I have arrived in Austria – what do I need to arrange?
15 tasks in suggested order
1. Register a residence
A person taking up accommodation in Austria must generally register the residence with the registration authority within three days.
Registration is generally required within 3 days of moving into accommodation; deregistration is generally required within 3 days of giving up the accommodation.
Registration authority: municipal office; in statutory cities, the municipal authority (Magistrat); in Vienna, the Municipal District Office. Registration, deregistration and change of residence can also be completed online if the requirements of the digital public service are met.
Meldezettel signed by the accommodation provider, together with the identity/civil-status documents listed on the official page.
For the online service you need ID Austria or EU Login, must be of legal age and must have been registered in Austria at least once before. When moving within Austria, the previous residence can be deregistered as part of registering the new residence.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
2. EU/EEA/Swiss: staying over 3 months in Austria
For an eligible stay of more than three months, the registration certificate must be applied for within four months after entry.
For stays over 3 months, the Anmeldebescheinigung must generally be applied for within 4 months after entry.
Locally competent residence authority for the main residence: district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft); in statutory cities generally the Magistrat, in Vienna MA 35, and in Graz the Office of the Styrian Provincial Government.
Valid identity card/passport and evidence of the reason for residence (e.g. employment/self-employment or sufficient means + health insurance) according to the official page.
The registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung) must be applied for in person. Residence registration under the Registration Act and the Anmeldebescheinigung are two separate obligations.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
3. Confirm your entry, residence and work permission before the next step
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
4. Arrange health cover and access to healthcare
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
5. Set up employment, social insurance and tax correctly
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
6. Start university
The relevant Universität/Fachhochschule; for centralised procedures, use the officially specified admission route.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
7. Check family permission, school, childcare and family benefits
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
8. Check whether the activity requires a trade licence or another professional authorisation
A self-employed, regular and profit-oriented activity that falls under the Trade Regulation Act may only be carried out with the required trade licence. Free trades and regulated trades have different requirements.
For trades: the competent trade authority at the business location – the district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or, in statutory cities, the Magistrat.
Official source: usp.gv.at
9. Register the trade if the activity is subject to the Trade Regulation Act
If all requirements are met, a free trade can generally be carried out from the day it is registered. For regulated trades, the activity may only be permitted once the required final determination or authorisation decision is in force.
Trade authority at the business location; electronic registration is possible via GISA.
Official source: usp.gv.at
10. Prepare the documents for trade registration according to legal form and type of trade
The required evidence depends, among other things, on the legal form and type of trade; for regulated trades, the required proof of professional competence or another appropriate trade-law solution must be checked in particular.
Official source: usp.gv.at
11. Handle social insurance and tax registration separately
A commercial activity involves social-insurance and tax steps in addition to trade-law requirements. SVS handles insurance registration for self-employed persons; for the tax registration of natural persons, the Ministry of Finance provides, among other options, form Verf 24 via FinanzOnline.
SVS for social insurance; FinanzOnline or the Austrian Tax Office (Finanzamt Österreich) for tax registration.
Official source: svs.at
12. Before registration, take out motor liability insurance valid in Austria.
Practical tip: Before buying cover, compare several current offers – not only the premium, but also the cover, excess/deductible and policy terms. Lili does not recommend a specific insurer.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
13. Prepare ID, insurance confirmation, vehicle approval document and proof of possession; check extra documents for your vehicle's circumstances.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
14. For a private import, complete approval-database entry, NoVA and any customs requirements before registration.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
15. Register a car
Vehicle registration and deregistration are handled by authorised registration offices; required documents depend on the specific transaction.
The required registration must be in place before the vehicle is used on public roads.
Authorised Zulassungsstelle of an insurance company for the competent district.
The vehicle, insurance and identity documents listed on oesterreich.gv.at for the relevant registration procedure.
First registration, re-registration, import and change of keeper require different documents; select the correct procedure.
Official source: oesterreich.gv.at
