Permanent Residency in Austria (Daueraufenthalt – EU) 2025 Guide

For many internationals who have built a life in Austria, the ultimate question is how to stay here long term without depending on short permits. Austria’s answer is Daueraufenthalt – EU, the long-term residence status for non-EU citizens. It secures your right to live and work here permanently and opens doors to other EU countries. But there’s an important distinction: not everyone falls under this regime.

Daueraufenthalt vs. Daueraufenthalt – EU

Austria operates with two different “permanent residence” frameworks.

• • Daueraufenthalt – EU
    This applies to third-country nationals, meaning anyone who is not a citizen of an EU member state, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland. It is based on EU law for long-term residence and written into Austria’s Settlement and Residence Act. Applicants need five years of continuous legal stay, secure livelihood, health insurance, adequate housing, and German at B1 level (Integration Agreement Module 2).

  • Daueraufenthaltsrecht
    This applies to EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their family members under free-movement law. They already enjoy the right to reside in Austria, and after five years they can obtain a certificate confirming permanent residence. This route does not require income or language proofs, because EU citizens cannot be treated like third-country nationals.

The difference exists because EU citizens have treaty-based free-movement rights, while non-EU citizens only gain comparable security through the special long-term residence directive.

Who qualifies for Daueraufenthalt – EU in 2025

• • Five years of continuous, lawful residence in Austria with valid permits

  • Fulfilment of Integration Agreement Module 2, meaning German at B1 level or accepted equivalent

  • Secure livelihood without relying on social assistance

  • Health insurance covering all risks

  • Adequate housing documented by a lease or property deed

Absences of up to six consecutive months or ten months in total over the five years are tolerated. Longer gaps may reset the residence clock.

Rights granted

• • Permanent stay in Austria with no expiry date on the title

  • Free access to the Austrian labor market, without employer restrictions

  • Mobility rights: possibility to apply for long-term residence in other EU states under simplified rules

  • Counts toward the residence requirement for Austrian citizenship

Documents usually required

• • Passport and recent passport photos

  • Birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage or partnership certificates and children’s birth certificates

  • Copies of past residence permits and registration certificates (Meldezettel)

  • Income evidence such as payslips, tax assessments, pension notices, or business accounts

  • Proof of health insurance, usually the Austrian e-card or private coverage

  • Housing documents, either a rental contract or a property deed

  • German certificate at B1 level from an accepted provider, or Austrian educational proof

  • Confirmation of Integration Agreement Module 2

  • Criminal record extract if requested by the authority

Fees in 2025

• • Application fee typically between 120 and 160 euros per adult, depending on province

  • Card issuance fee around 20 to 30 euros

  • Provincial or municipal surcharges often between 15 and 40 euros

  • Additional costs for translations, apostilles, and certified copies

Processing times

On average, two to six months. Delays often come from missing translations, incomplete income records, or unexplained residence gaps.

Application process

1. 1. Check your five-year residence record and B1 German proof

   2. Collect civil-status documents and arrange for legalization and translation if needed

   3. Prepare a clear income file with payslips, tax documents, and social-insurance records

   4. Book an appointment with the competent authority (MA 35 in Vienna or the district authority elsewhere)

   5. Submit a complete bundle; incomplete applications slow everything down

   6. Once approved, collect your Daueraufenthalt – EU card and update relevant offices or employers

Common pitfalls

• • Miscounting years of study or absences, which can break the five-year clock

  • Submitting informal housing arrangements rather than legal contracts

  • Assuming health insurance is secondary when it is central to the application

  • Filing without a recognized B1 proof of German

  • Submitting partial translations or incomplete bundles

Daueraufenthalt – EU vs. citizenship

Daueraufenthalt – EU is faster, available after five years, and does not force you to give up your current nationality. Citizenship takes at least ten years, requires renunciation in most cases, and adds political rights and a passport. For many, permanent residence is the pragmatic middle step.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Austrian residence law changes regularly, and provinces interpret rules differently. Always verify your personal situation with the competent authority or a qualified immigration lawyer before applying.