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Relocation to Vienna
March 27, 2025
If you want to move from Germany to Vienna, you should bear in mind that you will be moving to another country and have to make the necessary arrangements. However, it is relatively easy for Germans to move to Austria. There are just a few things to bear in mind.
Register in Vienna
In order to register in Vienna, you need an apartment that you have found, ideally via newspaper advertisements or the Internet. Once you have signed the rental contract, you must register with the relevant municipality within 3 days. For this you need
- the birth certificate
- the passport
- the landlord’s signed registration form
You can obtain this registration form either from your local registration office or online at Austria.gv.at
Observe the right of establishment
Once you have done this, you now have to start looking for a job, because in Austria, EU citizens can only obtain a so-called settlement permit if they can prove that they are financially secure. A pension certificate or a bank balance may suffice for this.
If you want to study or start an apprenticeship in Vienna, you should have sufficient financial means and health insurance. In this case, proof of a job is not required. Self-employed persons and freelancers are best able to prove their income through their bank balance.
The application for a residence permit must be submitted to the relevant district authorities within four months. Proof of health insurance cover must also be presented. Anyone who does not meet the deadlines should expect a fine.
If you want to take your car with you, you can have the vehicle transferred to Austria duty-free as relocation goods as long as it is for private use.
Please note: New vehicles that are not older than six months are taxed at 20% on import.
After registering in Vienna, you have one month to re-register the car. Until then, you may drive with a German or foreign license plate. If you do not meet this deadline, you should again expect a fine. Liability insurance must be taken out for the registration or re-registration. The cost of registration is approximately €200.
Find the right apartment in Vienna
By 2030, the number of inhabitants in Vienna is expected to exceed 2 million, and a correspondingly large amount of housing will be needed. At the same time, it is considered one of the most tenant-friendly cities internationally, as social housing has always been protected here. The Viennese also benefit from open-ended rental contracts. But how do you find the perfect apartment in Vienna? As a newcomer, you don’t have it quite as easy as the locals. This is because as a “real” Viennese – which includes anyone who has had their main residence in the city for 5 years – you are given preferential treatment on apartment lists. Everyone else has to wait in line.
As a newcomer, you should look for suitable advertisements on the Internet and post searches on social networks and join the relevant groups. You should also get in touch with the cooperatives. They have all kinds of apartments available. But you have to be lucky to find what you are looking for. The free housing market in Vienna is just as competitive as in Berlin or Munich. And this market only accounts for a third of the supply in the city.
Good interim solution
- If you would like to move into an apartment directly in Vienna, you can rent from SMARTments business in Vienna. From here, you can easily search for the right rental property and view the offers directly on site. This way you don’t buy or rent a pig in a poke and avoid time pressure.
In Vienna, the estate agent is still paid by the tenant, namely through the commission, which is calculated over 2 months’ rent. These are costs that you should definitely plan for before you move. Otherwise, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the Viennese vocabulary before you move. Although German is spoken in Austria, everyday expressions in Vienna differ from German.
So don’t be surprised by greetings such as “Gnädige Frau” or “Gnädiger Herr”, this is the Viennese’s respectful way of saying hello. The greetings “Grüß Gott” and “Habe d’Ehre” are still very popular. St. Stephen’s Cathedral is affectionately called “Steffl”, “Tunnelwurm” describes the subway, “Bim” and “Tram” stand for the streetcar. And you will also come across “Pflasterhirsche” and “Gigerer” more often in Vienna, often in the vicinity of the Spanish Riding School, which refers to horses. You can often see the “Droschke” (carriage) being driven through the streets of Vienna by the “Fiaker” (coachman). If you need to go to the toilet, ask for the “Häusl”, and if the answer is “Indian toilet”, then the so-called Häusl is on the other side of the corridor.
Where is the best place to live? The districts of Vienna
The city of Vienna is divided into districts, which are numbered from the inside (city center) to the outside. The 1st district is located directly in the center and is the most expensive in the city with prices of around €20 per square meter. The 11th district, which is located further away from the center, costs the least at around €8 per square meter. Otherwise, the average price per square meter in Vienna is around €15/sqm.
Vienna is therefore cheaper than cities such as Munich or Paris and has been named the city with the highest quality of life in the world for eight years in a row. The reasons for this include local transport and the cultural and leisure facilities.
Working and studying in Vienna
Working in Vienna can be more enjoyable than elsewhere, after all, it is important here to finish work at 2 p.m. on Fridays. “Just don’t work too much!” is the motto here, which we think is definitely worth emulating. Surrounded by historic buildings, it’s also better to work, that’s a fact. Lunch breaks are spent in coffee houses whose coffee specialties are world-famous. They don’t skimp on quality here. After work, the most creative after-work parties invite you to celebrate.
Cocktail parties are thrown in the oldest museums in the world and music and light shows compete with each other on the Danube Island. But enough about leisure time, because working in Vienna really does have its advantages. Germans who have lived in the city for some time report that there is a relaxed working atmosphere. “It works out,” says the Austrian, which means: “It’ll work out”. So don’t stress too much. And not too much work, that doesn’t go down well with Austrian colleagues. Sympathetic.
Germans also report that they are seen as more competent in Austria. This is why Germans are often invited to job interviews, especially academics are welcome here, but not exclusively. So it’s worth venturing to Vienna as a “Piefke” and starting a new life. You have the advantage that you don’t have to learn a new language and still benefit from the variety and the slightly different culture of the neighboring country.
As a student in Vienna, you are spoiled for choice, as you have to decide on one of the 53 universities that offer all kinds of degree courses. Finding accommodation can be just as difficult, as Vienna is not a cheap city. However, there are many shared flats and student residences that cater to students from all over the world. Apart from the prices, you can really blossom in Vienna, as the city with its coffee houses invites you to stroll and take a break. In summer, you can cram your books and papers from lectures in one of the many green spaces and wake up your tired mind in one of the many clubs at the weekend. The good thing about a big city like Vienna is that there are all kinds of jobs for students here, and higher semesters can find out about jobs at the university.
Find out directly about the study and housing allowance, these benefits could give you more time for your main job, studying. Incidentally, at €103, fare evasion in Austria is more expensive than in Germany, which is why you should also enquire about the discounted semester ticket. You will need it to get from A to B cheaply and without any problems.
Public transport and cycling
Vienna not only has a very well-developed bicycle transport network, but also impresses students and professionals alike with its affordable public transport tickets. A monthly ticket costs just €48.20 and an annual pass costs €365. Prices that you could only wish for in Germany. But back to the bikes: Not only are the paths well developed; the city of Vienna offers bike rentals at 120 stations. The first hour is free, from the second hour you pay €1 per hour or part thereof. So you don’t necessarily have to take your car with you – you can get around Vienna perfectly well without one.
Leisure activities
Vienna Prater
Given the rich history of the city of Vienna, it should come as no surprise how diverse the cultural offerings are for residents and tourists. Whether it’s the Vienna State Opera, the Museum of Art History or Schönbrunn Palace – there’s always something to discover and experience here! The Vienna Prater is known as an amusement park with its nostalgic rides. What many people don’t know at first: The Prater is also a recreational park and has many sports facilities.
Be it for horse riding, playing soccer or swimming. The area covers a whole 6 square kilometers and is definitely worth a visit. And be it to see the famous Ferris wheel from 1897.
Find out more about the 5 best sights in Vienna here!
But Vienna is also very multicultural, which is reflected in the colorful and international cuisine that is strongly represented. In addition to the Wiener Schnitzel and Sachertorte, there are many more culinary delights to try when you are in Vienna. All you need to do is keep your eyes open. Many quaint pubs, cozy cafés and modern restaurants offer a wide range of dishes from all over the world. Coffee lovers will also get their money’s worth with the Viennese coffee culture: Melange, the local coffee specialty, tastes just as good with Sachertorte as a cappuccino, espresso, mocha or a small brown coffee.
