Ethics & Affiliate Policy

Our Commitment to Transparency

At How to Austria, we believe that trust is the foundation of everything we do. Moving to a new country involves important financial and legal decisions, and you deserve unbiased, accurate information to guide those choices. This policy explains how we earn revenue, how we choose what to recommend, and the editorial standards we hold ourselves to.

How We Earn Revenue

How to Austria is a free resource. We earn revenue through the following methods:

• Affiliate links: Some of our guides contain links to banks, insurance providers, mobile carriers, language schools, and other services used by expats in Austria. When you click one of these links and sign up or make a purchase, we may receive a small referral commission at no additional cost to you.
• Display advertising: We may display non-intrusive advertisements on some pages. We carefully vet advertising partners and never accept ads for products or services we consider misleading or harmful.
• Sponsored content: In rare cases, we may publish content sponsored by a company or organisation. Sponsored content is always clearly labelled as such and must meet the same editorial standards as our regular content.

Editorial Independence

Our editorial content is independent of our commercial relationships. This means:

• We never let affiliate partnerships influence our recommendations. If a product or service is not good, we will say so regardless of whether they offer an affiliate programme.
• We recommend services based on quality, value, and suitability for expats. We test and research every service before recommending it.
• We regularly include free alternatives and government-provided options alongside commercial products.
• Our comparison articles include both affiliate and non-affiliate options. We never exclude a superior product because it does not offer a commission.
• No advertiser or affiliate partner has the ability to review, approve, or edit our content before publication.

How We Identify Affiliate Links

We mark affiliate links on our website in the following ways:

• Articles containing affiliate links include a disclosure notice at the top of the page.
• Individual affiliate links may be marked with an asterisk (*) or a "partner link" label.
• Comparison tables clearly indicate which products include affiliate links.

Content Standards

All content on How to Austria follows these standards:

• Accuracy: We research every topic thoroughly using official Austrian government sources (oesterreich.gv.at, migration.gv.at, bmf.gv.at), current legislation, and first-hand experience. We update content when laws or processes change.
• Timeliness: Each guide displays its last-updated date. We review guides at least annually and immediately when significant policy changes occur.
• Clarity: We write in plain English, avoiding unnecessary jargon. Where German terms are unavoidable (as they often are in Austrian bureaucracy), we provide clear explanations.
• Not legal advice: Our guides provide general information to help you understand processes and options. They are not a substitute for professional legal, tax, or financial advice. We encourage readers to consult qualified professionals for their specific situations.

Corrections Policy

If we publish inaccurate information, we correct it promptly and transparently. We welcome corrections from readers. If you spot an error in any of our guides, please contact us and we will investigate and update the content as needed. Significant corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article.

Affiliate Partners

Our current affiliate relationships may include (but are not limited to) the following categories of services:

• Banks and financial institutions (e.g., N26, Erste Bank)
• Insurance providers (health, liability, household)
• Mobile phone and internet providers
• Language schools and online German courses
• Tax preparation software and services
• Relocation and moving services

We do not maintain affiliate relationships with immigration lawyers or visa consultants, as the quality of legal advice varies significantly and we do not want financial incentives to influence referrals in this sensitive area.

Questions?

If you have any questions about our ethics policy, our editorial process, or our affiliate relationships, please get in touch. We are committed to maintaining your trust and being fully transparent about how this site operates.