Integration agreement

Module 1 is designed to encourage immigrants to acquire a command of German that allows them to communicate for basic everyday purposes, a level equivalent to level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages, as well as to teach immigrants about the fundamental values underpinning Austrian law and society.

Third-country nationals must fulfil the requirements of Module 1 upon being issued one of the following types of residence permit for the first time:

• 'red-white-red – card' (however, fulfilled by operation of law ) 
• 'red-white-red – card plus'
• 'residence permit'
• 'residence permit – excluding gainful employment'
• 'residence permit – relative'
• 'family member'
• 'residence permit – artist'
• 'residence permit – special cases of employments'

The duty to fulfil the relevant requirements begins when the residence permit is first issued. The requirements of Module 1 must be fulfilled within two years from this date.

The following categories of people are exempted from the requirements of Module 1 of the Integration Agreement:

• Minors (under the age of 14) who will still be minors when the deadline to fulfil the requirements would ordinarily expire.
• Individuals who cannot reasonably be expected to fulfil the requirements for reasons of their physical or mental health. The third-country national concerned must provide evidence of their entitlement to this exemption in the form of medical certificate issued by an officially accredited physician.
• Individuals who provide a written declaration that they will not remain in Austria for longer than 24 months. Submitting this declaration will be treated as an irrevocable waiver of their right to extend their residence permit after the first application for an extension.

Individuals can apply to postpone the deadline for meeting the requirements of the Integration Agreement for up to 12 months on the basis of their personal circumstances.

The requirements of Module 1 can be fulfilled in the following ways:

• By providing proof from the Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF) that you have passed the Integration Examination (in the form of the document known as the Zeugnis zur Integrationsprüfung) and have a level of German of at least A2),
• A school leaving certificate that would entitle the holder to enter a university, as defined under Section 64 para. 1 of the Universitätsgesetz, or that is equivalent to a leaving certificate from a vocational middle school (berufsbildende mittlere Schule).
• By proving you hold a 'red-white-red – card' pursuant to Section 41 para.1 or para. 2 of the Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (for holders of a 'red-white-red – card'. Module 1 of the Integration Agreement is deemed to have been fulfilled by operation of law).
• By engaging in artistic activities in one of the branches of the arts named in section 2 para. 1 (1) to (3) of the Kunstförderungsgesetz while holding a residence permit – artist pursuant to Section 43a NAG
• By fulfilling the requirements of Module 2.

Certified providers (ÖIF) provide various integration courses in preparation for the Module 1 Integration Examination. For some family members, the Austrian Federal Government will pay 50 per cent of the costs of an integration course, up to a maximum of 750 Euro, provided that the family member concerned

• takes part in at least 75 per cent of the course and
• passes the integration examination within 18 months from the beginning of the period in which they are required to pass Module 1, as evidenced by the ÖIF's 'Zeugnis zur Integrationsprüfung'.

Eligible individuals can obtain the required voucher from the relevant residence and leave to remain authority (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsbehörde) responsible for issuing their residence permit.

Module 2 is designed to encourage immigrants to acquire a command of German that allows them to use the language independently, a level equivalent to level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages, as well as to teach immigrants more about the fundamental values underpinning Austrian law and society.

There is no general requirement for holders of residence permits to fulfil the requirement for Module 2. However, you can only apply for a long-term-EU residence permit if you have fulfilled the requirements for Module 2. Module 2 is also required before you can apply for Austrian citizenship. Third-country nationals looking to obtain a long-term EU residence permit must have fulfilled the requirements of Module 2 of the Integration Agreement before submitting their application. 

The following categories of people are exempted from the requirements of Module 2 of the Integration Agreement:

• Third-country nationals who are minors at the time of their application and are not yet subject to the requirement for compulsory schooling, which applies from the 1 September after a child's sixth birthday.
• Individuals who cannot reasonably be expected to fulfil the requirements for reasons of their physical or mental health. The third-country national concerned must provide evidence of their entitlement to this exemption in the form of a medical certificate issued by an officially accredited physician.

The requirements of Module 2 can be fulfilled in the following ways:

• By providing proof from the Österreichischer Integrationsfonds (ÖIF) that you have passed the integration examination (in the form of the document known as the "Zeugnis zur Integrationsprüfung" at a level of German of at least B1).
• For minors, by providing proof that they are attending a primary school as part of the requirement for compulsory schooling.
• For minors, by providing proof that they are attending a secondary school (e.g. Hauptschule or AHS) as part of the requirement for compulsory schooling, provided they were awarded a positive grade in German [language] in their latest end-of-year report or report card.
• By providing evidence that the individual concerned has attended compulsory schooling in Austria for at least five years, with a positive grade in German [language] or a positive grade in German [language] in school year 9, or a positive grade in "Deutsch – Kommunikation und Gesellschaft" as part of the compulsory school-leaving examination.
• By providing proof of a positive grade in German [language] following at least four years of instruction in German at a school outside Austria.
• By providing proof of having completed a final vocational examination (Lehrabschlussprüfung) in accordance with the Berufsausbildungsgesetz (Vocational Training Act) or the Skilled Worker Examination (Facharbeiterprüfung) in accordance with the relevant provincial law governing agricultural and forestry qualifications.
• By providing proof of enrolment for two years at a higher education institution (e.g. a university) for a subject taught in German and worth at least 32 ECTS credits and/or 16 semester hours (Semesterstunden), or by providing a suitable certificate from a higher-education institution.