Find practical information about Austria
Visa, entry and residency permits for researchers
Researchers with the nationality of EU/EEA countries and
Switzerland
do not need a visa and they enjoy freedom of domicile (Niederlassungsfreiheit).
For entry into Austria and residence they only need a valid
travel document (passport or identity card). If the researcher
stays in Austria for longer than 3 months he has to register
with the competent immigration authority (Landeshauptmann; Magistrat,
Bezirkshauptmannschaft) within the first 3 months of his stay.
He will receive a confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung)
which costs EUR 15.
Researchers with the nationality of other countries ("third
countries") need
- for a stay up to a maximum of 6 months a residence and travel
visa D+C (Aufenthalts-Reisevisum D+C) which has to be applied
at the competent Austrian representation (embassies and career
consulates) before leaving for Austria. This visa cannot be renewed
in Austria. After entry with a visa you cannot apply for a residence
permit except you would have been allowed to enter Austria without
a visa (in this case the application must be submitted within
the first 3 months of your stay) or if you apply for a residence
permit "researcher" with a hosting agreement.
- for a stay for longer than 6 months
- after concluding a hosting agreement (Aufnahmevereinbarung)
with a (certified) research institution: a residence permit
"researcher" (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Forscher).
- without a hosting agreement: a residence permit "special
cases of gainful employment" (Aufenthaltsbewilligung
Sonderfälle unselbständiger Erwerbstätiger).
- if the requirements for a "key employee" are met:
a settlement permit "key employee" (Niederlassungsbewilligung
Schlüsselkraft).
First-time residence permits have to be applied for at the competent
Austrian representation before leaving for Austria. In these cases
the decision has to be awaited in one's home country (2 - 3 months).
Alternatively researchers who are allowed to enter Austria without
a visa or who have concluded a hosting agreement with the Austrian
research institution may apply for the residence permit at the
competent Austrian authority (Landeshauptmann; Magistrat, Bezirkshauptmannschaft)
after arriving in Austria.
A fee of EUR 110 is payable for the residence permit.
Every national has to register with the "Registration office"
(Meldeamt) in his place of residence within 3 working days of
entry into Austria.
Links
Austrian representations - The Austrian Foreign Ministry:
www.bmeia.gv.at/view.php3?r_id=204&LNG=en&version=
Entry and Residence Regulations (with downloads of all application
forms and addresses of the competent Austrian authorities) - The
Austrian Exchange Service:
www.oead.at/_english/austria/entry
Austrian Government Help-Service (General information):
www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/135/Seite.1350000.html
Information for a stay up to a maximum of 6 months (Federal Ministry
of Interior)
www.bmi.gv.at/einreise
Information for a stay for more than 6 months (Federal Ministry
of Interior):
www.bmi.gv.at/niederlassung
Application forms for residence and settlement permits:
www.bmi.gv.at/niederlassung/formulare_antraege.asp
declaration of liability ("Haftungserklärung")
(pdf) :
www.bmi.gv.at/downloadarea/niederlassung/zertifizierung/Haftungserklaerung.pdf
Information regarding visa - The Austrian Foreign Ministry:
www.bmeia.gv.at/view.php3?r_id=2251&LNG=en&version=
List indicating whether you need a visa - The Federal Ministry
of Interior:
http://www.bmi.gv.at/einreise/laenderliste.asp
Application form for visa - The Austrian Foreign Ministry (pdf):
www.bmeia.gv.at/fileadmin/user_upload/bmeia/media/5-Buergerservice_Zentrale/171_visumantrag.pdf
Working permits:
Although researchers in most cases are exempt from standard work
permit procedures, some routine regulations may still apply
Researchers with the nationality of EU/EEA-countries and Switzerland
may carry out their scientific research activities which are not
subject to the regulations of the Austrian Act Governing Employment
of Foreign Nationals (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz)
without any further permit. However nationals of Bulgaria, Czech
Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania,
Slovakia and Slovenia however, still need a work permit for any
gainful employment that goes beyond these scientific research
activities.
Researchers from third countries who are in possession
of a residence permit "special cases of gainful employment"
(Aufenthaltsbewilligung Sonderfälle unselbständiger
Erwerbstätiger) or a residence permit "researcher"
(Aufenthaltsbewilligung Forscher) (both for scientific research
activities which are not subject to the regulations of the Austrian
Act Governing Employment of Foreign Nationals) may carry out their
scientific research activities without any further permit. However
they may not take up any additional employment.
The Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice AMS) is the
competent authority for work permits.
Links
Working in Austria (General information) - HELP-Service for foreign
citizens:
www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/135/Seite.1350000.html
Working in Austria - Austrian Exchange Service:
www.oead.at/_english/austria/entry/working.html
Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labour (BMWA)
www.bmwa.gv.at/EN/default.htm
Work Permits for Guest Researchers? (pdf) - Federal Ministry of
Economics and Labour (BMWA):
www.oead.at/_english/austria/entry/wp_researcher.pdf
Public Employment Service Austria (AMS):
www.ams.at/english.html
Within seven days, starting from beginning of employment, employees
are to be enrolled in one or more insurance programmes within
the social insurance system; the particular insurance programmes
depend on the nature of the tasks or activities to be performed
by the employee and the fee or payment scale. Available insurance
programmes include health, accident, pension, and unemployment
insurance. This also applies to independent contractors whose
income exceeds the established minimum limit.
The employee then receives an e-card which contains the social
insurance number and the date of birth. It is recommended that
you always carry this card with you.
Citizens of an EU/EEA State are covered by the EWG-VO
1408/71 which regulates the rights and transferability of social
security entitlement within the European Union. There are two
basic principles in the EWG-VO:
- You are insured in the country where you exercise your professional
activity.
- You are subject to the legislation of only one Member State
at a time.
Furthermore Austria has concluded some Agreements on Social Security
with certain third countries.
Links
General Information on Social Security in Austria - Main Association
of Austrian Social Security Institutions:
http://www.sozialversicherung.at/portal/index.html?ctrl:cmd=render&ctrl:window=esvportal.channel_content.cmsWindow&p_menuid=3603&p_tabid=6
Agreements on Social Security - Main Association of Austrian Social
Security Institutions:
www.sozialversicherung.at/mediaDB/63832.PDF
Federal Ministry of Social Security, Generations and Consumer
Protection:
www.bmsg.gv.at/cms/siteEN/liste.html?channel=CH0024
Well Insured - Social Security in Austria (pdf):
www.hauptverband.at/mediaDB/122919.PDF
Health insurance in Austria - for students and researchers:
www.oead.at/_english/austria/accomodation/health.html
- Taxation and other fiscal issues
Generally foreign employees working in Austria are subject to
taxation if they have an employment contract exceeding six months.
This means that their habitual residence is in Austria and they
are therefore subject to taxation from the moment they take up
residence in this country. However there are sometimes special
regulations for the taxation of researchers based on Double
Taxation Agreements (Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen) which Austria
has concluded with some states.
Those obligated to pay income tax (salaried employees, wage earners,
civil servants, and pensioners) will have income tax (Einkommenssteuer)
withheld directly from their wages and paid to the Tax Office
(Finanzamt). If you expect to get money back, you must file a
tax return with the Tax Office.
An income tax credit is normally expected if:
- During the year you received differing amounts and the employer
failed to make an adjustment.
- During the year you changed employers or weren't employed for
the entire year.
- You have reason to apply for "negative income tax"
because of minimal earnings.
- You have the right to a sole earner/ sole educator deduction
which was not taken into account in the payroll accounting.
- You make a deduction for advertising costs, extra charges, or
extraordinary expenses which had not yet been accounted for in
allowable deductions.
You have five years to file a tax return (for example, you have
until December 2010 to file the return for 2005).
For the recipients of official grants (e.g. fellowships of the
European Union for the mobility of researchers) there also exist
some tax reliefs.
Links
Taxation in Austria (General information) - HELP-Service for foreign
citizens:
www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/144/Seite.1440000.html#Tax
General information on taxation - Austrian Federal Ministry of
Finance:
english.bmf.gv.at/Tax/_start.htm
List of countries having an agreement on double taxation with
Austria (pdf):
www.oead.at/_english/austria/entry/DBA-List_e.pdf
www.bmf.gv.at/Steuern/Fachinformation/InternationalesSteu_6523/DiesterreichischenD_6527/_start.htm
List of all Austrian local tax offices:
dienststellen.bmf.gv.at/ListDst_Auswahl.asp
Austrian Tax Book 2006 and tax book for the self-employed (Austrian
Federal Ministry of Finance):
english.bmf.gv.at/Service/pub/_start.htm
Information on Taxes in Austria:
ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/working/taxation/at/index_en.html
Recognition of diplomas
The Austrian NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information
Centre) is the official contact point for all kinds of questions
concerning transfrontier recognition in the field of higher education.
archiv.bmbwk.gv.at/fremdsprachig/en/univ/naric/Naric_Index_-_Englisch6410.xml
Naric on an international level
ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/socrates/adnaric_en.html#autr
Childcare facilities & Schools
For the coordination of family and life work, different child
care facilities are provided mainly by regional bodies (municipalities)
or private institutions. Information on these different facilities
(e.g. children groups, day nurseries, day homes) can be found
on:
Childcare (Information and searchmachines)
Austrian
Government Help-Service
Kinderbetreuung.at
(mainly in German)
UniKid
(Childcare facilities for university staff)
Children's
Office
Schools
Compulsory schooling in Austria: 
; 
The Austrian education system:
Health and Medical Care
Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions:
;
Health services (City of Vienna web service):
;
Pharmacies and Hospitals:
Austrian health authorities:
Language learning possibilities
German is the official language of Austria and there are different
institutions offering a variety of German language courses for
foreigners. But not only German courses can be attended, any type
of language courses can be found in Austria. Information on different
language courses can be found on:
ÖAD:
Learning German in Austria
Campus Austria:
;
Accommodation & Housing
General Information concerning housing regarding ownership,
rentals, grants and financing can be found online at the Austrian
Government Help-Service. Furthermore the ÖAD Housing Office
provides accommodation in flats and student halls of residence
for recipients of ÖAD grants, for ERASMUS students, visiting
lecturers and guests.
Housing (Property Ownership, Rentals, Students Housing, Housing
- Authorities and Advisory Boards):
Austrian Government Help-Service:
;
Accommodation
(for ÖAD grant/scholarship recipients, Erasmus students and
visiting lecturers)
The ÖAD Housing Website: http://www.housing.oead.at/
Info on daily life
Arriving in Austria by train, plane, car? - Click here for
train schedules and to your place of arrival. Find your way through
Austrian's cities with one of the city maps provided.
Austrian Train Schedules:
;
Austrian
Postal Codes
Austrian Phone Directory:
;
Libraries:
;
Airports in Austria
On-line city maps:
Bregenz:
Eisenstadt:
Graz:
Innsbruck:
Klagenfurt:
Linz
Salzburg:
St. Pölten:
Vienna:
;
Further information concerning life in Austria and especially
in Vienna can be found on:
;
Culture information (AEIOU):
;
Austria-tourism.at:
;
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