HOW TO AUSTRIA
Notes on Austria for residents, expats and tourists
Your complete guide to living in Austria
Austria runs on paperwork nobody hands you a translation of. You register your address on a Meldezettel within 3 days of moving in. Health cover arrives as an e-card once you are employed. A Red-White-Red Card is the route in for non-EU workers, and a KlimaTicket covers every train, tram and bus in the country for a year.
Start with who you are
Three readers, three routes
Expats
You have landed, or you are about to. Permits, the first bank account, an address registration and health cover, in the order Austria actually asks for them.
- Red-White-Red Card
- Meldezettel
- Bank account
- e-card
Residents
You are past the paperwork and paying for things on autopilot. Switching windows, deductions people miss, and the renewal dates worth a diary entry.
- Arbeitnehmerveranlagung
- Energy switching
- Insurance renewals
- KlimaTicket
Tourists
A week or two, and no Austrian address to your name. Getting online, getting around, and the museums and mountains worth the detour.
- Travel eSIM
- Rail passes
- Attractions
- Day trips
The desks
Ten sections
Visa & Immigration
Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card, residence permits, and registration requirements for Austria.
Desk 02Banking & Finance
Opening a bank account, IBAN transfers, Austrian banking fees, and the best banks.
Desk 03Insurance
Health insurance (e-card), social insurance, private coverage, and the Austrian healthcare system.
Desk 04Taxes
Income tax brackets, Arbeitnehmerveranlagung, tax residency, and deductions available in Austria.
Desk 05Living in Austria
Meldezettel registration, housing, transport, schooling, and navigating Austrian bureaucracy.
Desk 06Communication
Mobile plans, internet providers, Handysignatur/ID Austria, and staying connected.
Desk 07Energy
Electricity, gas, and heating providers. How to set up utilities and switch for the best rates.
Desk 08Jobs
Job search platforms, Austrian CV tips, salary expectations, and the best industries.
Desk 09Transport
Public transit passes, trains, U-Bahn, cycling, and the KlimaTicket for unlimited nationwide travel.
Desk 10Tourism
Top attractions, Alpine skiing, museums, day trips, and insider tips for exploring Austria.