You might be eligible for a
Residence Card ("Aufenthaltskarte")
The Residence Card ("Aufenthaltskarte") is proof of your right to reside in Austria in accordance with the right of residence under EU law. The application for the Residence Card must be submitted within four months after entering the country. It is valid for a period of five years.
Your family member might be eligible for a
Residence Card ("Aufenthaltskarte")
The Residence Card ("Aufenthaltskarte") is proof of your family member's right to reside in Austria in accordance with the right of residence under EU law. The application for the Residence Card must be submitted within four months after entering the country. It is valid for a period of five years.
The Residence Card ("Aufenthaltskarte") ...
- is a documentation of the right to live and work in Austria as a third-country national family member of an EU/EEA/Swiss citizen living in Austria.
- is valid for five years and can then be extended to a Permanent Residence Card ("Daueraufenthaltskarte") which is then valid for ten years.
- provides free access to the Austrian labour market.
- does not require any type of German language certificate.
Austrian or EU citizen: What makes an Austrian an EU citizen?
Austrians are considered to be EU citizens when they have made use of their so called right of residence under EU law. This basically means that they have, for instance, verifiably lived and worked for more than three months in another EU or EEA member state or in Switzerland. Family members of EU, EEA or Swiss nationals can obtain a so-called Residence Card (“Aufenthaltskarte”).
The advantages of the Residence Card compared to the Residence Permit – Family Member are that
- children who are third-party nationals can get a Residence Card until they are 21 years old
- it is not necessary to present any type of German language certificate for the Residence Card
- the Residence Card is valid for five years
Where can one apply for a Residence Card?
The application for a Residence Card card must be submitted in person to the correct branch of the Austrian Immigration and Residence Authority in Austria, the location of which depends on your place of residence. It may be necessary to apply for a visa in order to enter Austria in the first place. Find out more about that here.
Can one work with a Residence Card?
As a third-country national and family member of an EU national living in Austria, one has unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. In other words, one is not bound to a particular employer. The Residence Card is proof of this.
If desired, one can optionally also apply to the Austrian Public Employment Service (“Arbeitsmarktservice“, AMS) for an additional confirmation that one is in fact allowed to work in Austria, even before receiving the Residence Card.
What happens after applying for a Residence Card?
One is permitted to remain in Austria after submitting the application for a Residence Card, regardless of nationality, while the application is being processed, as long as the entire family fulfils the requirements for the residence in Austria according to EU law.
How long is the Residence Card valid and how can it be extended?
The Residence Card is valid for five years. After these five years of uninterrupted residence in Austria, one is entitled to a so-called Permanent Residence Card (“Daueraufenthaltskarte“), for which the application is submitted to the correct branch of the Immigration and Residence Authority. For this purpose, one has to prove actually having lived in Austria for a period of at least five years and ohaving had health insurance coverage during this time.
We are happy to support you!
Are you uncertain about when exactly you can start working in Austria? Do you have questions about other options? We are happy to provide you with guidance about which residence permit you are eligible for! Our experts offer support before, during and after residence permit process. We are happy to support you every step of the way. As we have an official mandate by the Austrian Government, our services are free of charge.