Exploring Austria: Understanding Your Length Of Stay

If you're planning a trip to Austria, you may be wondering how long you can stay. The length of your stay will depend on your nationality and the type of residence permit you have. For example, if you're a third-country national, you may be eligible for a residence permit that is valid for two to five years. On the other hand, if you're a holder of a Schengen Visa, you can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa, but for stays over 180 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit.

Residence permits: you need to apply for a residence permit if you're staying in Austria for more than 180 days

If you are staying in Austria for more than 180 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit. The type of residence permit you will need depends on your reason for staying in Austria.

If you are a third-country national, you can apply for a residence permit that is valid for three years, provided that you have fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement and have been continuously and legally resident in Austria for the two years prior to the residence permit being issued. The following residence permits are issued for three years: "red-white-red – card plus", "settlement permit", "settlement permit - relative", "settlement permit except gainful employment", "settlement permit – artist", "residence permit – researcher", "settlement permit – special cases of gainful employment", and the family member's residence permit ("relative").

If you are a researcher, you can apply for a "researcher's residence permit – mobility", which is issued for the duration of your research activities in Austria, up to the expiry date of your residence permit in another EU member state.

The EU "blue card" residence permit is issued for a period of two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is valid for a shorter period of time. In this case, the residence permit is issued for three months beyond the term of the employment contract. The Austrian "red-white-red – card" is also issued for a period of two years, with the same conditions as the EU "blue card" residence permit.

"Long-term EU residence permits" are issued for a period of five years. The validity of any extended residence permit begins on the day after the last day on which the previous permit was valid, unless more than six months have elapsed since that date.

Visa D: if you're staying in Austria for between 91 days and 6 months, you'll need to apply for a Visa D

If you're staying in Austria for between 91 days and 6 months, you'll need to apply for a Visa D. This is a type of residence permit that allows you to stay in the country for a specific period of time.

To obtain a Visa D, you will need to submit an application and provide relevant documentation. The requirements for a Visa D may vary depending on your nationality and the purpose of your stay in Austria. It is important to note that the Visa Section is closed on Austrian public holidays and bank holidays, so plan your application accordingly.

There are different types of residence permits available in Austria, depending on your specific circumstances. For example, if you are a researcher, you may be eligible for a "researcher's residence permit – mobility", which is valid for the duration of your research activities in Austria. If you are seeking to reunite your family in Austria, the residence permit will only be valid for the remaining validity of the Austrian resident's residence permit.

It is important to carefully review the requirements and eligibility criteria for the Visa D and other residence permits to ensure that you meet the necessary conditions for your stay in Austria.

EU 'blue card' residence permit: issued for two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is shorter

If you are a third-country national, you can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa. If you want to stay for longer, you will need to apply for a residence permit. The EU "blue card" residence permit is issued for two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is valid for a shorter period of time. In this case, the residence permit will be issued for three months beyond the term of the employment contract.

The Austrian "red-white-red – card" is also issued for two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is valid for a shorter period of time. Again, the residence permit will be issued for three months beyond the term of the contract of employment.

Other types of residence permits include the "red-white-red – card plus", "settlement permit", "settlement permit - relative", "settlement permit except gainful employment", "settlement permit – artist", "residence permit – researcher", "settlement permit – special cases of gainful employment", and the family member's residence permit ("relative"). These are issued for a period of three years, provided that the third-country national concerned has fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement and has been continuously and legally resident in Austria for the two years prior to the residence permit being issued.

The "researcher's residence permit – mobility" is issued to researchers normally resident in another EU member state for the duration of the holder's research activities on Austrian territory, up to the expiry date of their residence permit in the other EU member state concerned. "Long-term EU residence permits" are issued for a period of five years.

Austrian 'red-white-red' card: issued for two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is shorter

If you are a third-country national, you can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa. If you want to stay for longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit. There are several types of residence permits available, including the "red-white-red card", which is issued for a period of two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is valid for a shorter period of time. In this case, the residence permit is issued for three months beyond the term of the contract of employment.

The "red-white-red card plus" is issued for a period of three years, provided that the third-country national concerned has fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement and has been continuously and legally resident in Austria for the two years prior to the residence permit being issued.

Other types of residence permits include the "settlement permit", "settlement permit - relative", "settlement permit except gainful employment", "settlement permit – artist", "residence permit – researcher", and the family member's residence permit ("relative"). These permits are also issued for a period of three years, provided that the applicant has met certain requirements.

If you are applying for a residence permit in order to reunite with your family in Austria, and the Austrian resident has less than one year left on their residence permit, any residence permit(s) issued to other family members will only be valid for the remaining validity of the Austrian resident's residence permit.

Settlement permits: issued for three years, provided that the third-country national has fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement

If you are a third-country national, you can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a visa. If you wish to stay for longer than 90 days but less than six months, you will need to apply for a Visa D. If you want to stay for longer than six months, you will need to apply for a residence permit.

Settlement permits

Settlement permits are issued for three years, provided that the third-country national has fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement and has been continuously and legally resident in Austria for the two years prior to the residence permit being issued. The validity of any extended residence permit begins on the day after the last day on which the previous permit was valid, unless more than six months have elapsed since that date.

Other residence permits

There are several other types of residence permits available, including the "red-white-red – card plus", "settlement permit - relative", "settlement permit except gainful employment", "residence permit – researcher", and the family member's residence permit ("relative"). These are also issued for a period of three years, provided that the third-country national has fulfilled the requirements of Module 1 of the integration agreement.

The EU "blue card" residence permit is issued for a period of two years, unless the holder's contract of employment is valid for a shorter period of time. In such cases, residence permits are issued for three months beyond the term of the employment contract. The Austrian "red-white-red – card" is also issued for a period of two years, with the same conditions as the EU "blue card". "Residence permits – researcher" are issued for a period of up to two years.

"Long-term EU residence permits" are issued for a period of five years. If a residence permit is applied for in order to reunite a family in Austria, and if the Austrian resident reuniting their family has less than one year left on their residence permit, any residence permit(s) issued to other family members will only be valid for the remaining validity of the Austrian resident's residence permit.

Frequently asked questions