EU/EEA citizens (and Swiss citizens) are allowed to enter Austria freely to live and work without requiring a residence visa or work permit, but must have a valid passport or personal identity card. However, to stay in Austria for more than three months they are required to obtain a residence permit from the district administration office (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the town or city Magistrat.

Residence permit applicants must demonstrate that they have health insurance and sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members in Austria, and that they are employed or have secured employment there, or are undertaking a course of study or training in Austria. If the requirements are satisfied, a residence permit called an "Anmeldebescheinigung" is issued.

Family members of EU/EEA/Swiss nationals living in Austria who are not EU/EEA/Swiss nationals themselves can also apply for residence, submitting their passport, evidence of their relationship to the primary residence permit holder, and evidence that their living costs are being covered by the primary residence permit holder.

All non-EU/EEA citizens are required to obtain a visa to live or work in Austria, although the nationals of many countries including the USA and Canada are allowed to stay in Austria for up to 90 days per year without a visa. Residence visas are granted fairly easily to non-EU/EEA citizens who wish to live in Austria but not take up employment there, and to those who plan to open a company there that will employ Austrian nationals.

It can be more considerably more difficult for non-EU/EEA nationals to obtain permits to work in Austria. In order to be issued with a work permit the company offering you a job has to confirm to the authorities that you have relevant skills or expertise that they have been unable to secure within Austria. You may also be required to pass a test of proficiency in German.

Non EU/EEA nationals who wish to live or work in Austria are required to obtain an entry visa or work permit from the Austrian embassy or consulate in their country of origin before travelling to Austria.

Anyone planning to live in Austria is required to register their address with the local registration office or police station within three days of taking up residence, submitting a completed residence registration form (Meldezettel) signed by their landlord, along with their passport and birth certificate. The authorities must also be notified of any change of address.

In order to apply for Austrian citizenship on grounds of residence, you must normally have been living in Austria for at least ten consecutive years, although this is sometimes reduced to six years. People who can demonstrate that they are making a substantial economic, cultural or scientific contribution to Austria, including investors of large sums of money, are eligible to apply for citizenship under the fast-track Austrian economic citizenship programme.