51�ԹϺ�����

Jump right in:

• Relocating your household goods and pets
• Visa types and work permit requirements
• Finding housing in Austria
• Jobs and finding work in Austria
• Cost of living and helpful facts about life in Austria
• Health insurance and the healthcare system in Austria
• Education & International Schools in Austria
• Banks and taxes in Austria

Relocating your household goods and pets

When relocating to Austria with pets, you need to get to know guidelines around microchipping, legal breeds, and vaccinations required for your pets before moving. However, it is not just your pets who will need jabs and injections. There are certain vaccinations you will need before you move. Luckily, Austria is a healthy country, and you will be glad to know that outbreaks of illness from food are declining.

To find out more about everything above in detail, read our relocating section that also includes tips about moving, shipping, and storing your household goods when you head to Austria. You will find useful information about short and long-term storage options in the country, as well as everything about pets and vaccines.

Read our complete guide on relocating to Austria

Visa types and work permit requirements

If you are from a country outside of the EU and EEA, you will need to know how to get an Austrian visa or work permit. You will need the visa just to live in the country long-term, and the work permit will enable you to earn a living.

The Austrian visa application process should be straightforward, but please note that if you plan to stay in Austria for more than six months, you must apply for a residence permit before you move to Austria. You can do this at any Austrian embassy or consulate. If you are planning to stay for less the six months, you should apply for an entry permit instead.

The process of moving to Austria is much easier if you are an EU or EEA citizen, primarily because you do not need a visa to live there, nor a residence or work permit. Find out more about how to apply for these permits in our Visas & Work Permits in Austria s�𳦳پ��Dz�.

In this section of our Moving to Austria guide, we also cover visa costs and visa types so you will have everything you need to know before you move to this country.

Opinion

The paperwork process in Austria can be intimidating and is poorly explained to expats. (US American Expat in Vienna)

Opinion

Finding a new home in Austria

Accommodation in Austria’s capital city Vienna is expensive, but still quite affordable compared with other popular European cities. The average rent for a

bedroom apartment in Vienna’s city center is 1,100 EUR (1,280 USD) while you would pay 1,350 EUR (1,570 USD) in central Barcelona and 1,500 EUR (1,740 USD) in central Paris.

You can find special types of houses in Austria, such as the Maierhof housing estate in a town called Bludenz, surrounded by mountainous scenery.

Most housing in Austria is detached houses and apartments. In this section of our guide, we cover how to rent a house in Austria, how to buy a house in Austria for foreigners, plus average rent and house prices.

[Read our complete guide on housing in Austria] /austria-expats/guide/housing)

Jobs and finding work in Austria

Austria’s job market relies heavily on industries, such as building and construction, tourism, motor vehicle production, electronics, food, and transportation. The textile industry is also key to the country’s financial stability. Working days in Austria will be familiar to most Westerners—people tend to work Monday to Friday and have Saturdays and Sundays for leisure time. The average monthly net salary in Austria is 1,848 EUR (2,369 USD) while the average monthly gross salary is 2,688 EUR (2,996 USD). There is no nationwide agreed minimum wage in Austria. As a foreigner, you might not have to worry about how to get a job in Austria as demand for new talent is high. Companies have even held job fairs to attract refugees. In fact, one event held in Vienna was attended by most of the leading employers in Austria, including Telekom Austria, Austrian Federal Railways (OeBB), the construction company Porr, and the country’s leading postal service, Austrian Post.

To help you understand how to find a job in Austria, what it is like working as a self-employed person, and information about average salaries and social security read our full guide on Jobs and Finding Work in Austria

Cost of living and helpful facts about life in Austria

In Austria most practicalities, like grocery shopping, are simple and there is a range of supermarkets. Communications in Austria are well-developed and there are several internet and telephone service options to choose from. Driving and public transportation is also relatively easy to access and roads are well-maintained, providing a generally comfortable and safe experience. There are buses and trams in the major cities, and Vienna even has a metro. 

Austria is in some way an expensive country to live in. For example, you will probably find that housing is more expensive in Austria than in the United States in terms of the space you get for your money (meaning, you will pay more for a smaller space).

When it comes to culture and social etiquette, Austria is culturally similar to Germany. This is reflected in the country’s formality, politeness, personal presentation, and punctuality. If you try your best to be respectful of others’ personal space, say “please” and “thank you,” and dress appropriately for every occasion, this will go a long way to keeping your new Austrian friends and peers happy.

For more practical information, costs of daily expenses, insights into driving and public transportation, read our full guide on What does daily life look like, when living in Austria

Health insurance and the healthcare system of Austria

In this section, we cover the healthcare system and health insurance in Austria. Almost everyone is covered by the public system. If you opt for private health insurance, you might enjoy extras like flexible visiting hours, private hospital rooms, and the luxury of choosing your doctor.

Health insurance in Austria is mandatory if:

• you are in paid employment;

• self-employed;

• claiming unemployment benefits;

• a pensioner;

• or dependent on someone from one of these groups.

When you start a job, school, or university in Austria, you will be automatically covered by health insurance. You should be issued with an e-card which you can use to prove you have health insurance cover, and which you will be required to show this if you see a doctor.

This guide will also cover how to find a doctor and give birth in Austria. You can use  to search for doctors in the city, using a range of criteria, such as name, area of expertise, foreign language spoken, and disabled access.

Read our complete guide on insurance & healthcare in Austria

Education system & international schools in Austria

Education is compulsory from age 6 to 15, and families can choose between public, private, and international schools.

• Public schools are free and offer a solid education, but most lessons are taught in German.

• Private and international schools—especially in cities like Vienna or Salzburg—offer bilingual or English-language instruction but tend to charge higher fees.

• Austria’s universities have a strong reputation in Europe, and some offer programs in English, particularly at the postgraduate level.

The following sections go into more detail about the different school types, enrollment steps, and what to expect in terms of costs.

Read our complete guide on international schools & education in Austria

Banks and taxes in Austria

There are lots of different bank accounts in Austria and the tax system is relatively simple to follow. Bank accounts in Austria have progressed to the stage where some banks allow you to open an account and manage your finances all on your mobile device, and you can even make contactless payments with certain apps.

If you are wondering how to open a bank account in Austria for non-residents, your task will be more complicated than if you were a resident, but it is possible. Certain banks, such as Erste Bank, allow non-residents to sign up with them. However, you will need to go to the bank in person. The best thing to do is research as many Austrian banks as you can and find out which ones offer good deals for expats.

We also cover information about the best banks in Austria. Bank Austria and Raiffeisen Zentralbank are popular banks in the Alpine country. With Erste bank, you can manage funds in all currencies, get the latest exchange rates, make credit transfers in foreign currencies, and use other online banking services.

What is the tax system like in Austria? Like many other Western countries, Austria has a progressive income tax system, which ranges from 0 to 50%. In Austria, the more you earn, the more tax you pay.

We have also included information on  the tax system  for different types of workers, so self-employed  people  and non-residents can understand  how much  tax  they  have to  pay. Read our complete guide on banks and taxes in Austria

Everything You Need to Know 51�ԹϺ����� Finding a New Home

Accommodation in Austria’s capital city Vienna is expensive, but still quite affordable compared with other popular European cities. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Vienna’s city center is 846 EUR (935 USD) while you would pay 963 EUR (1,064 USD) per square meter in Barcelona and 1,194 EUR (1,319 USD) per square meter in Paris.

You can find special types of houses in Austria, such as the Maierhof housing estate in a town called Bludenz, surrounded by mountainous scenery. All of the houses in this particular estate are made from timber and were designed by Feld72.

However, most housing in Austria is detached houses and apartments (about 45% live in these forms of housing) while about 7% of people live in apartments. In this section of our guide, we cover how to rent a house in Austria, how to buy a house in Austria for foreigners, plus average rent and house prices.

Read our complete guide on housing in Austria

Health Insurance and the Healthcare System of Austria Explained

In this section, we cover the healthcare system and health insurance in Austria. Austria’s healthcare system, ranked in the top ten healthcare systems by the World Health Organization, is split into two tiers: public health insurance and private health insurance. However, almost everyone is covered by the public system.

Residents also have the choice of additional private health insurance. If you opt for private health insurance you might enjoy extras like flexible visiting hours, private hospital rooms, and the luxury of choosing your doctor.

Health insurance in Austria is mandatory if: you are in paid employment, self-employed, claiming unemployment benefits, a pensioner, or dependent on someone from one of these groups. When you start a job, school, or university in Austria, you will be automatically covered by health insurance. You should be issued with an e-card which you can use to prove you have health insurance cover, and which you will be required to show this if you see a doctor.

This guide will also cover how to find a doctor and giving birth in Austria. If you plan to live in Vienna, you can use to search for doctors in the city, using a range of criteria, such as name, area of expertise, foreign language spoken, and disabled access.

Read our complete guide on insurance & healthcare in Austria

A Guide to Education & International Schools in Austria

Thinking about education in Austria? This overview covers the basics—from how the school system is structured to what options are available for expat families. Education is compulsory from age 6 to 15, and families can choose between public, private, and international schools.

Public schools are free and offer a solid education, but most lessons are taught in German, which can be a challenge for non-German-speaking children. Private and international schools—especially in cities like Vienna or Salzburg—offer bilingual or English-language instruction but tend to charge higher fees. Austria’s universities have a strong reputation in Europe, and some offer programs in English, particularly at the postgraduate level. The following sections go into more detail about the different school types, enrollment steps, and what to expect in terms of costs.

Read our complete guide on international schools & education in Austria