Emigrating to Austria

March 27, 2025

Austria is one of the most popular countries for emigration, especially among Germans. Reason enough to take a look at the things you should consider when emigrating to the neighboring country and why Austria is so popular with emigrants.

Re-register and apply for a visa

As Austria is a member of the European Union, EU citizens may reside and work here without restriction. All you need to emigrate to Austria is a valid identity card or passport. However, this only applies for three months. Anyone intending to settle in Austria must register with the relevant residence authority after this period has expired. You must be employed or self-employed within four months.

If you move into permanent accommodation immediately upon entering the country, you are obliged to register within three days. If you do not comply with this deadline, you risk a fine of up to €730.

Documents required for registration:

a valid identity card/passport
the birth certificate
proof of membership with a health insurance company
proof of sufficient capital investments
proof that you can support yourself financially, such as an employment contract or a trade license
the registration form signed by the landlord, which can be obtained online from the registration offices

Once this is done, you have a permanent residence card for 10 years.

Good to know: If you have had your main residence in Austria for 10 years, you can apply for Austrian citizenship. Dual citizenship is also possible.

Economy and health insurance

You have now arrived in Austria and need to find a job quickly. You’re in luck, because the chances are good at the moment as the Austrian economy is booming and skilled workers are urgently needed in some sectors. Engineers, tradespeople, IT specialists, nurses and geriatric nurses are currently at an advantage when it comes to finding work quickly. People are also constantly in demand in tourism.

Practical: Germany and Austria share the same language. Anyone who speaks two or more languages can enter this industry, even if only as a temporary employee to bridge the first few months.

Fun fact: Anyone who has worked in Austria for more than two years and has been insured for 52 weeks is entitled to unemployment benefit. The Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) also provides information online about the various forms of support. For example, foreigners in Austria are directly entitled to the so-called minimum benefit to top up a low salary. It pays to inform yourself!

Emigrating to Austria is rather easy for Germans, as the social security network is very similar. In Austria, as in Germany, the employer is responsible for ensuring that employees are correctly insured. Contributions for social insurance and health insurance are deducted from the salary as usual. You get free access to various doctors and hospitals, as long as they are state institutions. Private facilities and doctors must be paid out of your own pocket.

… and the search for accommodation in Austria

It’s a different story when it comes to finding an apartment, which is anything but easy.

First and foremost, you need to have a lot of patience. As in Germany, living space is scarce and there is a lack of apartments in the lower price segment. Overall, rental apartments in Austria are not cheap, just like in Germany. You should be prepared for this in advance so that there are no nasty surprises when you arrive.

The search for accommodation starts with the Austrian newspapers, which appear once a week or at the weekend with a large real estate section.
The Internet offers many portals where you can expand your search. Here you can see photos directly and get a first impression.
However, friends and acquaintances should not be excluded from the house-hunting process. Private individuals know when something becomes available in their neighborhood or in their home. And who knows, sometimes you just get lucky.
Private individuals are also on the Internet, for example on Facebook. On this and other platforms, you should post an ad yourself with the most important key points: what, where, how big and how expensive. And Facebook in particular offers searchers many groups in which apartments are passed on privately, which is cheaper than if an estate agent comes into play.

Advantages Austria

If you want to emigrate to Austria, it’s because you’ve heard how great it is there, right? That’s right. There are great landscapes to admire, the atmosphere in the countryside and in the city is friendly. You share a language and encounter no language barriers, arriving and being understood, terribly smoothly. The education system is very good, as is the medical care.

With 8.8 million inhabitants, Austria is only a tenth of the size of Germany and borders on various countries: Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Italy, Slovakia, Hungary, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Weekend trips can take you in all directions, you can quickly cross the border. There are mountains and lakes here, and several national and nature parks have been established in the last few decades alone to protect flora and fauna. Several areas have been designated as cultural and natural heritage sites by UNESCO. Fans of history, culture, literature, theater and music will have plenty to experience and discover, especially in the cities.

Speaking of Austrian cities to emigrate to: If you want to move to Vienna, who could blame you, you should read our blog post about moving to Vienna with information worth knowing.

Checklist for emigrating to Austria

Create a realistic schedule for the move
Obtain quotes from moving companies (possibly rental cars)
Obtain relocation formalities (see residence registration above)
Give notice in good time, possibly look for a new tenant
Obtain notice periods for telephone providers etc., cancel in good time
Quit your job in good time and look for a new one if necessary (e.g. online)
If pets are emigrating with you, consult the relevant laws
Obtain customs regulations for household effects
Don’t forget the anticipation in all the chaos