Arriving in Austria

ENTRY FROM EU STATES, EEA STATES AND SWITZERLAND

As a member state of European Union, the Republic of Austria is subject to the law on the free movement of workers. Citizens of EU member states, EEA states (including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway) and Switzerland do not require a visa to enter the Republic of Austria. Likewise, no residence permit is required for the first three months. This right is independent of economic activity.

If the stay in Austria lasts longer than 3 months, EU citizens, who are authorised to stay in Austria for longer periods under EU law, must apply for a Certificate of registration from the respective settlement authority of their main place of residence within four months of entering the country.

EU citizens are authorised under EU law to stay in Austria for more than 3 months if they are either

  • are employed/self-employed in Austria or
  • have sufficient means of subsistence and insurance cover or
  • are studying or undergoing vocational training and have sufficient resources and insurance cover

The new place of residence must be registered in person or by post within three working days. If the main place of residence is in the city of Innsbruck, the Registration office of the Innsbruck City Council in the City Hall is responsible. If your main residence is in another Tyrolean municipality, the municipal office of the respective municipality is responsible.

Please note the regulations and documents required for Registration of residence and Certificate of registration.

INFORMATION ON BREXIT

The United Kingdom left the EU at the end of 31 January 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020 and the transition period ended on 31 December 2020. The Withdrawal Agreement provides for facilitated residence conditions for British nationals already living in Austria before the end of the transition period and their family members who wish to remain in Austria.

- Current information from OeAD (Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation GmbH)

- Current information from Federal Chancellery and the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research

ENTRY FROM THIRD COUNTRIES

The following regulations apply to citizens of third countries (non-EU or non-EEA countries):

  • A Visum is required for a stay of up to 6 months
  • For a stay of more than 6 months, citizens from third countries require a residence permit from the outset, which is always issued for a specific purpose. When entering Austria, not only a valid passport but also a valid residence permit must be presented.
  • The various forms (e.g. EU Blue Card, Red-White-Red Card, Settlement Permit for Researchers, Residence Permit) and time limits of residence permits can be found in the following links:

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCHERS

Special regulations apply to researchers, which can be found, for example, in the Researcher's Guide to Austria at Euraxess or in the current information at OeAD.

Please note that there may be different regulations for family members of researchers!

The International Services are happy to help researchers at the University of Innsbruck and their relatives with questions about entry, visas and residence permits. You can also obtain your admission agreement here.

ARRIVING IN INNSBRUCK

If you are resident in the city of Innsbruck (district of Innsbruck - Stadt), you can clarify all questions regarding residence, stay and registration at Innsbruck City Hall, which is located in the centre of Innsbruck in the Rathausgalerie. If you live in a Tyrolean municipality, please contact the respective municipal administration.

The new place of residence must be registered there within three working days with a form signed by the landlord:in Meldezettelin person or by post. Submission by fax or email is not valid.

If you have any questions about your Driving licence (recognition, transfer if necessary, international driving licence), please contact the district authority (Innsbruck, Gilmstraße 2) or Provincial Police Directorate Tyrol (Innsbruck, Kaiserjägerstraße 8). A driving licence issued by the competent authority of an EEA/EU state is equivalent to a national driving licence. This licence does not have to be changed if you move to another country.

TIP: If you have your driving licence rewritten as an Austrian driving licence, you will have an official Austrian identity document. You will then also have a photo of yourself in the official register and you will not have to register another photo with the authorities, e.g. for the ecard (health insurance card).

CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 UPDATE

Please note the following websites on the current situation in Tyrol and at the University of Innsbruck

Info page of the Province of Tyrol

University of Innsbruck https://www.uibk.ac.at/newsroom/informationen-zum-coronavirus.html.de

CHECKLISTS

Before travelling to Austria:

  • Clarify customs and entry regulations
  • Apply for a visa or residence permit (for third-country nationals)
  • Look for a flat or temporary accommodation for the registration of residence
  • Research childcare facilities such as kindergarten or school (see Family service)
  • Provide personal documents for all family members travelling with you and update them if necessary
  • Deregister from previous place of residence, deregister from telephone, internet incl. forwarding order for the post office


After entering Austria:

  • Register your place of residence (main residence or secondary residence) at the relevant registration office (city magistrate/city hall or municipal office) within three working days. The Meldezettel must be signed by the landlord.
  • Please note the deadlines for the registration certificate, visa or residence permit!
  • Take outinsurance policies such as private liability insurance, accident insurance, household insurance, etc. Social insurance (health and pension insurance as well as unemployment insurance) is compulsory in Austria and is taken out via the employer and automatically deducted from the salary. Children are usually insured free of charge! For spouses, please obtain information as to whether co-insurance is possible.
  • Open a bank account: Obtain various offers. As a university employee, you may receive special conditions.
  • Register for television, internet, telephone and radio:
    • Television and radio licence fees must be paid to OBS (ORF Beitrags Service GmbH - formerly GIS) for all persons registered at their main place of residence.
    • Internet and telephone: Austria has a high density of telephone network and internet providers (e.g. A1, Drei, Magenta, HoT, etc.) in relation to the number of inhabitants.
  • If necessary, rewrite Driving licence (see above). The provincial police directorate or the district authorities are responsible for this.
  • When importing or self-importing and registering motor vehicles, observe NoVA (standard consumption tax)! Information on this can also be found at here.
  • Submit an informal application for the Favourable immigration conditions or the immigration allowance for scientists/researchers to the Austrian tax officewithin 6 months of moving to Austria!

Further checklists on the inter-authority administrative platform oesterreich.gv.at for working and living in Austria:

- for EU citizens, EEA citizens and Swiss citizens

- for Third-country nationals

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