🏠 Your First 30 Days in Austria: Registration, Healthcare & Everyday Essentials

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Introduction

Moving to Austria is a big step — and whether you arrive from another EU country or from abroad, there are some important things you must do right after you land. Even EU citizens who don’t need a visa must register, handle taxes, and take care of basic formalities. These first steps are essential to settling in smoothly and starting your new life in Austria.

1️⃣ Registration – Registering Your Address

  • Within 3 days of moving into your new home, you must register your address at the local Meldeamt (registration office).

  • You’ll need: passport/ID, rental contract, and the Meldezettel (form signed by your landlord).

  • This document is required for almost everything: bank account, health insurance, and even phone contracts.

2️⃣ Tax Number & FinanzOnline

  • Once you’re employed or self-employed, you’ll be registered with the tax office.

  • You’ll receive a tax number (Steuernummer) and can manage your taxes via FinanzOnline, the government’s digital portal.

  • Even EU citizens must do this when working in Austria.

3️⃣ Health Insurance

  • Most employees are automatically insured with ÖGK (Austrian Health Insurance Fund) .

  • If you’re self-employed, you need to register with SVS (Social Insurance for the Self-Employed).

  • Private health insurance is also available, especially useful for newcomers.

4️⃣ Opening a Bank Account

  • A local bank account makes daily life easier — from receiving your salary to paying rent.

  • Popular banks include Erste Bank, Raiffeisen, and online banks like N26.

  • You’ll need your passport and Meldezettel to open one.

5️⃣ Registering Children for School or Childcare

  • Austria offers public, private, and international schools.

  • Registration for kindergarten ( Kindergartenpflicht starts at age 5 ) and schools happens at the local Bezirksschulrat (district school authority) .

6️⃣ Mobile Phone & Internet

  • Major providers include A1, Drei, and Magenta.

  • You’ll usually need your passport and address registration (Meldezettel) to sign a contract.

7️⃣ Language & Integration Courses

  • German is the key to smooth integration.

  • The government supports integration with language and culture courses.

  • Even if you’re from the EU, learning German will make bureaucracy, work, and daily life much easier.

🔗 Useful Resources

📌 Related Guides

Conclusion

With these first steps complete, you’ll be fully set up to start your new life in Austria. Bureaucracy can feel overwhelming at first, but once you get through Anmeldung, taxes, and health insurance, things become much smoother. With time, patience, and dedication, you’ll adapt and enjoy all that Austria has to offer.

“To better understand the process, check out our video guide right here 👇”


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