Unlocking Opportunities: Your Guide to Immigration in Austria

Explore the pathways to immigration in Austria, including obtaining residence permits, permanent residency, and citizenship. This comprehensive guide, crafted with precision by specialists at the Austrian MIE Consulting Institute, addresses common inquiries regarding immigration to Austria. Whether you're considering studying, working, investing, or other means of migration, this resource offers invaluable insights. Dive into informative videos and audio recordings provided within the article for deeper understanding. Additionally, take advantage of our complimentary phone consultations for personalized guidance on your journey to Austria.

Exploring Immigration to Austria: An Overview

If Austria has caught your eye as a potential destination for immigration, delving into its charms and conditions can provide valuable insights. Nestled in Central Europe, Austria shares borders with Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Italy, and Slovenia, offering convenient access to a tapestry of European cultures. Renowned for its wealth and stability, Austria beckons a steady stream of immigrants each year, drawn by its robust security measures, tuition-free education, ample job prospects, low unemployment rates, and an array of opportunities waiting to be seized. For a snapshot of this enticing country, refer to the image below.

Securing Employment: A Pathway to Immigration in Austria

One avenue to immigrate to Austria involves obtaining an Austrian work visa, a favored option among many immigrants due to its affordability and potential for success. There are two primary routes to apply for a work visa in Austria:

Securing a Job Offer:

Individuals with specialized skills can obtain a work and residence permit for one year in Austria. To qualify for this visa, applicants must have a job offer or invitation from an employer in Austria, along with at least a bachelor’s degree. For this visa category, the employer is required to advertise the job for three months within Austria and three months throughout the European Union. If no suitable candidate is found within these parameters, the employer can proceed with the application process for the specialist. Meeting these stringent conditions makes obtaining this type of visa a challenging endeavor. Additionally, applicants must achieve a minimum required score from the scoring table. Navigating the process of immigrating to Austria through employment requires careful consideration of the eligibility criteria and adherence to the prescribed procedures.

It's important to note that if you secure a job offer and score 70 points from the scoring table in the next method, there's no requirement to advertise the job within Austria and the European Union. In such cases, the employer is permitted to hire you directly without the need for further advertising.

Exploring Work Migration: The Job Seeker Visa Route to Austria

Austria offers another avenue for work migration through a job seeker visa. This visa grants a 6-month period for individuals to search for employment in Austria. To qualify, applicants must achieve a minimum score from a total of 100 points, with 70 points being the threshold. Upon approval by the Austrian Labor Office, individuals can reside in Austria during this period. If successful in securing a job relevant to their qualifications within this timeframe, applicants can transition to an Austrian Red and White Card, securing a residence permit.

By utilizing these two pathways, individuals can acquire an Austrian red and white card. Following four years of employment in Austria and fulfilling tax obligations, one becomes eligible for permanent residency in the country. For insights into Austria's employment landscape and labor market dynamics, the chart below illustrates the trajectory of unemployment rate fluctuations in Austria over recent years.

Immigrating to Austria: Obtaining Residency Through Study

Immigrating to Austria through study presents another viable avenue for obtaining residency. One option is to pursue education in Austria by obtaining an Austrian student visa. Austria stands out among European nations for offering tuition-free education at its universities to international students. This attractive feature, coupled with Austria's renowned quality of education and robust social welfare system, draws numerous international students from across the globe. Prospective students can enroll in bachelor's degree programs at public universities in Austria if they have successfully passed Iran's national entrance exam for admission to a public university in their chosen field of study, or secured admission for higher-level studies. Admissions typically occur in September and February. However, admission requirements may vary for medical and art courses at different Austrian universities, often necessitating entrance exams. The admission process in Austria takes approximately 8 to 16 weeks, with results typically announced within 4 to 6 weeks. Most courses at tuition-free Austrian universities are conducted in German, requiring applicants to demonstrate proficiency at the C1 level. While applicants with a German A2 proficiency may be accepted, they are often required to undertake language courses in Austria to attain the C1 level. Additionally, students are permitted to engage in part-time work during their studies, enabling them to offset living expenses to some extent. Upon completion of studies at an Austrian university, graduates are eligible to apply for a work permit in Austria. They are granted a one-year period to search for employment in Austria, and securing a job aligned with their field of study enables them to obtain an Austrian Red and White Residence Card. This card serves as a pathway to permanent residency and eventual Austrian citizenship.

Immigrating to Austria: Securing Residency Through Investment

Immigrating to Austria and securing residency through investment presents an alternative pathway. Austria offers various investment options, allowing individuals to select the most suitable one for their circumstances. Renowned for its robust investment security and positive economic trajectory, Austria has emerged as an attractive destination for foreign investors. Notably, Austrian investment avenues are often less capital-intensive and more straightforward compared to those in countries like the United Kingdom and Canada. Below, we outline some of the top investment methods in Austria.

Immigrating to Austria via a Startup Investment

To establish residency in Austria through startup registration, your venture must offer something exceptional. Your idea should either be entirely novel or significantly enhanced within Austria. For company registration under this category, a minimum investment of 50,000 euros is required as initial capital. Additionally, you must attain a minimum score of 50 points as outlined in the scoring criteria provided below.

Self-sustaining Residency in Austria

Securing Austrian residency through self-sufficiency is an avenue that typically falls under the investment category, but it doesn't necessitate transferring funds into Austria. Rather, it requires demonstrating financial stability in your home country. You must showcase €22,000 (or equivalent in your home currency) in a personal bank account for each family member and prove a monthly income ranging between €2,500 and €3,500. These funds must remain in your Iranian bank account, and while you won't be permitted to work in Austria under this method, you're eligible to own businesses or properties in the country.

Company Registration Residency in Austria

Registering a company in Austria and securing employment is among the prime routes to immigration. While solely registering a company won't grant residency in Austria, the Hermes Group Law Firm has recently introduced a method where one can attain a red-and-white or European Union card through company registration. This approach extends beyond Austria but is particularly well-suited to the country for obtaining a residence permit. By establishing a company in Austria and employing your spouse within it, you pave the way for residency. While registering a company doesn't directly confer residency, your spouse can secure a work visa by accepting employment with your Austrian company. Additional family members can obtain companion visas, allowing you to work full-time. By paying your spouse a minimum of €4,200, they can acquire a Blue card, enabling work and residence in any EU country after one year.

Immigrating to Austria and Acquiring Citizenship by Child's Birth

Some countries grant citizenship to individuals based on their place of birth, but this principle, known as jus soli, is not universally applied. Instead, citizenship laws vary between jus sanguinis (right of blood) and jus soli (right of soil). Austria follows the jus sanguinis principle.

According to Austrian citizenship law, a child born to an Austrian mother automatically becomes an Austrian citizen. If the parents are married and the father is Austrian, citizenship is granted automatically. However, if the parents are unmarried and only the father is Austrian, the father must formally acknowledge paternity within 8 weeks of the child's birth for citizenship to be granted.

If a child is born to parents of both Austrian and non-Austrian nationality, and the non-Austrian parent automatically grants citizenship to the child, the child becomes a dual citizen. Austria permits dual citizenship until adulthood, at which point the individual must choose which citizenship to retain.

Austrian citizenship is conferred through both parents, and a child born to Austrian parents outside of Austria is still considered Austrian. Additionally, Austria recognizes territorial origin, meaning that a child born within Austrian territory may acquire Austrian citizenship even if the parents' citizenship is uncertain.

However, it's important to note that birth in Austria alone does not constitute a means of immigration to the country.

Immigrating to Austria through Marriage

If you marry an Austrian citizen, you are eligible for Austrian residency. The legal age for marriage in Austria is 18, although individuals between 16 and 18 may marry with parental consent. However, marriage to an Austrian citizen does not automatically grant citizenship. After six years of marriage, if the marriage is deemed valid, you can apply for Austrian citizenship.

During the six-year period, you must have resided in Austria for at least five years and cohabitated with your spouse. Additionally, other requirements such as proficiency in German, passing the Austrian citizenship test, having no criminal record, and financial stability are necessary to obtain Austrian citizenship. Furthermore, if one year has passed since your marriage, you can apply for citizenship after an additional four years. Alternatively, if two or more years have passed since your marriage, you can apply for citizenship after residing in Austria for three years.

Obtaining Residency through Asylum

While seeking asylum is a common method of immigration to Austria, it is important to note that asylum applications are processed by the Austrian authorities, and legal services are not provided by Hermes Group Law Firm (MIE Austria) in this area. This section of the article serves to inform the public about the asylum process and its associated risks.

A refugee is an individual who has fled their home country due to persecution based on religious, racial, political, or other grounds. Refugees in Austria are entitled to housing, food, clothing, and health insurance, as well as a weekly stipend of approximately €10. However, asylum applications can take up to two years to process.

Due to the challenging living conditions in refugee camps and the associated risks of disease, financial strain, and physical and mental harm, seeking asylum may not be advisable for individuals considering immigration to Austria.

Austrian Artists’ Visa

The Austrian Artists’ Visa, offered by the Hermes Group Law Firm, provides a pathway for talented artists to obtain Austrian residency, provided they meet certain criteria. To qualify for the Austrian artist visa, individuals must demonstrate a proven artistic background in one of the arts disciplines or hold a contract for artistic work with a company or art institution. Additionally, applicants must have a monthly income ranging from 2,000 to 3,000 euros. Recipients of this visa are required to pursue their artistic careers in Austria and will be subject to government review for a period of two years. Visa holders are granted mobility rights, and the artist's spouse is permitted to work full-time in Austria, with children receiving free education. This residency can lead to permanent residency after five years, followed by eligibility for Austrian citizenship.

Living Expenses in Austria

Prior to immigrating to Austria, it is essential to consider the cost of living in the country. As lifestyles and consumption habits vary, and prices fluctuate across different Austrian cities, it is difficult to define a fixed cost of living. Therefore, the expenses outlined in this section are average estimates, and individual circumstances may result in higher or lower costs.

In Vienna, the capital city of Austria, the average monthly living expenses for a family of four, excluding rent, amount to approximately €2,600. For a single individual living in Vienna without renting accommodation, the monthly expenses are around €700.

To provide a more detailed breakdown of living expenses in Austria, the table below illustrates the costs of essential items.