PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN AUSTRIA

PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN AUSTRIA

After you have legally been in Austria for five uninterrupted years, and have met a number of other requirements, you may apply for the Austrian residence permit, the Long-term resident – EC, which grants you permanent right of residence. In German, this is called Aufenthaltstitel “Daueraufenthalt EU”.

Overseen by provincial government authorities, this permit grants you the right to stay and work in Austria for five years. It is renewable and it also allows you to live and work in other EU countries, provided you qualify.

The difference between citizenship and permanent residence in Austria

As both a permanent resident and a citizen, you have the right to live and work freely in Austria, however, there are some differences. To become a citizen, for example, you must pass a written exam about Austria’s history and democratic system.

Another difference lies in voting rights. Only Austrian citizens, and some EU citizens in some elections, can stand in and vote in elections. Unfortunately, as a permanent resident hailing from a non-European country, your political impact in Austria will likely be limited.

Requirements for permanent residence in Austria

In order to apply for Austrian permanent residence, you must have met the following requirements:

• Had legal status in Austria for the past five years, uninterrupted
• Been financially self-sufficient, whether through independent means, a job, or self-employment
• Maintained health insurance for those five years
• Maintained adequate accommodation, and had your accommodation registered with the government, for those five years
• Been no threat to security or public order
• You also must have completed Module 2 of the Integration Agreement, which includes attaining a B1 level of German

Requirements for asylum seekers

How to apply for permanent residence in Austria

To apply for Austrian permanent residence, you will need to apply in person at the provincial government authority in your city. Processing times vary, but once you are approved, you will receive your credit-card shaped residence permit which is valid for the next five years.

Losing your permanent residence rights in Austria

Unfortunately, it is possible to lose your Austrian permanent residence. Possible reasons include

• staying outside of the EU for more than 12 consecutive months
• not living in Austria for six years
• becoming a public safety or criminal risk.

Fortunately, though, losing residency is not very common.

It usually includes a set of services

• translation of documents into German and their certification by a notary
• consultations and legal services
• help in filling out the application and questionnaire
• counseling and recommendations on passing the interview
• escort to the interview
• interpreter services if necessary
• help with housing and transport

The cost of obtaining a permanent residence permit in Austria depends on the volume of services that our migration lawyers will provide.