https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Austria in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Bureaucratic backlogs and rule changes on residency rights are having an increasing impact on the lives of foreigners living around Europe. Many say they have been left in legal limbo with their lives effectively on hold. https://www.thelocal.at/20260411/a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays Sat, 11 Apr 2026 11:53:39 +0200 a-nightmare-lives-of-foreigners-across-europe-hit-by-residency-card-delays If you’re planning to leave Austria for a while, it’s important to know if it will affect your residency. This is what you need to know. https://www.thelocal.at/20221016/reader-question-how-long-can-i-stay-out-of-austria-and-keep-my-residency-rights Sun, 16 Oct 2022 07:13:45 +0200 reader-question-how-long-can-i-stay-out-of-austria-and-keep-my-residency-rights Austria offers a number of residence permits for people to live and work in the country. We look at recent figures that shed light on how many people have them at the moment and their origin country. https://www.thelocal.at/20260227/how-many-people-have-residence-permits-in-austria-and-where-are-they-from Fri, 27 Feb 2026 11:44:03 +0100 how-many-people-have-residence-permits-in-austria-and-where-are-they-from Austria’s rules for buying property differ depending on your nationality. Learn what permits are needed, and what taxes to expect. https://www.thelocal.at/20250113/reader-question-do-i-need-special-permits-to-buy-a-home-in-austria Mon, 13 Jan 2025 16:22:25 +0100 reader-question-do-i-need-special-permits-to-buy-a-home-in-austria Certain countries across Europe demand foreign citizens pass a language test to qualify for certain residency permits. But how does each country compare and what level of language do they require? https://www.thelocal.at/20260307/which-countries-in-europe-impose-language-tests-for-residency-permits Sat, 07 Mar 2026 10:36:10 +0100 which-countries-in-europe-impose-language-tests-for-residency-permits British nationals in Austria are being encouraged to upgrade their post-Brexit "Article 50" cards in order to gain permanent residency in the country. https://www.thelocal.at/20251008/how-brits-in-austria-can-upgrade-their-article-50-residence-cards Wed, 08 Oct 2025 17:56:06 +0200 how-brits-in-austria-can-upgrade-their-article-50-residence-cards The EU hands out thousands of Blue Cards to highly-skilled third country nationals each year, according to the latest figures. But which nationalities receive the most and which EU country gives out the most? https://www.thelocal.at/20260204/which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:56:51 +0100 which-nationalities-get-the-most-eu-blue-cards-and-where-do-they-go Thanks to its benefits and flexibility, the EU Blue Card is one of the most sought-after residence permits for non-EU nationals. Might you qualify for it in Austria? https://www.thelocal.at/20260116/the-salary-you-need-in-austria-in-2026-to-get-an-eu-blue-card Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:12:33 +0100 the-salary-you-need-in-austria-in-2026-to-get-an-eu-blue-card Difficult immigration departments, tricky paperwork and language barriers: getting a residence permit in Austria is a feat for many foreigners. We've compiled readers' advice on how to navigate the system. https://www.thelocal.at/20260112/learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria Mon, 12 Jan 2026 13:41:11 +0100 learn-german-the-best-advice-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria Austrian bureaucracy is notoriously difficult to navigate, with many foreigners saying they struggle with the process of applying for and renewing residence permits. We want to know how hard is it – and what's your advice? https://www.thelocal.at/20251215/tell-us-how-hard-is-it-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria Mon, 15 Dec 2025 14:13:54 +0100 tell-us-how-hard-is-it-to-get-a-residence-permit-in-austria It’s been five years since the end of the post-Brexit transition period and for many British citizens living in the EU this means 2026 will be the time to upgrade to a permanent residence card. But what happens if you forget or leave it late to apply? https://www.thelocal.at/20260102/dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits Fri, 02 Jan 2026 11:23:16 +0100 dont-miss-out-why-brits-in-europe-should-upgrade-their-post-brexit-residence-permits From Red-White-Red Card changes to stricter citizenship standards and new integration duties, Austria’s 2026 plans point to a tougher and more structured system for newcomers. https://www.thelocal.at/20251210/what-immigration-changes-await-foreigners-in-austria-in-2026-and-beyond Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:00:49 +0100 what-immigration-changes-await-foreigners-in-austria-in-2026-and-beyond If you are thinking about leaving the US for Austria—whether for work, love, a new adventure, or any other reason—there are a few steps you need to take first. Here we list the options available for US citizens who plan to make the move. https://www.thelocal.at/20241106/checklist-how-to-move-to-austria-as-an-american Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:58:54 +0100 checklist-how-to-move-to-austria-as-an-american Finishing work and heading off to a glorious new life as a retiree in Europe is the dream for many, but just how easy is it to do in reality? We compare the rules in 9 countries in Europe. https://www.thelocal.at/20231119/compare-which-country-in-europe-is-it-the-easiest-to-retire-to Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:52:52 +0100 compare-which-country-in-europe-is-it-the-easiest-to-retire-to Vienna’s immigration office MA35 has lifted district-based booking rules, allowing international residents to apply or renew their permits at any branch. https://www.thelocal.at/20251016/viennas-ma35-scraps-district-rules-for-residence-permit-appointments Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:27:41 +0200 viennas-ma35-scraps-district-rules-for-residence-permit-appointments Losing a job can be a shock at the best of times, but it can be even more stressful if your residence permit is tied to employment. Here’s what you need to know about your rights in Austria. https://www.thelocal.at/20230424/explained-how-long-can-you-stay-in-austria-if-you-lose-your-job Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:13:59 +0200 explained-how-long-can-you-stay-in-austria-if-you-lose-your-job Austria has updated its minimum income requirements for residency permits in 2025. Here’s how much you need to earn to qualify. https://www.thelocal.at/20250210/how-much-income-do-you-need-to-get-a-residency-permit-in-austria-in-2025 Mon, 10 Feb 2025 15:56:45 +0100 how-much-income-do-you-need-to-get-a-residency-permit-in-austria-in-2025 British parents in Austria may wonder if their children born after Brexit can obtain an Article 50 residency permit. Under certain conditions, children of UK nationals with Article 50 status can apply - but strict deadlines and documentation requirements apply. https://www.thelocal.at/20250129/can-my-british-child-born-in-austria-get-an-article-50-residency-card Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:11:06 +0100 can-my-british-child-born-in-austria-get-an-article-50-residency-card Breathtakingly beautiful nature, cultural delights, and generally high-quality public services are guaranteed when you move to Austria. Unfortunately, so is a big pile of paperwork. https://www.thelocal.at/20210927/the-five-most-essential-pieces-of-paperwork-youll-need-when-moving-to-austria Mon, 27 Sep 2021 18:28:41 +0200 the-five-most-essential-pieces-of-paperwork-youll-need-when-moving-to-austria European countries countries issued some 3.57 million first time residency permits to non-EU nationals in 2024, 315,000 fewer than in 2023. How can the drop be explained? https://www.thelocal.at/20250924/in-numbers-who-do-europes-3-57-million-residence-permits-go-to Wed, 24 Sep 2025 18:10:20 +0200 in-numbers-who-do-europes-3-57-million-residence-permits-go-to