six hours, it must be interrupted by a break of at least half an hour. This break is unpaid and is not included in the working hours.  Other working hours arrangements are possible: minimum income employment, part-time employment, seasonal employment etc.).

Workers are granted a vacation entitlement (Urlaubsanspruch) for at least 5 weeks (= 25 working days) per year; this also applies to minimum income employees and part-time employees. In addition to the regular salary an employee in Austria is additionally paid a vacation bonus (so-called 13th monthly salary) and a Christmas bonus (so-called 14th salary), each amounting to a full monthly salary; these bonus payments are however subject to lower taxes.

Before signing your contract, make sure you understand it fully. If it is in German, ask if it can be translated into English so you there is no question in your mind what you are signing. If they can't do this, then spend the money and take it to a translator. Always better to be safe than sorry. Check things like disciplinary procedures, performance indicators, how they intent to pay you and how often and that they will take care of your tax and social security payments.

Your contract is essential when applying for residency. It is proof that you will be able to support yourself. You will need to show them a copy when making the application.

If you do not have an employment contract you will be working illegally and could be sent home. In order to work you will need an "sozialversicherungsnummer" (social security number). More information can be found about this on our "living in..." Tax registration with the authorities). Your employer should apply for a social security number on your behalf.

If you are planning on going to Austria and starting your own business, these sites may be of use to you:

Help - Starting a business
Doing Business

Firstly, as an EU National, you do not need a visa to study in Austria, however you will need to make sure all relevant documents eg residence permits are in order. Your university will be able to give you more information about how to apply.

and secondly, you'll need information.

Help - Studying in Austria
Forschung - Studying in Austria
Open University - Austria
Prospects - Postgraduate study
Austrian Embassy - Studying

General information regarding schooling can be found here:

Euroeducation - Austrian School System
Bildungssystem - Austrian Education System
Schools - International schools

You will find references on many of the educational pages to VET; This stands for "Vocational Education and Training"

The rules for compulsory schooling are simple. Children are expected to start school at the age of 6 and attend for no less than 9 years. One of the biggest decisions you need to make will be "Do I want my children educated in English, at an International school, or in a German school?"

Help - Compulsory Schooling

If you are considering retiring to Austria, then the following sites should be useful:

Euroburo - Retiring to Austria
Direct - Britons living abroad 
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Moving Abroad 
Help - Retirement Pensions in Austria

The decision regarding whether to purchase or rent a property in Austria can be difficult. If you are looking to buy, then these links will help.

Overseas Property - Buying in Austria
Right Move - Property Website
World of Property - Property Search
World of Property - Information about Austria
Live Austria - Buyers Guide
Help - Acquisition of property

Rental can be harder as most real estate agencies focus on short term/holiday rentals, however it is not impossible. You will usually be expected to pay a deposit and a months' rent in advance and property search for rentals is usually easier in autumn and winter as during the summer months the shorter lease periods are more appealing to landlords.

Expat Focus - Renting Property
Prime Location - Austria
Help - Rentals

When shipping your personal (household and car) effects within the EU, they are not subject to normal customs formalities or restrictions and can be imported from the UK (EU) free of VAT. However there are restrictions regarding selling them again after importation.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on English speaking removal companies.

The Form E111 is no longer valid. You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Austrian nationals.

NHS Guide
Foreign & Commonwealth Office - Travel Insurance

Note, this is NOT a permanent solution. Private healthcare in Austria should be considered if you plan to stay. Most companies have some kind of an agreement with a private medical insurance company and these should be offered with employment.

Sozialversicherung - Social Security

Many Doctors and Dentists are English speaking, especially in the more commercial areas of Austria. You have a free choice of general practitioner, paediatrician and several specialists within your area, providing your choice does not bring the doctor's/dentist's list above the maximum patients permitted. For an English speaking Doctor, ask around - other Brits in the neighbourhood can help as well as many of the locals.

Health care in Austria is always handled via insurance companies .

Although when intitially moving to Austria you are able to use your European Health Insurance Card, it's advisable to set up private health insurance as early as possible. If you already have a job find out if health insurance is included in your contract.

More information can be found on this in our "living in..." Signing up with a Dr or Dentist etc.

Before taking any medication into Austria make sure that you check that it is legal to do so. Interestingly 63% of Britons didn’t know that some medication in the UK e.g. alcohol based prescription drugs and painkillers such as codeine are illegal in some countries. In Japan for instance, the Vicks inhaler and Sudafed are illegal!

Most pharmacies are open from 8am to 6:30pm on weekends and from 8am to 5pm on a Saturday.  Some will close during lunchtime (12pm to 3pm) and some will close for one afternoon during the week.  Like in the other areas of Europe, a pharmacy can be recognised by it's green cross outside.

Private medical insurance is a necessity in Austria. Make sure you have adequate cover if staying for more than 3 months.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on additional medical insurance, general private heathcare and private hospitals.

It is possible to open a bank account in Austria before taking residency.  However accounts set up in this way are treated differently and there are additional fees etc to be paid for each transaction.  If you choose to do this, make sure you inform them of your change of status once you have moved. 

Check with your existing bank, see if they have any agreements with any in Austria before you leave which could make opening an account easier.  Also, you may wish to check out international options too.  Those who deal with "foreigners" on a regular basis and can actually cater to the English language.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on international banking.

Many companies take a while to set these up, so once you know where you will be living, you might want to contact these companies in advance, so that you are able to have connection from the day you move in.

There are many different companies to choose from, however Austria's largest company is Telekom Austria if you understand German or have a German speaker with you, you are able to order phone, Internet and TV online.

Telekom - English version 
Telekom - Order page (German Only)

Like in the UK, to get Austrian TV, you need to pay a license.

Wikipedia - TV Licences - Austria 

Please check our Resources section to see if there are any alternatives.

In Austria the most popular kind of mobile phone is a "pre paid" or "Pay As You Go".  There are many phone operators in Austria and they are continually updating their offering. 

Wikitravel - Austrian Cell Phones

As for your UK mobile. Our guess is that you will be returning to the UK from time to time and may want a low cost way for people to contact you when you are there. So why not cancel your contract, but switch to a "Pay as you go"? This is a number that most of your friends/family will already have, so record your voicemail explaining that this phone is now only on when you are in the UK, and tell them how to contact you when you're not. Be careful when choosing your PAYG plan as some expect you to use your phone every few weeks to keep it active.

Deciding whether to take your car or not is something you will need to think about. What is "right" varies from person to person. For example, for my first move, I took my UK car with me for the first 6 months only. This gave me the security blanket when I wasn't sure if I would stay. Had I returned to the UK, I wouldn't have then had to look for a new car. Having decided to stay, I returned my UK car to the UK, and bought a local one. Just make sure that if you decide to take your own car, your insurance covers you properly with a "permanent green card"!

Don't forget you must also notify the DVLA if you plan to take your car out of the UK either temporarily or permanently. 

Direct Gov - Taking your car abroad

No one wants to leave their other family members behind, so take them with you! Please don't forget to consider they may need their own Residency permits once in Austria. 

Help - Importing your pet to Austria

Austria has strict rules regarding Animals, especially dogs and how you take them out in public.  Also be aware that dogs need to be registered.

Help - Registering your dog

Certain taxes and duties for animals have to be paid in almost all municipalities. The amount of the duty depends on your place of residence. Details can be obtained from responsible municipality office (Gemeindeamt) or municipal district administration (Magistratisches Bezirksamt) (in cities).

DEFRA - Qualifying Countries for the PETS Scheme
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (cats, dogs &ferrets)
DEFRA - Preparing your pet for travel (rabits and rodents)

Make sure you have a valid passport. You do not need a minimum period of validity; however it must remain valid for the duration of your stay.

UK Passport Office - UK Passport Information

When moving you need to set a date to do so. Once you have this date, you need to consider your flights or travel arrangements. Investigate cheap flights or travel. There is no need to spend a fortune getting there when there are many cheap options available. The following site details the list of low cost airlines flying to Austria:

Attitude Travel - Guide to Cheap Airline Carriers

If you have not arranged somewhere to live, make sure you have accommodation until you do. Book yourself a hotel. In addition, you may be going to sign contracts for your accommodation. This does not mean you can stay there on the first night! This may not be possible. So make sure you know exactly what your plans are and make arrangements that take these into consideration.

Where car hire is concerned do your research.  Different companies offer different deals at different times.

Please check our Resources section to see if there is any further information on car hire and deals.

Don't Lose Your Vote!

If you are 18 and over, and were previously registered to vote in the UK within the last 15 years, you can apply to register again as an overseas voter.

Overseas Voting