Settling in Austria

Austria consists of nine federal states and many municipalities. Some matters are handled by the municipality or the municipal authorities, while others are handled by the federal state or a federal authority. After moving in, registering your residence is a central step. The form commonly used for this is the Meldezettel (residence registration form); the responsible office is usually the municipal office, a municipal authority or another local registration office. Depending on your origin, reason for staying and length of stay, further steps may be necessary for your residence. Residence registration and the right of residence are different matters and should be checked separately. For daily life, it is important to have a reachable telephone number, a bank account, suitable insurance and secure access to letters. Official letters should be opened, understood and stored in an orderly way. German is the most important common language in public life. Regional dialects are widespread, but standard language is usually used in public authorities, schools and many businesses. Public transport is particularly well developed in cities, while a car may be more important in rural areas. Timetables, shopping opportunities, medical care and waste regulations differ depending on where you live. Clubs, the neighbourhood, school, work and local events make it easier to get to know people. Friendly greetings, punctuality at appointments and consideration for quiet hours are helpful in everyday life. You do not have to solve everything at once when settling in. An organized list of urgent official matters, essential services and later social steps creates security.