Get Austrian Permanent Resident Card: The Essential Guide

Austria is a popular destination for expats, with many choosing to make it their long-term home. To apply for permanent residence in Austria, you must have lived in the country uninterrupted for five years, and meet a number of other requirements. The application process can feel daunting, but with the right preparation, it is attainable. The type of residence permit you need will depend on your personal situation. For example, if you are a highly qualified worker, you may need a Red-White-Red Card. If you are a citizen of an EU country, you will need to request confirmation of your registration of the Right of Residence under EU law.

Who needs a permanent residence card?

Anyone who wants to live in Austria for more than 90 days needs a residence permit. This includes third-country nationals (those from outside the EU) and EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens. The latter group can stay in Austria for up to 90 days without a residence permit, but if they wish to stay longer, they must request a "confirmation of registration of Right of Residence under EU law".

Third-country nationals who want to stay in Austria for less than six months need a visa, but not a residence permit. If they want to stay longer than six months, they will need to apply for a residence permit.

There are different types of residence permits available, depending on the applicant's personal situation. These include permits for:

• Students
• Pupils
• Seconded employees
• Artists
• Researchers
• Family community
• Special cases of gainful employment
• Red-White-Red Card

The Red-White-Red Card is for qualified workers and citizens of third countries who want to live and work in Austria. It is issued for 24 months and entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and employment by the employer specified in their application. Family members of Red-White-Red Card holders can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus.

To apply for Austrian permanent residence, you must have lived in Austria for five uninterrupted years. You will need to apply in person at the provincial government authority in your city, and present various documents, including proof of German language competence.

What are the requirements?

To obtain a permanent residence card in Austria, you must meet several requirements. Firstly, you need to have legally resided in Austria for at least five uninterrupted years. This requirement may be waived if you have been living in Austria on the basis of an EU Blue Card for two uninterrupted years and previously held an EU Blue Card or specific residence permits in another EU member state. Corresponding legal and continuous periods of residence in another EU member state are considered when calculating the five-year duration.

Secondly, you must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency by having a fixed and regular personal income. This income should be sufficient to cover your living costs without needing welfare aid from local authorities. Additionally, you must have health insurance coverage that provides benefits in Austria and covers all risks. If you are employed in Austria and insured in the public social insurance system, this insurance coverage meets the requirement.

Thirdly, you need to provide evidence of a legal title to locally customary accommodation. This can be done by presenting a lease contract that is considered adequate for your family size. However, for certain residence permit applications, proof of adequate accommodation is not required, although the monthly accommodation costs must be considered in the calculation of adequate means of subsistence.

Furthermore, you must fulfil Module 2 of the Integration Agreement ("Integrationsvereinbarung"), which includes achieving German language competence at a B1 level. This module must be completed with the Integration German Exam, also known as the ÖIF Integration Exam at a B1 level ("ÖIF-Integrationsprüfung B1"). This language proficiency requirement also extends to family members, who need to obtain an A2 Integration Exam Certificate ("Zertifikat der Integrationsprüfung A2") or an equivalent qualification, such as a university diploma.

Lastly, you must submit your application for permanent residence in person at the provincial government authority in your city. The application fee for adults is €210, excluding translation and document certification costs. You will be required to present the completed application form, along with any applicable supporting documents, such as a marriage certificate, divorce certificate, civil partnership certificate, or other documents proving family relationships. Fingerprints will be taken from each applicant aged six years and older.

How to apply

To apply for permanent residence in Austria, you must have lived in the country uninterrupted for five years. You will need to apply in person at the provincial government authority in your city. Processing times vary, but once approved, your residence permit will be valid for five years.

If you are a citizen of a third country (a country outside the EU), you will need a Red-White-Red Card. This card is issued for 24 months and allows you to work for a specified employer. To be eligible, you must have a fixed and regular income that covers your living costs without needing to resort to welfare aid. Family members of Red-White-Red Card holders can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus.

If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen, you need to request a "confirmation of registration of Right of Residence under EU law" from the competent authority if you want to stay longer than three months in Austria. You can apply for this directly in Austria at the authority responsible for the area you intend to live in ("Magistrat" or "Bezirkshauptmannschaft").

When applying for a Red-White-Red Card or a Blue Card EU, you must meet the special requirements concerning your income according to the "Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nations". While you do not need to provide proof of income according to the Settlement and Residence Act, you must have health insurance coverage that provides benefits in Austria and covers all risks. You must also provide evidence of a legal title to locally customary accommodation.

To apply for permanent residence, you will need to present the following documents:

• Application for a residence permit
• Marriage certificate
• Divorce certificate
• Civil partnership certificate
• Certificate of dissolution of a civil partnership
• Adoption certificate
• Other documents proving family relationships

Processing times and fees

The processing time for a permanent residence application in Austria varies, but it typically takes around two to four weeks for the application to be processed. Once approved, you will receive a credit-card-shaped residence permit that is valid for five years. After this period, you will need to renew your residence permit. It is important to renew it before it expires, and the renewal window opens three months before the expiry date.

The application for permanent residence in Austria costs €210 for adults, but this does not include the costs of translation and certification of documents. The translation and certification of documents can be done by companies like Lingoking, which provides a fast and flexible service. The application fee is non-refundable, and applicants are expected to pay it because they are required to be financially self-sufficient.

If you are applying for the Red-White-Red Card, you can apply for this if you have found employment in Austria. This permit will allow you to work and live in Austria for up to two years. The Red-White-Red Card Plus allows you to stay for two years and work with different employers. The Austria EU Blue Card is granted to skilled individuals who have completed a degree program in Austria.

For those who are not EU or EFTA citizens, you must sign an integration agreement if you will be residing in Austria for more than 24 months. This agreement makes the integration process easier and is made up of two modules. Module 1 includes learning basic German (level A1), and Module 2 includes learning German up to level B1 and basic knowledge of the Austrian government and laws.

If you are applying for the Austrian Golden Visa, you will need to have approximately €50,000 in liquid funds, German language skills, permanent accommodation, and private healthcare insurance.

Renewing your permanent residence card

To renew your permanent residence card in Austria, you must first ensure that you have been a legal resident in the country for five uninterrupted years. The renewal window opens three months before your residency expires, and you should renew your card before it expires. You can begin the renewal process by contacting your provincial government authority.

When renewing your permanent residence card, you may also apply for a change of purpose. This means that if you fulfil the requirements, you may apply for a different residence title.

To renew your residence title, you must apply to the locally competent Austrian residence authority. You will need to enclose the following documents (originals plus photocopies) with the personally signed application form:

• Application form (explanation of the application form) for holders of a "residence permit - special cases of gainful employment"
• Proof of health insurance liable to pay for medical treatment in Austria and covering all risks
• Current extract from the files of an officially recognised credit reference agency (e.g. KSV 1870 Information GmbH)
• If applicable: proof of having fulfilled Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (if this agreement was signed when applying for the first time)

If you are a student, you will need to provide:

• Confirmation of your continuing university enrolment
• Proof of successful study (passed examinations equivalent to at least eight semester hours per academic year or 16 ECTS credits for each academic year)
• If pursuing non-degree programme studies (außerordentliches Studium) at a University Preparation Programme, proof of admission to degree programme studies (ordentliches Studium) within two years

If you are a researcher, you will need to provide:

Written confirmation of the successful completion of your research work

If you are a worker, you will need to provide:

Confirmation of your activities in Austria (e.g. an employment contract)

Frequently asked questions