Vienna at a Glance

Visa Requirements for Vienna

Many important Austrian political and administrative entities are located in Vienna.

Moving to Vienna is a big step – and a wise one, too. As Austria’s capital offers various cultural and economic incentives for expats, moving to Vienna has long been a popular choice. We’ll provide you with important facts on neighborhoods, visa, housing and more before you start moving to Vienna.

Immigration Regulations

Austria deals with immigrants’ affairs based on two acts of law. The Aliens Police Act refers to short-term stays of up to six months. Expats planning on moving to Vienna for a longer period are subject to the Settlement and Residence Act.

Before moving to Vienna, please familiarize yourself with the different residency and settlement permits of Austria. A simple visa will not enable you to move to Vienna or start working there! Depending on your line of work or the duration of your stay, there may be different a permit for your particular case.

A residency permit (Aufenthaltserlaubnis) is required for temporary affairs such as apprenticeships, internships, seasonal work etc. It is usually limited to 6 to 12 months. A settlement permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung) is required for longer stays of one year and more. It enables you to take up full-time employment.

Types of Residence Permits

You have to apply for certain permits from your country of origin before you move to Vienna. If you are an EU citizen or are permanently settled within the EU, you enjoy freedom of movement and do not have to apply for a residency permit. Please keep in mind, however, that you are still required to register locally with the municipal district office after moving to Vienna (see below).

The residency permit you require is closely linked to your work permit, as some of the latter are issued together with residency permits, for example the Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus. For further information on work permits, please see our article on working in Vienna.

The Austrian Ministry of the Interior offers information on (and legal forms to apply for) the many different types of settlement and residency permits. Information is offered in both German and English. Please visit the site before planning your move to Vienna.

Of course, the Austrian diplomatic mission in your home country can also provide you with valuable information on living in and moving to Vienna. For a list of embassies and consulates, please refer to this list offered by the Austrian Foreign Ministry.

Alien Registration

You are required to register with your municipal district office within three days of moving to Vienna. This also applies if you change your address within the city. This is generally a very easy task and should not take a lot of time; you just need to state your new address.

After you have decided to which of Vienna’s borough you are going to move, you can find out the address and opening hours of your district office (Meldeservice) quite easily: They are all listed on the official website of the municipal administration.