Moving to Austria in 2026

Moving to Austria: entry, first 30 days, 3-month budget

Russian citizens need a visa to enter Austria. As a rule, the first residence application is filed at an Austrian embassy before entry and you wait for the decision abroad. Once approved, you get a visa to enter and collect the card from the immigration authority where you live, in Vienna the city immigration department. Quota places for the settlement permit without work run out quickly, so the full file is prepared for the start of the year.

1. Before the trip. Filing at the embassy: police clearance, proof of income, a lease or purchase contract, health insurance with full cover in Austria and, for settlement, German at A1 level.
2. Days 1-3. Register your address: without the registration certificate the card will not be issued.
3. Days 3-14. Collect the residence card, open a bank account and get a local SIM card.
4. Days 14-30. Insurance or social insurance through your employer, school or kindergarten places for children, electricity and internet contracts.

Since July 2023 the agent's commission is paid by whoever hired the agent, usually the landlord, so tenants mostly pay nothing. The deposit is usually 3 months' rent and is returned when you move out. Graz and Linz are noticeably cheaper than Vienna. We work out a family budget in the chat, and you can compare with other countries in our guide on where to move from Russia in 2026.

Austria in brief

Austria is a federal republic in central Europe made up of 9 federal states, with a population of about 9.2 million. The capital is Vienna, home to about 2 million people and to offices of the UN, the OSCE and OPEC. The official language is German. Austria has been in the European Union and the Schengen area since 1995, uses the euro and has been a neutral country outside NATO since 1955. The economy rests on engineering, metals, car parts manufacturing, tourism and services.

Austria suits wealthy people who want to live quietly in Europe on their own income, specialists and startup founders, and families who value safety, healthcare, education and Alpine nature. It suits less those seeking low taxes, quick naturalisation or who want to keep their previous citizenship: ordinary naturalisation requires giving it up.

How to move in 2026

The permit fee is 218 euros, about $250. Ordinary naturalisation comes after 10 years of legal residence, at least 5 of them with permanent status, or after 6 years with German at B2 and special integration. German B1, an exam and renunciation of previous citizenship are required. More on the page about naturalisation in Austria.

Taxes

Austrian income tax is progressive: up to 13,539 euros a year (about $15,240) it is 0%, then rates rise to 50%, and income above a million euros a year is taxed at 55%. Employees pay 18.07% social contributions. Dividends, interest and crypto income are taxed at 27.5%. Corporate tax is 23%. VAT is 20%, with reduced rates of 13% and 10%, and from July 2026 4.9% on some food. Austria has no inheritance or gift tax. More on the page about Austrian taxes.

Property

Foreigners from outside the European Union usually need approval from the state land transaction commission to buy homes and land; each state has its own rules, and Tyrol and Salzburg have especially strict limits on second homes. On purchase you pay 3.5% acquisition tax and a 1.1% land register fee, plus a lawyer or notary and an agent. The annual property tax is small. More on the page about property in Austria.

Cost of living

Austria is expensive, but for a European Union capital Vienna remains relatively affordable to rent in: more than half of residents live in municipal or subsidised housing, which restrains market prices. Housing is most expensive in Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck and ski resorts. Health insurance is mandatory and included in social contributions, with treatment via the electronic insurance card. State schools are free, and Vienna has many international schools.

Where to live

• Vienna. The capital with an international environment, museums, opera and the country's best choice of jobs and schools.
• Graz. The second city, with universities and a young crowd, and cheaper housing than Vienna.
• Linz. An industrial and tech centre on the Danube.
• Salzburg. The city of Mozart and festivals, expensive and calm, next to Germany.
• Innsbruck. The capital of Tyrol surrounded by the Alps, with skiing straight from the city.
• Klagenfurt. The south, on Lake Wörthersee, with a mild climate and a resort feel.

Practicalities

• Registration. Within 3 days of moving in you must register your address, and without the registration certificate you cannot obtain residence or a bank account.
• Language. German with Austrian features; English is spoken in business in Vienna.
• Shops. Most shops are closed on Sundays, except mainly at stations and petrol stations.
• Transport. Convenient trains between cities and to neighbouring countries; Vienna to Bratislava takes about an hour.
• Climate. Moderately continental: about 25-30 degrees in summer, around zero in winter, and snow in the mountains from December to April.
• Safety. One of the lowest crime rates in Europe.

Business and companies

The most popular form is the limited liability company, with minimum capital of 10,000 euros (about $11,250) since 2024, and the articles are executed before a notary. The company is registered in the commercial register, and many activities need a trade licence with proof of qualification. A foreigner from outside the European Union who wants to work in their own company needs residence with the right to work, such as a startup founder card or a self-employed key worker card. More on the page about company registration in Austria.

Who Austria suits

Austria is a choice for those who want a calm and safe life in central Europe on their own income or with a job, and are ready for a long path to citizenship involving giving up their previous passport. For the permit without the right to work, it is important to file a complete application early in the year while quota places remain. Write in the chat and we will check your income, choose a basis and calculate the full cost of moving for your family.