EU/EEA Citizens Guide to Living in Austria

Last updated: March 2026

As of March 2026, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens can live and work in Austria without a visa or work permit under EU freedom of movement rules. You must register your address (Meldezettel) within 3 days of moving in and apply for an Anmeldebescheinigung (EUR 15, valid indefinitely) within 4 months. Failure to register on time can result in fines up to EUR 726. After 5 years of continuous residence, you can apply for permanent residence, and Austrian citizenship is possible after 6 years for EU citizens.

Can EU/EEA Citizens Work in Austria Without a Permit?

Under EU freedom of movement rules, you can enter Austria with a valid passport or national ID card and stay for up to three months without any formalities. During this initial period, you can also start working immediately, and no work permit is needed. You have unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market, whether as an employee, self-employed person, or freelancer.

If you plan to stay longer than three months, you must register your residence and obtain a confirmation certificate. This is a registration requirement, not a permit. Your right to reside in Austria comes directly from EU law, and the certificate simply documents it. See our step-by-step Vienna registration guide for exactly how to do this.

How Do You Register Your Address in Austria (Meldezettel)?

Within three days of moving into your accommodation in Austria, you are legally required to register your address at the local registration office (Meldeservice or Meldebehorde). This applies to everyone living in Austria, regardless of nationality.

To register, you need:

• A completed Meldezettel form (available online and at the registration office)
• Your passport or national ID card
• The Meldezettel must be signed by your landlord (Unterkunftgeber) confirming you live at the address

In Vienna, the registration offices (Meldeservice) are located in each district at the Magistratisches Bezirksamt. See the full list on Wien.gv.at. In other cities and towns, you register at the Gemeindeamt (municipal office) or Bezirkshauptmannschaft (district authority). The registration is free and usually takes about 15 minutes.

What Is the Anmeldebescheinigung and How Do You Get It?

If you plan to stay in Austria for more than three months, you must apply for an Anmeldebescheinigung (residence registration certificate) within four months of your arrival. This is different from the address registration (Meldezettel). The Anmeldebescheinigung is your formal EU residence certificate.

You apply at the local immigration authority (in Vienna, this is MA 35; elsewhere, the Bezirkshauptmannschaft). You must demonstrate that you fall into one of the following categories:

Employed Persons

• Proof of employment (employment contract, confirmation from employer, or recent pay slips)
• Valid passport or national ID
• Registered address (Meldezettel)

Self-Employed Persons

• Proof of self-employment (Gewerbeschein, business registration, or proof of freelance activity)
• Valid passport or national ID
• Registered address (Meldezettel)

Students

• Proof of enrollment at an Austrian educational institution
• Health insurance coverage (Austrian student insurance or private)
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself
• Valid passport or national ID

Persons with Sufficient Means

• Proof of health insurance covering all risks in Austria
• Proof of sufficient financial resources to avoid becoming a burden on the Austrian social system (bank statements, pension income, investment income)
• Valid passport or national ID

How Does Health Insurance Work for EU Citizens in Austria?

If you are employed in Austria, you are automatically enrolled in the Austrian statutory health insurance system through the OeGK (Oesterreichische Gesundheitskasse). Your employer deducts contributions from your salary. This covers you and your non-working family members (co-insurance for spouse and children is included at no additional cost).

If you are self-employed, you are insured through the SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbstaendigen). If you are not working, you must arrange your own health insurance, either through a private policy or by voluntarily enrolling in the OeGK system (Selbstversicherung), which costs approximately EUR 480 per month.

How Do You Get a Social Security Number in Austria?

When you start working in Austria, you will be assigned a social security number (Sozialversicherungsnummer or SV-Nummer). This number is used for all interactions with the Austrian social security system, including health insurance, pension, and unemployment benefits. Your employer typically registers you, and you will receive your e-card (electronic health insurance card) by post within a few weeks.

What Are the First Steps After Moving to Austria as an EU Citizen?

Here is a recommended sequence of administrative steps when you first move to Austria as an EU/EEA citizen:

1. Find accommodation and sign a rental contract. You need a confirmed address before you can complete any other registrations.
2. Register your address (Meldezettel). Within three days of moving in. Bring the completed form signed by your landlord.
3. Open an Austrian bank account. You will need a Meldezettel and passport. Banks like Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, Bank Austria, and online options like N26 are popular.
4. Apply for the Anmeldebescheinigung. Within four months of arrival at the local immigration authority.
5. Register for health insurance. This happens automatically when you start employed work. If self-employed, register with the SVS.
6. Register with the tax office (Finanzamt). If self-employed, you need to register and obtain a tax number. Employees are automatically registered by their employer. See our income tax guide for details.

How Do EU Citizens Get Permanent Residence in Austria?

After five years of continuous legal residence in Austria, EU/EEA citizens can apply for a certificate of permanent residence (Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts). This certificate confirms your right to reside in Austria permanently, even if your circumstances change (for example, if you stop working). The fee is EUR 15.

Continuous residence means you have not been absent from Austria for more than six consecutive months (or twelve months for important reasons such as military service, pregnancy, or serious illness). Short absences totalling less than six months per year do not break continuity.

Can Non-EU Family Members Join You in Austria?

If you are an EU/EEA citizen and your spouse, registered partner, or dependent children are third-country nationals, they can accompany you to Austria under EU freedom of movement rules. They need to apply for a residence card (Aufenthaltskarte) within four months of arrival. This card is issued for five years (or the planned duration of your stay if shorter) and grants them the right to work in Austria without restrictions.

Required documents for the family member's residence card include proof of relationship (marriage/birth certificate), the EU citizen's Anmeldebescheinigung, proof of health insurance, and proof of financial means. The A1 German language requirement that applies to other family reunification categories does not apply here.