Obtaining a residence permit in Austria for Russians: documents, deadlines, procedure

Austria is a beautiful country located in the heart of the Alps. There is not only wonderful nature here, but also a high standard of living, so the government is strict with migrants. You can stay in the country on the basis of a short-term visa, temporary or permanent residence permit, and even try to obtain citizenship. True, the latter is extremely difficult to achieve, so a residence permit is the easiest way to live in Austria legally.

In recent years, immigration to Austria has increased, even despite the difficulties in obtaining a residence permit.

Advantages of a residence permit

A residence permit in Austria is a necessary document that allows foreign citizens to legally stay, work and study in the country. There are several categories of persons entitled to obtain a residence permit. It is also important to comply with the laws and regulations of this rich country in order to be accepted by the Austrian authorities. The standard of living in the country is high, and the requirements for potential emigrants are also high. It is not always possible to even obtain a long-term visa to Austria.

The Austrian authorities know all the advantages of their country, therefore they are quite biased towards immigrants, and especially those who plan a long stay in the state. Very strict requirements are imposed on Russian citizens.

For example, every year the consulate receives special quotas for the number of residence permits issued. In addition, a good knowledge of the German language is often required.

Advantages

There are two investment programs in Austria – for granting a residence permit (RP) and citizenship. The requirements for each are different, but both schemes are valued by investors, and here's why.

An Austrian residence permit gives the right to reside in this country, and Austrian citizenship gives the right to reside in any EU country, as well as in Switzerland.
A residence permit provides visa-free entry into all Schengen countries, and citizenship provides visa-free access to most countries around the world.
Both programs allow you to stay outside Austria for a certain period of time. You can live anywhere while enjoying the benefits of immigration status.
An Austrian residence permit provides an opportunity to obtain citizenship in 10 years.
When obtaining an Austrian passport, the obligation to pay taxes only arises if Austria is chosen as the country of primary residence.
Large investors can obtain Austrian citizenship without first residing in this country.
The law provides a special exception for investors, and they have the right to retain their second citizenship.

Irina Simonyan, Marketing Director of Henley & Partners in Russia and the CIS countries : “Austria took first place in our ranking of the best investment programs for providing residence permits. The country received the maximum number of points (10) in terms of quality of life, country reputation, investment requirements and visa-free entry to other countries.

It’s interesting that in terms of quality of life, in addition to Austria, only Switzerland and Canada earned the maximum score, in terms of reputation – Great Britain and Switzerland, and in terms of investment requirements – only Thailand.”

Find out everything about living costs in Austria.

View of the city roofs in the capital of Austria - Vienna

Living conditions in the country

If you want to stay in the country permanently, without limiting yourself to a time frame, the Austrian government has provided three ways to solve this issue. You can obtain a permanent residence permit, temporary residence permit in Austria and citizenship. The procedure for obtaining the status of a citizen of the country is fraught with great difficulties and most often, if you are interested in permanent residence in Austria, obtaining a residence permit is enough.

Categories of persons entitled to a residence permit:

Entrepreneurs and business owners,
Students,
Citizens of another country who are married to citizens of the Republic of Austria,
Scientists, athletes, actors - in a word, outstanding personalities.

Permanent residence and Austrian citizenship

A person who has lived in Austria with a residence permit for five years can apply for Austrian permanent residence. With a permanent resident card you can live not only in Austria, but also in other EU countries.

After five years with permanent residence, you can apply for citizenship, that is, ten years after receiving the first temporary residence permit card.

To obtain Austrian citizenship, a foreigner, in addition to owning a permanent resident card, must confirm knowledge of the German language at level B2 (does not apply to children and pensioners), and also renounce an existing passport of another country.

In addition, the applicant must have housing in Austria, be able to confirm the fact of staying in the country for at least 183 days a year for several years and prove the availability of income to cover living expenses.

In addition, the applicant must pay taxes in Austria, document this and have health insurance.

They consider an application for citizenship for a year or more.

What types of residence permits exist?

There are the following types of Austrian residence permit:

Without the right to work (for wealthy people or pensioners).
Working: Rot-Weiẞ-Rote Karte - for highly qualified and rare specialists, Rot-Weiẞ-Rote Karte Plus - for family members of residence permit holders or those living in Austria for permanent residence, Blue Karte - for 2 years.
Seasonal workforce.
Student.
School.
For the self-employed.
Artists, singers and other artists.
For business trips.
“Family members” - reunification with spouses, partners, minor children, parents.
Research - scientists and scientific workers.
Volunteer - employees of volunteer organizations.
Special (for investment).
For exceptional cases.

The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in Austria

The number of quotas for issuing residence permits is regulated by the government and is established every year. Most often, the following categories of Russian citizens receive a residence permit in Austria:

Businessmen with a personal business.
Persons who have a job in an Austrian company.
Financially independent individuals.

For citizens who own a business, the following rules are established: the monthly income should not be less than five thousand euros, and the owner must provide evidence that his business is useful for the country and profitable for the economy. Obtaining a residence permit takes from 2 months to six months.

Persons working for Austrian companies must provide evidence that their income exceeds 2,800 euros per month excluding taxes, that they have insurance and housing. Obtaining a residence permit will take from 2 to 3 months.

Where to contact

To obtain a residence permit, you must personally submit an application to the visa department of the Austrian Embassy, located in Moscow at Chisty Lane, building 11. Submission of documents is carried out on weekdays, excluding holidays, from 08:00 to 13:00, and issuance of a residence permit - from 14: 00 to 16:00. Applicants must pre-register by phone +7(495)956–1660 from 14:00 to 15:00 on weekdays or through the embassy website.

Why can a residence permit be refused or revoked?

The Austrian authorities have the right to refuse to issue a residence permit to a person who does not meet the established requirements. Among the common reasons:

there is insufficient justification for obtaining the type of residence permit for which the applicant is applying;
incomplete package of documents or false information provided;
quota has been reached;
the applicant violated the terms of stay in the country;
the applicant poses a security threat or is a member of a terrorist organization.

In case of refusal, the applicant receives a notice indicating the reasons and time limits for appeal. Further actions will depend on the specific situation:

If a person poses a danger to society, then it is unlikely that it will be possible to restore a residence permit after refusal.
Persons who were not included in the established quota can apply next year.
If the problem is an incomplete package of papers, you will need to provide the missing information.

The applicant has the right to appeal to the Austrian migration authorities or appeal the decision in court. During the consideration of the complaint, you are allowed to stay on Austrian territory until a decision is made on this issue.

If the status was obtained unreasonably or the requirements regarding the period of compulsory residence in Austria are not met, the residence permit is canceled. The consequences of such a decision can be quite serious, for example, deportation and deprivation of the right to enter the European Union.

List of documents

The list of main documents for obtaining permits includes:

valid passport,
general passport,
photograph size 35 × 45 mm,
lease agreement, preliminary lease agreement or certificate of ownership of the property,
medical insurance policy,
documents indicating the availability of funds for living (pay slips, salary certificate, certificate of insurance payments, bank account statement, etc.),
certificate of good conduct,
documents on marital status (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, registered partnership certificate or papers confirming the death of a spouse).

Features for different categories of migrants

The issuance of residence permits is regulated by quotas for foreign citizens, the number of which is determined annually by the Austrian authorities. Additional documentation may be requested during the application review process. Find out detailed information about additional documents that are required when applying for a residence permit in Austria.

Immigration through employment

When employed, in addition to the basic set, they are provided with a work permit. It is obtained in Russia. One of the following cards must be present:

Rot-Weiẞ-Rote Karte or Blue Karte - permission to work for a specific employer;
Rot-Weiẞ-Rote Karte Plus - giving access to the market.

In addition, the applicant can submit a document of English language proficiency (TELC, IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL, Cambridge University certificate).

If an immigrant is going to open a business in Austria or invest in the country’s economy, the following is required:

business plan for a new enterprise,
evidence of transfer of investment capital to Austria,
proof of qualifications necessary for professional activities,
agreements with Austrian companies.

A temporary residence permit is issued for employees of international organizations and secondees. Additionally, proof of guaranteed work or an employment license will be required.

For self-employed persons who intend to obtain a temporary residence permit, an agreement for the provision of services or performance of work for a period of more than 6 months is required.

Studies

Both permanent and temporary residence permits can be issued to students and schoolchildren. A permanent residence permit gives the right to work for up to 20 hours a week, subject to obtaining a work permit from the employment service. At the same time, work should not affect academic performance. Additionally, students will need the following documents:

declaration of responsibility,
notification of admission to the university,
certificate of academic achievement.

For schoolchildren:

documents proving the fact that the student is being raised and maintained by an adult,
confirmation from the school or educational institution of admission,
proof of academic performance (for example, a report card).

Family reunification

Family members of an immigrant legally residing in Austria can obtain both temporary and permanent residence permits. The main advantage of permanent permits is the possibility of subsequent employment. In addition, family members of Austrian citizens can also move. To obtain a residence permit, you will need documents confirming your relationship with the immigrant, as well as a copy of his residence permit or Austrian passport.

Research activities

Austrian residence permits for scientists and researchers can be issued for up to two years. The applicant will need an agreement to accept work from a certified research organization, as well as proof of availability of housing (rented or rented) and funds for a return ticket.

Holders of this residence permit have the right to receive a “Red-White-Red Card Plus” after 2 years of residence in Austria.

For university graduates

If the applicant is a university graduate and has received a job offer in his specialty under a contract valid for at least 1 year, he will be issued a Blue Card EU residence permit. Additional documents required:

university diploma,
proof of university status,
application from the employer in accordance with the Law on the Employment of Foreign Citizens.

For financially independent persons

This method is the most popular among wealthy citizens of Russia and other CIS countries. However, a person needs to have a good business in his native country that will bring him high income.

There is one huge advantage of obtaining a residence permit in this way - the immigrant is deprived of paying taxes. The document can be renewed many times as long as the person meets all the requirements.

In this case, to obtain a residence permit, certain conditions must be met:

availability of documents confirming the income of immigrants. For a family of 3 people this figure is 80,000 euros per year;
provision of a certificate of proficiency in German at the initial level A1;
registration of a medical insurance policy to cover expenses;
existence of a rental agreement;
when buying real estate.

For artists and culture workers

Allows non-independent work and independent activities to create works of art.

When obtaining a residence permit in Austria for artists, it is necessary to submit a petition with a written explanation from the employer, or a contract for the implementation of such activities (for a period of more than 6 months).

For refugees

Refugees are immediately issued a permanent residence permit Red-White-Red Card Plus with the right to subsequent employment. To do this, you must additionally provide evidence of persecution in your home country.

For minors

To obtain a residence permit for a child, you will need an original and a certified copy of his birth certificate, as well as documents from the parents. One of the parents must be present when submitting documents.

For pensioners

To obtain a residence permit for pensioners, as documents confirming the availability of a sufficient amount of funds, you must provide a certificate of accrual of a state pension, as well as papers confirming the fact of pension and other social payments.

Residence permit in Austria

From year to year, the stability and high standard of living in Austria are confirmed by figures and high indicators in all kinds of ratings - in terms of GDP per capita, residents' earnings, and even in the most favorable conditions for motherhood. In Austria, it is customary to work hard and efficiently, so the standards required for immigration to this state are also quite high. However, with a reasonable approach, a foreigner can obtain a residence permit in Austria, and with it access to a number of beneficial benefits.

Benefits of immigrating to Austria:

High standard of living and stable social security
Extensive labor market
Medicine and education of the highest level
Excellent ecology and high level of personal safety

In January 2006, the Austrian Aliens Act was replaced by the Settlement and Residence Act and the Aliens Police Act.

Reasons for obtaining a residence permit in Austria:

Residence permit for work in Austria

This category is intended for foreign applicants who intend to work in Austria independently or as an employee.

Residence permit for students

Full-time students of universities in Austria can obtain a residence permit on this basis.

Residence permit for reunification with family members

In this case, spouses, registered partners, as well as minor children of Austrian residents can obtain a residence permit in Austria.
Issued for the first time, a plastic card confirming a residence permit is issued for a period of 1 year with the possibility of extension for another year. After the second year of stay in the country in this status, you can obtain a residence permit for a longer period - for 3 years. However, exceptions are possible. The document is subject to extension for a total of 5 years.

Please note that obtaining a residence permit in Austria is regulated by quotas; moreover, in each district the decision to issue this status is made by a separate commission, which to a certain extent complicates the process of obtaining a residence permit in Austria. Despite this, it is possible to complete the necessary documents in just over six months on average.

Required documents:

— The corresponding form filled out in German
— Internal and international passport of the applicant
— Registration documents
— Birth and marriage certificate
— Documents that confirm the required level of financial security of the applicant
— Agreement on lease or ownership of real estate
— Certificate of required level of German proficiency
— Insurance policy.

Obtaining a residence permit in such a successful and prosperous state as Austria means taking a step towards a prosperous European future, because the next stage after receiving it is a permanent residence permit and citizenship. It is noteworthy that the same 6 months that will allow you to obtain a residence permit in Austria, with proper preparation, will allow you to leave the stages of residence permit-permanent residence far behind and, within the same period, obtain European citizenship. This option is possible, for example, when applying for Romanian citizenship.

Regardless of which option you consider most suitable for yourself, our specialists will help you go through all stages of document preparation as quickly as possible and at the highest level! Contact us now!

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Validity

Initially, a residence permit is issued for a year. It must be renewed annually for 2 years. Then this procedure must be repeated every year and a half, and then every 18 months. A total of 5 years.

After this period, the immigrant has the right to apply for permanent residence. After another 5 years, the foreigner can claim citizenship.

In general, a person must live 10 years in Austria to obtain a passport from this country. Although there are exceptions, and this period may increase or, on the contrary, decrease slightly.

Is it possible to extend

Upon expiration of the residence permit, the immigrant has the right to extend its validity.

To do this, you need to contact the foreigners department and provide the following documents:

statement;
international passport;
grounds for extending a residence permit;
income certificate;
photo;
real estate purchase agreement and housing rental certificate.

Documents must be submitted in advance, before the residence permit expires.

Residence permit for investment

Financially independent individuals and senior managers have the opportunity to obtain the right to reside in Austria. Initially, a residence permit is issued for a period of one year; in the future, it can be renewed annually. After ten years of residence, the investor has the right to apply for Austrian citizenship.

Requirements for financially independent persons

The main criteria for issuing a residence permit to financially independent persons are proof of the availability of funds (at least €40 thousand for an adult and at least €10 thousand for children under 18 years old), the presence of permanent housing in Austria (it can be rented) and a health insurance policy . Please note that a residence permit on this basis does not give the right to work in Austria.

You can include your spouse and children under 18 years of age in your application. Due to the strict quota system (about 300 per year), the processing time for a residence permit application can be quite long, reaching four to six months.

Required documents:

International passport.
Birth certificate.
A photograph measuring 45x35 mm and not older than six months.
Marriage certificate (for those who are planning to move with their spouse).
Confirmation of the availability of housing in Austria (for example, a rental agreement or a purchase and sale agreement).
Insurance.
Proof of sufficient funds in the bank account (based on the specified requirements).

Requirements for senior managers

The basis for this category of applicants is work in a managerial position in an Austrian company with a salary of at least €2.5 thousand per month. Monthly expenses for taxes and social needs must be at least €800.

You can include your spouse and children under 18 years of age in your application. The period for obtaining a residence permit and work permit takes no more than three months.

Required documents:

International passport.
Birth certificate.
A photograph measuring 45x35 mm and not older than six months.
Marriage certificate (for those who are planning to move with their spouse).
Insurance.
Contract with the employer.

Irina Simonyan: “It is worth noting that in Austria there is no investment program for obtaining a residence permit in the usual sense, when there is a certain amount of necessary investment. There is an option to obtain a residence permit for financially independent persons who are ready to demonstrate the availability of sufficient funds.

This scheme is of main interest not for investors, but for wealthy “financially independent” citizens who want to move to Austria without applying for jobs in the country (for example, for pensioners). Citizens of Russia and post-Soviet countries are actively interested in this opportunity. We also see great interest among citizens of the Middle East, Asia, and countries of North and South America.”

Examples of real estate in Austria

Residence permit upon purchase

Store in Gosau, Austria €999,000 Area 467 m2 Benesteem Executive Con…

Villa in Kitzbühel, Austria €1,700,000 Area 350 m2 HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria 1,400,000 € Area 151.91 m2, 4 rooms HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria 749,000 € Area 59.09 m2, 2 rooms HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria 539,700 € Area 77.36 m2, 3 rooms HOUSAGE

Store in Austria Price on request HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria 388,000 € Area 88.45 m2, 3 rooms HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €273,000 Area 56.56 m2, 2 rooms HOUSAGE

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €1,450,000 Area 192 m2, 5 rooms Crown Consulting

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €1,398,600 Area 107.7 m2, 3 rooms Luxury Immobilien GMBH

Apartment in Salzburg, Austria €2,853,000 Area 348.15 m2, 4 rooms Luxury Immobilien GMBH

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €799,000 Area 95.49 m2, 3 rooms Luxury Immobilien GMBH

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €1,170,000 Area 143 m2, 4 rooms Crown Consulting

Commercial property in Lower Austria, Austria €280,000 Area 2.246 m2 Austria Real GmbH

Villa in Lower Austria, Austria €5,500,000 Area 1760 m2 Russia Sotheby's Intern…

Villa in Austria €685,000 Area 106 m2, 3 rooms Immotrading GmbH

Hotel, hotel in Austria €2,300,000 Area 1600 m2 Immotrading GmbH

Villa in Vienna, Austria Price on request Area 646 m2, 13 rooms Luxury Immobilien GMBH

Residence permit upon purchase

Castle in Lower Austria, Austria €1,700,000 Area 950 m2 Austria Real GmbH

Apartment in Vienna, Austria €1,590,000 Area 173 m2 Knight Frank

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Who doesn't need quotas

However, not all foreigners should count on quotas from the state. There are several categories of persons who do not need a work permit, and therefore are not required to obtain a residence permit. These categories include:

clergy,
Diplomats and politicians
Refugees,
Media staff,
Scientists, teachers and other persons engaged in educational activities with whom a contract has been concluded.

As you can see, obtaining a residence permit in Austria is not so difficult; the main thing is to provide evidence of financial security and a desire to join the country’s economy.