A Complete Guide to Moving to Austria

This Country Is Globally Known for Its High Quality of Life

Apart from being known for the most amazing chocolate cake in the world – Sachertorte, beautiful Alps, one of the most famous music composers – Mozart and delicious candies named after him, this place offers a lot more than you can imagine. If you decide to relocate to one of the best European countries, you’ll be able to enjoy clear alpine air, authentic surroundings, good healthcare and schooling system, efficient public transportation, and amazing business opportunities.

This place is not among the ones with the highest life quality without reason, and it continues to improve in that category with every day that goes by. According to the Mercer Quality of Living Survey from 2019, the capital city of Vienna ranked as the best place to live for the tenth year in a row. The annual index for this position includes many different factors, such as crime rates, political stability, healthcare, personal freedoms, education, housing, public transport, and recreation. It is also known as one of the best countries for women because of the constant fight for equal rights.

Do I Need a Visa to Move Here?

US Citizens don’t have to apply for a visa for short stays up to 90 days, but they’ll need to have a passport that will remain valid at least three months after they return to the US. For longer stays and other purposes, you will have to apply for a visa. This can be a job-seeking one, work, or student’s visa, so consider your options and see which one suits your situation. Once you decide which type of visa you want, you’ll have to prepare specific documents needed to travel abroad, such as:

• Application form,
• Photos,
• Valid passport,
• Copies of previous Schengen visas (if applicable),
• Travel insurance,
• Proof of accommodation and civil status,
• Proof of sufficient financial means.

If you got one of the jobs for Americans in Europe and want to apply for a work permit or visa, you should also prepare:

• Invitation letter from an Austrian company,
• Bank statement,
• Memorandum and Article of Association,
• Trade License.

Different rules apply if you want to move to another country with other types of visas – medical purposes, schooling, sports, and others. Depending on the specific type of visas you apply for, you might as well have to prepare some different documents and check the latest travel regulations since the Coronavirus pandemic changed everything. To get all the latest information, contact the Austrian Embassy in Washington.

How to Apply for a Residence Permit and Citizenship

When it comes to residence permits, this place offers different options for applicants and their families. Still, they all have one thing in common – they are always granted for a specific purpose, usually, study or work. If expats want to apply for citizenship, they need to have ten years of legal and continuous residency in Austria, a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit.

Apart from this, you should have no criminal records in general and no severe administrative offenses. You also need proof of your German language skills and knowledge of fundamental democratic principles. Other required documents are determined by personal details. For more detailed information you should contact the responsible department.

Roughly Said, a Quarter of All Austrian Residents Live in Vienna

While being both the Wine Capital and one of the best places to live with families abroad, this city offers everything you might need for an idyllic life. Vienna is also known as the “City of Dreams” because it was home to the famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud who became well known for his studies of unconscious contents, including dreams.

It is also a creative and cultural hub of Europe and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, so you definitely have many reasons to move here. This extraordinary city ranked high among the safest places in the world, so there is literally nothing that should stop you from packing to move. Depending on your personal taste and preferences, you can choose from some of the finest neighborhoods for your new home.

Best Neighborhoods for Living in Vienna

If you want to start living in another country and can’t decide where exactly to live in Vienna, these are some of the neighborhoods you should consider:

• Landstrasse – Peaceful and relaxed district at the heart of the city, ideal for families,
• Meidling – Suburban district with lovely parks and good public transport,
• Mariahilf – Shopping and retail district known for good schools,
• Wahring – Area that offers countryside feel and beautiful housing options for families,
• Neubau – Hipster heart of the city and home to various galleries and museums.

Other Great Cities You Should Consider

Apart from the capital, there are a few other cities worth considering since they have a lot to offer to their residents – high quality of life, amazing architecture, beautiful environment, and good schooling. Cities you should check out are:

• Salzburg,
• Innsbruck,
• Graz.

Cost of Living Might Seem Expensive, But Incomes Are High As Well

According to Numbeo statistics, a family of four should have $3,200 every month to live comfortably in the capital – keep in mind that the rent isn’t included in this calculation. For a single person, estimated monthly costs go up to $900, without the rent. If you look at the average rents, you’ll see that they are about 33% lower here than in the US.

You can rent a one-bedroom apartment in the city center for about $1,000. The average salary after tax is about $2,500. For a monthly pass for local transport, about $60 per month should be enough. When it comes to basic utilities such as electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage for a 915 sq ft apartment, they usually go around $210.

Property Prices and Opportunities

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, prices stayed in the same range, and they are even growing. The market in Vienna is pricey and hence quite different from the one in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and Graz, so keep that in mind if you plan to go house-hunting.

The Healthcare System Is Excellent, and Insurance Is Mandatory

Austrians offer a universal and accessible healthcare system. The vast majority of health issues and treatments are covered. Private healthcare is also available for those who cannot use public ones or simply prefer private services.

Health Insurance in Austria Usually Covers All Expenses, and It’s Mandatory to Have It When Moving Internationally

This is one of the easiest things to cross off from your moving abroad checklist. It is very easy to arrange and get access to medical help – it is universal and legal residents have the option to pick between private and public ones. You can also choose to have both of them, so you can get everything you want, from speedy check-ups to treatments. Everyone who is residing within Austria’s borders needs to have insurance – some nationalities can’t even get specific visas without the proof of having it.

Good Job Market Can be Another Reason for Moving to Austria

If you want to get a job in Europe as an American before relocating, our suggestion is to start sending applications before the relocation. You’ll have to send a CV to apply for some of the desired positions, but you have to know that getting a job around here can be a challenging task. If you’re worried about balancing finances abroad, remember that this is one of the wealthiest areas in Europe, and most of the jobs are found in the service sector. Some of the shortage occupations are:

• Graduates in power engineering,
• Technicians with the highest level of training for power engineering technology,
• Agricultural equipment engineers,
• Graduate engineers for data processing,
• Black toppers,
• Graduate nurses,
• Physicians.

Schools Are Prestige and Highly Rated – Many Europeans Move to Here to Study

When it comes to education and schools, you should know that most institutions here are highly-developed. For Austrians and EU students, public universities are free of cost, and even non-EU students can study at public universities for incredibly low costs – usually between $1,200 and $2,300 per year.

This also applies to those moving to Austria from the US. The only requirement is to speak and understand German at a certain level, but you can also find some amazing programs in English or a bilingual school for your kids. Adjusting to a new country can be much more difficult if you refuse to learn a new language.

This Country Is a Perfect Destination for All Travel Lovers

This is one of the best European countries because of its amazing position – you can easily travel to any other part of Europe and plan a quick weekend getaway to Switzerland, Germany, or other countries around the Austrian border. People here often travel by train, which is a popular means of transportation because they are fast, affordable, and more eco-friendly than plains.

Enjoy the Food, Culture, Nature, and Everything Else This Country Has to Offer

If you’re a fan of history and arts, it will be easy for you to overcome the culture shock because here, you’ll be constantly surrounded by outstanding museums, opera houses, art galleries, stunning architecture, and much more. This location is also perfect for fans of outdoor activities – with the Alps in a short distance, you can always enjoy the fresh mountain air and various sports such as forest hiking, climbing, skiing, swimming, or relaxing in thermal baths. There are numerous expat communities, so you can easily make new friends from all over the world – probably many compatriots as well, so it will be hard to feel lonely. But if you do get lonely, you can find comfort in delicious food.

Sachertorte, for example, is one of the famous desserts invented by Franc Sacher in 1832, and it’s known as one of the county’s signature specialties. Apfelstrudel is known as one of the most popular pastries. Wiener Schnitzel is a must for all meat lovers, the same way as the delicious Wiener Wurstel and Goulash. This video might give you some ideas about other things and amenities you should check out.

If You Decide to Relocate, You’ll Enjoy Every Minute in This Amazing Country

Now that you know why people are moving to Austria, the only thing left to do is to arrange all the necessary documents and look for convenient job options. While you’re planning your relocation budget, it is also recommended to consider hiring a professional international moving company to assist with your relocation. This could definitely lower the relocation stress of moving overseas and help you move efficiently and easily.