Moving to Austria — next steps

A practical checklist from decision to settlement. Your progress is saved locally.

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Pick the residence route
Most movers use the Red-White-Red Card (employer-sponsored, min €3,465/mo gross in 2026) or the EU Blue Card (degree + ~€55,678/yr). Financially independent? The settlement permit is quota-bound and tiny. No digital nomad visa exists
Understand the tax load
Austria taxes residents on worldwide income, progressive up to 55%, plus 27.5% on capital income. There is NO non-dom or flat-tax regime. Plan before you trigger residency (183 days or a home here)
Plan for A1 German
Family-reunification and settlement permits generally require A1 German before entry (Integration Agreement Module 1 = A2 later, Module 2 = B1 for permanent residence). Start early
Check settlement quotas
The 'gainful-employment-excepted' settlement permit had ~400 worldwide slots for 2026, with a fixed booking window in late 2025. Miss it and you wait a year. RWR Card and Blue Card are quota-free
Rent first, buy later
Non-EU buyers need Grundverkehrsbehörde approval before a purchase registers, and Tyrol/Salzburg/Vienna are strict, especially on second homes. Renting avoids the approval maze on arrival

Resources

migration.gv.at — residence routes· official BMF — income tax basics· official

Pick the right visa and tax stance with a pro.

An immigration lawyer and tax advisor can set the right strategy before you commit to a country.

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🚗Car ownership~€330/mo

🔴 High costs

€330/mo · used compact from €20k · ⛽ €1.52/L

Estimated monthly total

€330/mo

Ownership + ~1,000 km of fuel per month

Purchase costs: VAT on new car20%
Registration tax10%

Annual ownership costs: Road tax€650
3rd party insurance€700
Vehicle inspection€70 / 1 yr
Total/year€1450

Fuel prices(2025): ⛽ €1.52/L🚛 €1.54/L diesel

Used car market: 5yr compact (Golf/Corolla)€20k
New equivalent€28k
Market quality✅ Good

Driving licence (expats): EU/EEA licences are recognised automatically, no exchange. Non-EU licences (including RU/BY/UA) are usable for 6 months after establishing residence, then must be converted: a practical driving test plus a medical exam are generally required, because Russia, Belarus and Ukraine are not on Austria's full-equivalence exemption list. Conversion admin fee €90.

Key gotchas

⚠Annual motorway vignette is mandatory on all autobahns: €103.80 (2025), €106.80 (2026); separate toll sections (tunnels, alpine passes) cost extra
⚠NoVA registration tax can add 5–15% (up to 80% for high-CO2 cars) on first registration — price it in when importing
⚠Non-EU licence holders get only 6 months before a mandatory conversion that usually includes a practical driving test

Car ownership in Austria is expensive: high used-car prices, a CO2-based NoVA registration tax, a motor insurance tax, an annual motorway vignette, and pricey fuel. Public transport is excellent (the nationwide KlimaTicket and a dense rail network), so many city residents skip car ownership entirely.

Data as of 2025. Not financial advice.

This checklist is a general guide. Requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and comune. Consult an immigration lawyer for your specific situation.