Moving to Austria the complete guide
Vienna is routinely ranked among the most liveable cities on Earth, and Austria pairs that with mountains, strong public services and a central European location that puts half the continent within a short drive. Here is the honest brief.
Costs are indicative 2026 ranges. Verify customs, visa and tax rules before you move.
Liveability, location and services that work
Austria offers a high quality of life at a cost that, while not cheap, sits below Switzerland and much of northern Europe. Vienna in particular is famous for affordable, well managed housing, excellent public transport and culture on every corner, while the western provinces around Salzburg, Innsbruck and the Tyrol put skiing and hiking within reach. German is the working language, though English is widely spoken in cities and international workplaces.
As a member of the European Union, Austria is an internal move for fellow Europeans, who relocate freely and simply register. For movers from outside the bloc the route runs through residence permits, with skilled worker and EU Blue Card pathways the most common for professionals. Central Vienna sits within a day's drive of Munich, Prague, Budapest and northern Italy, which makes onward travel and weekend trips easy.
Austria is landlocked, so international household shipments arrive by sea at a northern European port such as Hamburg or Bremerhaven, or at Koper in Slovenia for goods coming through the Mediterranean, then travel into Austria by road or rail. Air freight runs into Vienna for smaller, time sensitive loads.
Skilled professionals and graduates
The Red White Red Card and EU Blue Card target qualified workers, recent graduates of Austrian universities and people in shortage occupations.
EU and EFTA citizens
Free movement makes the move simple: register your address, obtain a registration certificate, and you are set.
Families who value balance
Strong schools, safe streets, good healthcare and Vienna's renowned social housing make Austria a steady, affordable family base by European standards.
Residence routes, in plain language
Citizens of the European Union and EFTA move freely and register. Non European movers need a residence title, and Austria runs a points based system for skilled workers alongside employer led routes.
A points based residence and work permit for very highly qualified workers, skilled workers in shortage occupations, graduates of Austrian universities and key staff. Points come from qualifications, experience, language and age.
For university educated workers with a qualifying salary and a job offer. It offers mobility within the European Union and a clear path to longer term residence.
Routes exist for family reunification, students and the financially independent. Each has its own income, insurance and accommodation conditions.
No permit needed. Register your address, then obtain an Anmeldebescheinigung, the registration certificate confirming your right of residence, within the first months.
Used household goods and Austrian customs
For movers arriving from inside the European Union there is no customs formality, because it is an internal move within the single market. You can simply ship your belongings. For movers from outside the EU, used household goods enter Austria under the change of residence relief, known locally as Übersiedlungsgut, free of import duty and value added tax when you are transferring your normal residence to Austria.
The relief from outside the EU generally requires that you have lived outside the EU for at least the previous twelve months, that the goods were owned and used for at least six months before the move, and that they arrive within a set period around the date you settle. You provide a detailed valued inventory, your passport, proof of the new Austrian address, and evidence that you are taking up residence. Your mover lodges the declaration with Austrian customs, usually at the inland customs office after the road or rail leg from the arrival port.
Vehicles are a separate process with their own import, the standardised consumption levy and registration. Alcohol and tobacco beyond personal allowances attract duty, and weapons, certain foods and protected species are restricted or prohibited. Because Austria has no coastline, choosing a mover who understands the port to inland customs handover for your specific origin matters more here than for a coastal country.
What life costs and how to get set up
Austria is moderately priced for western Europe. Vienna stands out for relatively affordable rent thanks to a large stock of subsidised and cooperative housing, while the Alpine west and tourist hotspots run dearer. Groceries, dining and transport are reasonable, and the annual Vienna public transport pass is one of the best value city travel deals anywhere.
Settling in starts with registration. Within three working days of moving into your home you must register your address at the municipal registration office, the Meldeamt, using a form called the Meldezettel. This registration is the document almost every other process asks to see. EU citizens then apply for the registration certificate, while non EU residents collect their residence card.
Healthcare runs through the public social insurance system, the ÖGK, which most employees and their families join automatically through work, with contributions deducted from salary. The self employed and some others register directly. Once insured you receive an e card that you present at doctors and pharmacies. Many residents add modest private cover for faster specialist access.
Your first month checklist
- Register your address at the Meldeamt with a Meldezettel within three working days
- Apply for your registration certificate (EU) or collect your residence card
- Register with the ÖGK social insurance and obtain your e card
- Open an Austrian bank account once you have registration and a permit
- Set up utilities, home insurance and a local mobile number
- Exchange your foreign driving licence within the allowed period
- Enrol children at the local school and register with the district authority
How to choose a mover for Austria
No mover is named or ranked anywhere on this site. Here is how to judge any company quoting a move to Austria, then request quotes from vetted firms that genuinely run your origin to Austria.
Check FIDI or IAM affiliation
Membership of FIDI (through the FAIM quality standard) or IAM signals audited financial and operational standards. It is the single fastest filter for an international move.
Insist on a binding pre move survey
A mover who quotes your volume from a video or home survey, in writing, is quoting the real job. A price given without seeing your goods is a guess that tends to climb later.
Confirm genuine experience on this lane
Ask how many moves they run on this exact corridor each year, which port and customs broker they use, and who clears the goods at the other end.
Read the insurance terms, not the headline
Compare marine all risk cover, the valuation basis, the excess, and what counts as an exclusion. The cheapest cover is rarely the one that pays out cleanly.
Weigh reviews and complaint history
Look for recent, specific reviews that mention customs delays, damage handling and final invoices. Pattern matters more than a single rating.
Then request quotes through one form
We never name, rank or recommend a single company. Send one brief and vetted movers who run this route reply to you. You choose.
Get moving quotes for your route to Austria
One short brief goes to vetted international movers who run your origin to Austria, including the inland customs leg. Compare on scope and service, not just price.
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Moving to Austria, answered
How much does it cost to move to Austria?
As an indicative 2026 range, a two bedroom household by shared container costs roughly $2,500 to $11,000 depending on origin, volume, season and the inland leg from the arrival port. A move from neighbouring Germany by road is at the low end, while a container from North America, Asia or Oceania sits higher. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
How long does shipping to Austria take?
Door to door transit runs from about 7 days for a road move within central Europe to 40 days or more for a shared container from the Americas or Asia, including the sailing to Hamburg or Koper, the inland leg into Austria, and customs clearance. Air freight into Vienna is far quicker for small loads.
Do I pay duty on my furniture moving to Austria?
Moves from inside the European Union have no customs formality. From outside the EU, used household goods owned and used for at least six months normally enter free of duty and value added tax under the change of residence relief, with a valued inventory and proof of residence. Verify the current rules before shipping.
Do I need a permit to move to Austria?
EU and EFTA citizens do not; they register and obtain a registration certificate. Non European movers need a residence title, most often the points based Red White Red Card or the EU Blue Card, usually tied to a qualifying job or qualification.
What is the first thing to do when I arrive in Austria?
Register your address at the Meldeamt with a Meldezettel within three working days. That registration is the foundation document for your permit, social insurance, bank account and almost everything else.
Can I bring my car to Austria?
Yes, but the vehicle is a separate import with the standardised consumption levy and Austrian registration and inspection. Many movers weigh the cost and paperwork and choose to sell before leaving and buy locally.
Corridors arriving in Austria
Pick your origin country for the full corridor guide with costs, customs and a timeline for that exact pair. 30 routes into Austria.