Proof of residence

Image: Document with stylized black label. At the bottom corner on the left is a blue title. At the bottom corner on the right is the red word “Aufenthaltsgenehmigung” (residence permit) as a stamp’s imprint. Above is a brown stamp.

Basics

The legal requirements for a stay in Austria depend on your nationality.

Nationals of countries within the European Economic Area and Switzerland need a registration certificate in case of staying more than three months in Austria. You need to apply for this certificate within four months after your entry to Austria.

Other nationalities, so-called third-country nationalities, have different legal regulations. If they are not entitled to stay in Austria, as specified in the regulations of the European Union, third-country nationals need a certificate, a so-called residence permit, after the duration of six months.

You can find the corresponding legal regulation in the Act of Immigration Authorities (length of stay up to six months) and in the Settlement and Residence Act (length of stay more than six months)

Applications for residence permits must be submitted at the particular Austrian representation authority abroad. In Austria, third-country nationals can only submit applications for residence permits under certain conditions. The applications must be submitted at district commissions or municipal authorities (in Vienna: Municipal department 35).

Residence permits are always for a specific purpose. This means that they are issued for specific groups of persons (f.ex. spouses), specific professional groups (f.ex. students or researchers) or for certain reasons (f.ex. humanitarian reasons).

Types of residence permit

There are different types of residence permit. Generally, they can be differentiated on the basis of a person’s length of stay.

Residence permits

specifically apply to third-country nationals, who only want to stay temporarily in Austria. They do not have the intention to take up a longer or permanent residence in Austria.

Residence permits for a temporary settlement

specifically apply to third-country nationals, who want to settle in Austria for a particular period of time. They are limited to a duration of one to three years, depending on the type of residence permit.

Residence permits for a permanent settlement

entitle third-country nationals to a permanent settlement in Austria. However, the residence card is only valid for five years and must be consistently renewed.

General requirements for issuing a residence permit

  • The applicant must have a secure means of subsistence in Austria.
  • The applicant must be medically insured in Austria.
  • The applicant must have a legally secured accommodation.
  • The applicant must not contravene the legal foundation concerning security and order.

 

Source: BM.I

 

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