Moving to Austria

Austria is an attractive destination for immigrants and expats due to its excellent standard of living and position as one of the wealthiest nations in the world. Here, you’ll learn about all the wonderful aspects of living in the picturesque Alpine Region, which provides clean mountain air. Moreover, you are suggested to take advantage of effective public transportation, leading healthcare, education, and other amenities, not to mention a wealth of stunning places to visit in your free time.

IMovingTo will help you become an Austrian expat without any obstacles, and our recommended list of international moving companies will comprehensively assist you with the best relocation service at the best possible cost.

Cost of Living in Austria

Since Austria is one of the wealthiest nations in the world, prices are slightly higher than the average European cost of living. After taxes, the typical monthly wage in Austria is €2000.

Austrian housing alternatives are often nearly 30% less expensive than those in France and over 10% less expensive than those in neighboring Germany. However, where you choose to live will also affect your costs. 

Austria’s cost of living varies greatly among its many provinces and towns. In general, Vienna and Innsbruck are routinely listed as Austria’s most expensive cities, while Graz and Klagenfurt are among the nation’s least expensive.

The expenses associated with living in Austria are discussed in the following subsections.

• Renting 1 bedroom apartment in City Center: €733.66 
• Three-course meal for a couple in a mid-range Restaurant: €60 
• Monthly transport pass: €48 
• Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) bills for a small apartment: €234.23
• Cinema ticket: €12          

How to Arrange Your Visa & Permits?

The Austrian visa application and procedure are both relatively simple. You should apply for an Austrian residence permit, not an entry permit or visa, before departing your home country if you intend to live there for longer than 6 months.

As a result, you should confirm that you have the proper visa or right to residency. Your existing employer will be able to set up an intra-corporate transfer or a seconded employee visa if you are going to Austria. 

If not, you might need to look into other work visa alternatives like those for highly qualified workers or skilled workers in occupations with a shortage of personnel. However, you can potentially be eligible for a Self-employed visa or Start-up Founders visa if you intend to launch your own business.

To obtain a residence permit in Austria, you must provide copies of a range of documents, including your passport and birth certificate. The entire cost of your Austrian visa or permission is about 100 euros. To apply for permanent Austrian citizenship, you generally must have lived in Austria for at least 6 years.

Transporting Your Belongings in Austria

If you have been in your country of origin for at least 12 months, personal possessions and household goods that you have owned for at least 6 months can often be imported duty-free. If you don’t intend to sell the products for at least 1 year after moving to Austria, you can also import them duty-free. Household goods should also be imported within 2 years after the move.

Due to the legislation governing the free movement of goods in the EU, if you are moving to Austria from another member state of the EU, you will be able to transport your goods without any restrictions.

You could send your belongings by air freight if you only have a few bags, and they are mainly packed with clothes and personal items. The sea is the best option if you need to transfer many items, particularly furniture. However, if you’re moving within the EU, it can be simpler to ship your belongings to Austria by truck or bring them by rail. 

Moreover, you might wish to hire a relocation company to move your household belongings internationally. In that case, you will save time and reduce tension as they will accomplish the process on your behalf and handle any obstacles, including customs clearance. 

Can You Relocate Your Pets?

Coming from a country with more prevalent infectious animal diseases could make moving to Austria with pets more challenging. For instance, you have to provide documentation that your dog, cat, or ferret has received a rabies vaccination after being microchipped if you are bringing them to Austria.

Even if they are traveling from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country, your pet should receive a primary rabies vaccination no earlier than 21 days before entering Austria.

A pet passport and a health certificate may also be required. One person is only permitted to bring a total of 5 dogs, cats, or ferrets. Additionally, bringing pets into Austria to sell them or transfer ownership is prohibited.

What Does the Healthcare System Look Like in Austria?

Austria has a completely inclusive public healthcare and health insurance system, as the public healthcare system covers almost 99% of residents. Almost all of your medical needs, regardless of age or background, are covered by Austria’s public healthcare system, which is comprehensive. If you are employed in Austria, a health insurance tax is deducted from each paycheck as part of your wage as a contribution to the country’s public healthcare system.

In addition to public healthcare, you can purchase supplementary private health insurance. You can get advantages from “Special Class” or “Comfort Class” private healthcare, such as lower wait times and access to exclusive doctors not offered by public healthcare. 

The additional benefits of private health insurance in Austria include free dental care, travel insurance, heavily discounted gym memberships, and various physicals and check-ups. The average monthly premium for private health insurance in Austria is about 220 EUR. 

How to Take Care of Your Finances in Austria?

Organizing your finances is probably the most crucial thing you should accomplish before moving to Austria. You should open a bank account as one of your first considerations. Nevertheless, if you can set up a mobile banking account, you might be able to have your money prepared for usage in Austria before you depart. 

You might also wish to use international money transfer options to move your money between Austria and your home nation without difficulty. While non-residents are required to visit the bank and open accounts in some banks physically, In Austria, you can also create a bank account that is only accessible online. 

For instance, the Raiffeisenlandesbank NO-Wien bank enables online account registration, which indicates that establishing an account with the bank does not require a physical visit. In Austria, there are also mobile payment alternatives.

When it comes to the best banks in Austria, here is the enumeration you can choose from:

• Bank Austria
• CitiBank
• Western Union Bank

 

Getting an Accommodation in Austria

The requirements to purchase property in Austria for those arriving from the European Union are extremely simple. There aren’t many limits on buying property. However, some Austrian provinces do forbid it in particular locations if the property isn’t going to be used as a permanent residence. 

 

In Austria, subsidized housing is available to all households, unlike in several other nations. Much of the middle class also finds comfort in government-subsidized housing. 

 

Apartments can be found in national Austrian newspapers like Der Standard and Kurier.

 

In Austria, households only pay an average of 21% of their income on housing, compared to 37% in the US and even as high as 60% in cities like New York. This is because of rent laws.

 

According to government policy, everyone in Austria should have access to adequate, affordable housing, and significant resources have been expended to make this a reality.

Things to Expect while Moving to Austria

• Austria has developed into a global nation where residents from all over the world are welcome. That comes as no surprise, given that 8 nations border Austria.
• When relocating to Austria, one of the first things foreigners discover is that the country has a formal and traditional culture. 
• There are 4 distinct seasons in Austria, although depending on where you are in the nation, the weather and temperatures might change significantly. 
• You’ll be glad to know that Austria takes pride in having a healthy work-life balance if you move there for work. As a result, you’ll have plenty of time to discover all the nation offers.
• Employees have numerous rights and protections under Austrian employment law. This includes maternity leave and sick pay to disability benefits and workplace discrimination protection.

Best Cities to Live in Austria

Vienna

Vienna consistently ranks as one of the best cities in the world, with a high quality of life, because of its safety, excellent public transportation, strong economic sector, education system, and social services.

 

The city’s residents are attracted by its stability, solid infrastructure, access to good healthcare, and abundance of cultural and entertainment options.

Salzburg

With 70% of the nation’s total energy usage coming from renewable sources, Salzburg is famous for being very environmentally friendly. In line with this, Salzburg takes pleasure in using environmentally friendly modes of transportation. 

 

Students and young professionals who desire to be surrounded by historical arts and culture will find it to be the ideal location.

Graz

The fact that Graz is both metropolitan and medieval and that opposites converge is its strongest feature. This entails that you gain access to amenities associated with living in a large city, such as a thorough and continually increasing public transportation system, modern infrastructure, dining establishments, coffee shops, student pubs, movie theaters, sporting venues, parks, etc.

Linz

Linz is an excellent place for families to reside due to the state’s significant investments in education, healthcare, and amenities, while the Danube and Upper Austria’s picturesque green hills make for tranquil getaways for weekends and holidays.

Pros & Cons of Moving to Austria

Pros

General safety 

Crime is extremely uncommon, and violent crime is much less rare in Austria. Typically, there are fewer than 100 homicides per year nationwide. In Israel, a nation with a comparable population, there were 123 homicides in 2017. In fact, some minor crimes, like pickpocketing, can occur anywhere, so you should exercise caution in large groups and public areas.

Large expat community 

Finding fellow expats ready to befriend, encourage, and celebrate one another is one of the advantages of living abroad in Austria. There are expat groups for socializing, establishing a business, traveling, and other things. You will undoubtedly discover fellow citizens willing to recreate your native customs with you if you miss them.

Public transportation 

Sincerely, public transportation is excellent and reliable. Buses, trams, and metros are widely used throughout Austria’s cities. You can even use the 143 mph BB Railjet to travel quickly between cities. Tickets for city transportation can be purchased at train and metro stations, and these run every day between 5 am and 11 pm.

Cons

Language barrier 

German is Austria’s official language. Even though many individuals speak English, it becomes more difficult to find English-speaking people the further you travel outside the city or the more specialized your demands are. 

 

You also have more access to employment and educational opportunities if you speak German. Austrian German differs from standard German and may even be more challenging to learn, which adds to the difficulty of the language.

Weather 

There is no getting past the fact that Austria experiences chilly, gloomy winters. However, the chilly season will pass quickly if you like outdoor activities centered around the winter. But for warm-weather enthusiasts, finding a favorite cozy coffee shop or picking up an indoor activity will help you get through it. 

 

That’s why you should learn about the weather and seasons in Austria to be adequately prepared.

Final Thoughts

If you intend to relocate to an attractive destination with an excellent standard of living, excellent infrastructure, and a high standard of living, then Belgium is a preferable option.

So, take into consideration international relocation services at IMovingTo, and make your moving process as pleasant as it is possible.