Austria

Austria is a country in the heart of Europe with a population of about 9 million people. The state borders the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Germany. Its total area is 84,000 square kilometers. This is a post-industrial country with a dynamically developing economy. Austria is a federation of 9 states, with Vienna being the capital of one of them. The state is a parliamentary representative democracy with an elected president as the head of state and a chancellor who holds executive power and leads the government.

Austria ranks 25th globally in the Human Development Index and 12th in GDP per capita. In 1995, the country signed the Schengen Agreement and became part of the Schengen Area. Austria's currency is the euro.

Visa

To visit Austria, foreigners need to apply for a Schengen visa. Despite the fact that the procedure is relatively simple, for citizens of Russia since 2022 there are special conditions that significantly complicate the process of obtaining permits. Each application is considered individually and involves mandatory participation in an interview.

Attention

The standard processing time has increased from 7 working days to 15-45. At the same time, an application accepted for consideration does not guarantee a visa.

The visa program of Austria involves obtaining the following standard permits for entry and stay in the country:

• tourist visa,
• student visa,
• work visa,
• transit visa,
• business visa.

Each visa has individual requirements for obtaining it and a specific validity period. To learn more about all available permits, applicant requirements, and entry conditions, please refer to the relevant article on our website.

Residence Permit

If the standard visa validity period is insufficient, a foreigner can apply for a residence permit in Austria. If the candidate meets the requirements of the selected program, they can obtain permission for long-term residence, employment, business activities, and more. However, in every case, the applicant must justify their request, demonstrate their reliability, and prove their financial solvency.

Important

After living in Austria for 5 years with a residence permit, a foreigner becomes eligible to apply for permanent residence, and after an additional 10 years, they can request permanent residency status.

Foreign citizens in Austria have access to several types of residence permits, differing in purpose and grounds for issuance:

• for employment;
• for studies;
• for digital nomads;
• through marriage;
• for family reunification;
• for property purchase;
• for business activities.

As a rule, a residence permit has a standard validity period of one year. However, if you want to learn more about each program, understand which documents need to be prepared, and what requirements applicants face, the dedicated article will explain all the details.

Citizenship

The status of a permanent resident of Austria appeals to relocants primarily because it grants all the privileges of the European Union. Austrian nationals in the Schengen Zone enjoy the right to free travel, preferential education, employment, business activities, and more. Civil legislation allows foreigners to participate in one of the following programs:

• Affiliation,
• Repatriation,
• Naturalization,
• Investment-based citizenship.

Attention

The main applicant can add all family members to the application. There is a special program for investors that allows to reduce the residency period to just 2 years.

Citizens of Russia and the CIS are allowed to apply for any of the programs. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the requirements and the level of scrutiny may be stricter. For more detailed and up-to-date information, read the article specifically focused on Austrian citizenship matters.

Passport

An Austrian passport can only be obtained by citizens of the country. If this right is not acquired by birth, the individual seeking a national identity document must fulfill the conditions of an appropriate residency program. The mandatory requirements always include passing a language proficiency test and swearing an oath of allegiance to the state. Additionally, the applicant must:

• have no criminal record;
• have sufficient financial resources;
• demonstrate a good moral character.

Attention

The total costs for obtaining citizenship and a national ID card are over 2500 euros.

If you are interested in this matter, we have thoroughly discussed the conditions, requirements, and processes for obtaining an Austrian passport in the corresponding article.

Climate Conditions

Austria has a moderate climate, transitioning to a continental one. It depends on variations in altitude. Summers are warm, with an average temperature of +20 degrees Celsius. The hottest months are July and August. As the altitude increases, the temperature drops and can reach 0 degrees. However, this phenomenon occurs less frequently than in Alpine countries. Summers are dry, so temperature fluctuations are almost nonexistent, even during bad weather. Winters are mild. In the plains, the temperature does not drop below -2 degrees Celsius. In mountainous regions, the temperature can drop to -14. The coldest month is January.

Precipitation levels are also affected by altitude differences. In the plains, 500-1000 mm of precipitation falls annually. In the northern and western peripheral mountain ranges, the figure is higher, ranging from 1500 to 3000 mm per year. This is due to the fact that mountains, standing in the path of western winds, become the main condensers of moisture.

Demographics

As of January 1, 2023, the population of Austria is 8.9 million people. Only permanent residents are included in the count. The majority of the population is adult (ages 30-60), totaling 3.8 million people. Children and youth (ages 0-30) account for about 3 million. The remaining part of the population consists of elderly people. The average life expectancy in Austria is 81.6 years, placing the country 27th in the global ranking. Additionally, women live 4.1 years longer than men.

The national composition of the state is homogeneous. 89% of the population are Austrian Germans. They are followed by Bosniaks, Serbs, Croats, and Slovaks, who make up 4% of the total population. Another 1.6% are Turks. The remaining portion of the population consists of other ethnic groups.

Economy

Austria is one of the most economically developed countries in Europe. In 2023, the GDP per capita was $56,800, placing the country in 12th position worldwide.

The country has a diverse economy, with sectors ranging from tourism to aerospace technologies. Austria attracts 15 million visitors every year. The largest share of the economy comes from the service sector (65.8%). Industry (32.3%) and agriculture (1.7%) also play significant roles. Austria maintains economic relations with 150 countries globally, actively importing raw materials and natural resources. The primary supplier of oil is Kazakhstan.

Austria has a well-established non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy industry. The country’s light industry is built around textiles, apparel, and leather and footwear production. Other prominent sectors include paper and pulp, forestry, and woodworking. Special emphasis is placed on developing advanced technologies and high-tech industries. Austria is also known for its electronics and electrical engineering production.

Germany is Austria’s largest trading partner, accounting for 36.1% of the country's trade. Austria also maintains close economic ties with Italy, Hungary, Switzerland, and France. Eastern Europe represents 17.5% of Austria’s exports and 13.2% of its imports.

Freedom of Travel

Austria has one of the strongest passports. It holds a ranking of 3. The Austrian passport allows travel to 176 countries. In 133 of these, no visa is required, while in another 44, entry permission is obtained upon arrival. Only 22 countries on the list require Austrian citizens to obtain a visa in advance and contact an embassy.