General information for EEA citizens

EEA citizens, Swiss and their
Family members

Citizens of the European Union (EU) are free to move around the EU.

This means:
They can travel to other EU countries.
They can live and work there.

These rights also apply to:

citizens of EEA countries.
These are Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
citizens of Switzerland.

EEA citizens and Swiss citizens are allowed to enter Austria without a visa.

They can stay in Austria for up to 3 months.

This is regulated by the Foreign Police Act.

A stay of more than 3 months is possible if certain conditions
are fulfilled.

For example:

The person works as an employee.
The person works independently.
The person is looking for work.
The person has enough of his own money to live and health insurance.
The person is studying or taking part in an education course and has enough of their own money as well as health insurance.

The person must not take advantage of the Austrian social system.

Family members can also get a right of residence.

This applies regardless of which country the family members come from.

Family members of Austrians can also get a right of residence according to the rules of the European Union.

This applies if the Austrian has previously lived in another EU country and then returns to Austria with the family.

Who is considered a family member?

Family members are:

Spouses.
Registered partners.
Children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the person.
This also applies to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the spouse or registered partner.
Children over the age of 21, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents.
This only applies if the person is financially supported by the sponsor.

If a family member himself comes from an EEA state or from Switzerland,
another group of persons may also be granted a right of residence.

This applies to:

Life partners
They must prove that:
They have had a relationship for a long time.
Other relatives
They can get a right of residence if:
they have already received financial support from the sponsor in the country of origin;
they have lived with the sponsor in the country of origin;
or they need personal care from the sponsor for serious health reasons.

Documentation proving the right of residence

Registration certificate

EEA and Swiss citizens are allowed to live in Austria under certain conditions.

After entering Austria, they have 4 months.

During this time, they must apply for a registration certificate.

The registration certificate shows that
that they have the right to live in Austria.

Please Note

Are you a citizen of a European Economic Area (EEA) country or of Switzerland?

Have you been legally resident in Austria since before 1 January 2006?

And you are registered without interruption under the Registration Act?

Then:
Your registration form is also your registration certificate.
You do not need to apply for an additional registration certificate.

Certificate of permanent residence

If a person has a registration certificate and has lived legally in Austria for 5 years without interruption, they can apply for a certificate of permanent residence.

However, he or she does not have to apply for this certificate.

This means:
The application is voluntary. It is not a duty.