Austria EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Austria without a visa or residence permit; stays beyond 3 months are registered with the settlement authority within 4 months of arrival. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland may live in Austria under EU free movement rules. ^{11 12 1}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid national ID card or passport. ^{12 1}
• Beyond 3 months, workers and self-employed persons may stay while they work. ^{11 4}
• Beyond 3 months, persons not working need sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance. ^{11 3}
• A valid national ID card or passport is needed. ²
• Proof of employment, self-employment or enrolment, or of sufficient means and health insurance, is submitted. ^{11 13}
• Apply in person for a registration certificate within 4 months of arrival. ^{11 12}
• Apply to the settlement authority for your main residence: MA 35 in Vienna, the Styrian Provincial Government in Graz, or the district authority. ^{11 13}
• All residents also register their address under the Austrian Registration Act. ¹²
• A certificate of permanent residence can be requested after 5 years of lawful and continuous residence. ^{11 5}

Stay

• No time limit while the right of residence conditions are met; apply for the registration certificate within 4 months of arrival.
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

Employees and self-employed persons may work in Austria on the same conditions as Austrian citizens, without a work permit; some public-authority posts may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Spouses or registered partners, children aged 21 or under or dependent, and dependent parents and grandparents may join; non-EU family members request a residence card.

Checked 2026-10-10

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Workers: residence rights · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Working abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. Free movement of EU nationals · European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · checked 2026-10-10
9. Free movement of persons (Switzerland and the EU) · Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
10. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
11. EU citizens and Swiss nationals: application for a registration certificate and certificate of permanent residence · Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (oesterreich.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
12. EU citizens and Swiss nationals: general information on residence in Austria · Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (oesterreich.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
13. Mobility of EU citizens and their family members within the EU · Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10