Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”)
As a third-country national who is either married to an Austrian citizen, in a civil partnership with an Austrian, or a minor child of an Austrian, the so-called Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”) is relevant for you.
As a third-country national who is either married to an Austrian citizen, in a civil partnership with an Austrian, or a minor child of an Austrian, the so-called Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”) is relevant for you.
Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”)
As a third-country national who is either married to an Austrian citizen, in a civil partnership with an Austrian, or a minor child of an Austrian, the so-called Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”) is relevant for your family member.
As a third-country national who is either married to an Austrian citizen, in a civil partnership with an Austrian, or a minor child of an Austrian, the so-called Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger”) is relevant for your family member.
The Residence-Permit - Family Member ...
- is a residence and work permit at the same time.
- provides free access to the Austrian labour market.
- is valid for one year and can then be extended.
- may require proof of German skills.
Can one work with a Residence Permit - Family Member?
Yes, the Residence Permit – Family Member provides unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. One can work both as a salaried employee and in a self-employed capacity and is not bound to a particular employer.
Family members in this scenario are only:
- wives and husbands
- civil partners (“eingetragene Partnerinnen/eingetragene Partner”)
- minor children.
All other family members (e.g., children over the age of 18) cannot receive this residence permit and have to demonstrate that they themselves have a purpose for staying in Austria, for example, if they study at an Austrian university or work for a company in Austria.
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 does one apply for the Residence Permit – Family Member?
Depending on factors such as citizenship and current country of residence, the application for the Residence Permit – Family Member can either be submitted to the Austrian Embassy/Consulate in the country of residence or to the correct branch of the Austrian Immigration and Residence Authority in Austria, the location of which depends on the (future) Austrian place of residence.
How long is the Residence Permit – Family Member valid and how can it be extended?
- The first Residence Permit – Family Member is valid for a period of one year and can then be extended again for one year.
- After two years in Austria, once can then receive a Residence Permit – Family Member which is valid for three years. For this purpose, it is necessary to show an A2 Integration Certificate by ÖIF or an equivalent. After these three years, one has already lived in Austria uninterruptedly for a total of five years.
- After these five years, one can apply for the so-called Long-Term Resident EU permit (“Daueraufenthalt EU”). In this case, it is necessary to present the B1 Integration Certificate by ÖIF.
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.