EU citizens* and Swiss nationals – Application for a registration certificate and certificate of permanent residence

General information

* In this text, the term ‘EU citizen’ does not always refer only to EU citizens, but also to other EEA citizens (from Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway) and Swiss nationals.

EU citizens, who are entitled, in accordance with Union law, to reside in Austria for more than three months, receive, upon request, a ‘registration certificate’, as documentation of their right of residence in accordance with Union law (a corresponding application must be submitted within 4 months of arrival in Austria).

After five years of lawful and continuous residence in Austria, they acquire the right of permanent residence. Upon request, a ‘certificate of permanent residence’ is issued to them.

Requirements

EU citizens are entitled to reside in Austria for more than three months, if they

• are employed or self‑employed in Austria, or
• have sufficient means of subsistence and comprehensive health insurance coverage for themselves and their dependants, so that during their stay, they will not need to claim either welfare benefits or compensatory allowances, or
• the principal aim of their stay is to obtain a qualification, including a professional qualification, from a state school or legally recognised private school or educational establishment, and they have sufficient means of subsistence and comprehensive health insurance coverage for themselves and their dependants, so that during their stay, they will not need to claim either welfare benefits or compensatory allowances.

Deadlines

The stay must be registered with the competent settlement authority within four months of arrival in Austria. A ‘registration certificate’ will be issued upon request, if the requirements are met.

EU citizens who have a right of residence in accordance with Union law acquire the right of permanent residence after five years of lawful and continuous residence in Austria. A ‘certificate of permanent residence’ will be issued upon request, if the requirements are met.

Competent authority

The competent settlement authority that is responsible locally for the main residence of the EU citizen is:

• the Governor or
• the district administrative authority authorised by the latter
  • the district authority^{German text}
  • in chartered urban districts: the Municipal Executive^{German text}
    • in Vienna: the MA 35, ‘EEA’ Unit^{German text}

Procedure

You must apply in person for the ‘registration certificate’ and the ‘certificate of permanent residence’ at the competent settlement authority. The application form can be obtained from the authority. Furthermore, the form for the application for the registration certificate and the certificate of permanent residence can also be downloaded.

The documentation will be issued to you, in person,

• if all of the required documents have been submitted and
• you meet the requirements.

For children under the age of 14, the application must be made by their legal representative.

Required documents

Applications for registration certificates and certificates of permanent residence can only be processed quickly once all the necessary documents have been submitted.

As evidence of the right of residence in accordance with Union law, the following documents must be submitted in particular:

• a valid ID card or passport, and:
• confirmation of employment or evidence of self‑employment (e.g. a contract of employment, tax number, extract from the GISA [Austrian Business Licence Information System]) or
• evidence of sufficient means of subsistence (e.g. bank balance, pension benefits) and comprehensive health insurance coverage or
• evidence regarding the accreditation of a school or educational establishment and of comprehensive health insurance coverage, as well as a declaration or other evidence of sufficient means of subsistence (e.g. for school pupils or students: confirmation of the accreditation of a school or a certification of enrolment).

Costs and fees

A federal fee of 15 Euro (additional fees may apply)

Further information

• Accreditation (→ BMEIA)^{German text}
• List of expert witnesses and court interpreters (→ BMJ)^{German text}

Legal basis

• Sections 51, 53 and 53a of the Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG)
• Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (NAG-DV)

Link to form

Application forms and explanations can be found on the BMI Website.