Immigration law

Nationals of EU/EEA countries and nationals of Switzerland are free to enter and settle in Austria without requiring a visa or a residence title. They only need a valid travel document (passport, identity card) to enter Austria.

For stays of more than 3 months, they must apply for a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) within 4 months after entering Austria.

EU/EEA countries are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Cyprus

Nationals of the following EU member states who wish to start working in the non-academic sector require a work permit (Arbeitsbewilligung) on the basis of current transitional provisions:
Croatia (until 30 June 2020 at the latest)

Additional information:

• on the registration certificate
  
• on the work permit
  

Third-country nationals (neither EU, nor EEA citizens nor Swiss) require a residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) for entering and residing in Austria. The type of residence title depends on the intended period and purpose of the stay.

Stays of up to 6 months

Third-country nationals who would like to seek temporary gainful employment in the academic sector in Austria need a visa for gainful employment (the visa contains the remark "ERWERB"). Depending on the intended period of stay, they can apply for a Visa C (valid up to 90 days) or a Visa D (valid from 91 days to 6 months) at the competent Austrian representative authority in their country of residence. People holding a valid Visa C or a Visa D for gainful employment may take up work immediately after entering Austria. Please note that it is not possible to extend a visa in Austria.

NOTE: The remark "ABH.AT" (Abholung Aufenthaltstitel in Österreich, collection of the residence title in Austria) is not sufficient to take up work in Austria.

People holding a Visa C are entitled to reside in the Schengen countries.

People holding a Visa D are entitled to stay in the other Schengen countries for up to 90 days.

Stays of more than 6 months

Third-country nationals who would like to seek gainful employment in the academic sector for a period of more than 6 months require a residence title according to the Austrian Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG). Applicants have to submit the residence title to the Human Resources Administration department before taking up work.

Academic university staff may choose between the following residence titles:

• Settlement permit – Researcher
• Settlement permit – Special cases of gainful employment
• Red-White-Red Card (intended permanent settlement)

Applications for the residence titles "Special cases of gainful employment" and "Researcher" can be filed in Austria after receiving a Visa D for gainful employment (application with Austrian representative authorities abroad).

For additional information please see the following overview of entry documents and residence titles for academic university staff.

Non-academic employees require a work permit in addition to the residence title.

Additional information:

• Migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government
  
• OeAD – Austrian Agency for International Mobility and Cooperation in Education, Science and Research

• Austrian representative authorities
• OeAD – Austrian Agency for International Mobility and Cooperation in Education, Science and Research

To apply for a Visa C or a Visa D, you will need the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form
• Valid travel document containing at least 2 empty pages. The travel document must exceed the validity period of the visa by at least 3 months.
• 2 passport-sized photographs (size 35 x 45 mm)
• Invitation letter of the University of Vienna
• Proof of health insurance (e.g. credit card, insurance in the home country if it has a social security agreement with Austria, private health insurance)
• Any other evidence requested (e.g. airline tickets)
  

Additional information:

• Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (in German)
  
• Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs
  

To apply for a "settlement permit – Researcher", you will need the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form (in German)
• Copy of your valid travel document (entire document)
• 1 passport-sized photograph (size 35 x 45 mm)
• Birth certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Marriage certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Police clearance certificate not older than 3 months from the state in which you have been living for the last 6 months or from your home country (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria (e.g. rental or subtenancy contract, legally valid preliminary contract, accommodation agreement)
• Proof of employment in the form of a preliminary contract/employment contract (available at the Personal Services Office (Intranet))
• Hosting agreement (issued by the Personal Services Office (Intranet))

Certificates from foreign countries have to be submitted together with a legalised translation.

Additional information:

• Website City of Vienna
  

To apply for a "settlement permit – Special cases of gainful employment", you will need the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form (in German)
• Copy of your valid travel document (entire document)
• 1 passport-sized photograph (size 35 x 45 mm)
• Birth certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Marriage certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Police clearance certificate not older than 3 months from the state in which you have been living for the last 6 months or from your home country (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria (e.g. rental or subtenancy contract, legally valid preliminary contract, accommodation agreement)
• Proof of employment in the form of a preliminary contract/employment contract (available at the Personal Services Office (Intranet))

Certificates from foreign countries have to be submitted together with a legalised translation.

To apply for a Red-White-Red Card, you will need the following documents:

• Completed and signed application form (in German)
• Copy of your valid travel document (entire document)
• 1 passport-sized photograph (size 35 x 45 mm)
• Birth certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Marriage certificate (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Police clearance certificate not older than 3 months from the state in which you have been living for the last 6 months or from your home country (including an apostille/a diplomatic legalisation if demanded by the authority)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria (e.g. rental or subtenancy contract, legally valid preliminary contract, accommodation agreement)
• Employer’s certificate (available at the Personal Services Office (Intranet))
• Proof of qualification (e.g. PhD certificate, employment reference, ...)

Documents from foreign countries have to be submitted together with a legalised translation.

Additional information:

• Migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government