Guide to Visas and Residence Permits
- Keith Davies
- Jan 24, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 28, 2024
What's the difference between a visa and a residence permit?
Many people moving to Austria are confused by these two terms and frequently refer to a visa when actually they mean a residence permit.
In general terms in Austria, a Visa is used for short term/temporary visits (usually max. 6 months), whereas a residence permit is for those who want to spend a longer time in Austria or make that permanent move.
The table below illustrates some of the key differences:
Item | Visa | Residency Permit |
1 | Application is made via the Austrian consulate where you live (e.g. home country). Responsibility is with Austrian Consulate with input from the AMS for work Visas. | Responsibility is with the Austrian authority where you plan to live/work. Applications can sometimes be made via the Austrian Consulate where you live, via your employer or directly in Austria at the responsible authority (e.g. MA35 or Bezirkshauptmannschaft) |
2 | A suitable travel insurance policy covering healthcare with min. €30,000 cover for the duration of the stay is required (eg. Schengen Visa policy). It must also cover repatriation and Covid-19. Sometimes Winter Sports Cover has been requested. | Travel insurance is not accepted as proof of suitable healthcare. Fully comprehensive insurance from a select list of insurers who offer similar coverage to OeGK (State healthcare provider) is required or OeGK. If you are employed, you are insured via OeGK; family members of employees should consider co-insurance. |
3 | Limited duration – usually max. 6 months, possibly up to 12 months but this should be applied for BEFORE arrival in Austria. | Longer duration – 6 months upwards to 5 years and above. Renewable in Austria |
4 | Comes in single entry and multi-entry variants (please check) | Multi-entry |
IMPORTANT: When dealing with Austrian officials or asking for assistance, please be very clear which type you have (visa or residence permit); failure to do so may result in you getting incorrect advice as the processes and rights are different.
Visas
Visas come in lots of different varieties. Some allow you to work and some do not. Austria has a very tightly regulated labour market, so there are no visas that give you an unrestricted right to work (some come close, but employers still need to check with the AMS).
Those looking to apply for a Visa should check with their local Austrian Consulate, but an overview of the different Visas is provided here. For a work visa, you will require an employer to sponsor you.
It is important to know that a visa CANNOT be extended beyond 180 days. If you need to stay longer in Austria you need to apply for a residence permit. See here.
Some nationalities require a Visa to enter Austria and some can visit Austria (Schengen) for up to 90 days without a Visa, more details here: In addition this website has an interactive map showing which countries need a visa and which don't: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en
Note: If you are in Austria on a tourist visa or visa exemption, you DO NOT have the right to work (including remote working and working as a digital nomad).
Residence permits
Residence permits come in lots of different varieties, with lots of different permissions, conditions and rights. Some residence permits have quotas attached to them (eg. Settlement Permit gainful employment excepted). The labour market in Austria is highly regulated; your residence permit should state on the back what you are allowed to do (e.g. "FREIER ZUGANG ZUM ARBEITSMARKT" gives you free access to the labour market). Some residence permits such as the Rot-Weis-Rot card will restrict you to a single employer. Do not assume you can do a bit of freelance work on the side; check first!
Different residence permits also have different absence rules, so please check before going on that world cruise!
Some residence permits also require proof of German language skills. Austria is a German speaking country after all, so learning that bit of German before arrival will definitely help you!
There is a lot of information about residence permits in English on various Austrian government websites such as:
Those applying for a residence permit in Vienna can expect a long wait - up to 6 months is not unusual. You are strongly advised to consult the experts at the publicly funded Vienna Business Agency Immigration Service prior to putting in an application (their service is free). For other areas in Austria, we would also recommend contacting the relevant Welcome Service.
Note: Austrian nationals do not need a residence permit (a Meldezettel only), EU/EEA nationals and family members do need to register within 4 months if they plan to be here for more than 3 months and there are conditions attached (e.g. working, studying, prove you can support yourself). For further information on the paperwork requred when moving to Austria see: https://www.englishspeakers.at/post/moving-to-austria-from-another-eu-country
EES & ETIAS
From 2024 the EU is introducing a much-delayed new automated Entry/Exit System (EES) to better control its Schengen borders and also something called ETIAS. You are much more likely to get caught overstaying your 90 days when this is implemented! EES introduces biometric checks at the borders and ETIAS is similar to the US ESTA or Australian ETA. ETIAS is not a Visa, it’s an electronic travel authorisation for those who are Visa exempt. Find out more about these systems here: https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en and here https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en.
Note: Those with residence permits are exempt from both EES and ETIAS, but how this will work in practice is anybody’s guess. We recommend that you ensure that your Meldezettel has your latest passport details.
Further references
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