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VISAS

Reader question: Will Austria follow Spain in introducing a digital nomad visa?

There is a trend among European countries to introduce visas that permit remote workers to relocate from abroad. However, the question remains whether Austria will also adopt such a visa. Here is an overview of the current situation.

Published: 7 March 2023 13:53 CET
Updated: 12 April 2023 13:02 CEST
Reader question: Will Austria follow Spain in introducing a digital nomad visa?
Digital nomads can work from anywhere in the world - in theory. (Photo by Windows on Unsplash)

In January, there was positive news for individuals who work remotely and are interested in relocating to southern Europe. 

Spain has recently introduced a ‘digital nomad’ visa, also known as the visa for remote workers, which permits non-EU freelancers and remote workers to enter and reside in the country (for more information, visit our sister site The Local Spain). 

Portugal also offers a digital nomad visa that permits remote workers to reside in the country for up to one year.

With more European countries acknowledging the advantages of permitting remote workers to relocate from other countries, one may wonder if Austria will follow suit.

READ ALSO: Digital nomad visas: How does Austria compare with other countries?

Is Austria looking to implement a digital nomad visa?

There are currently no government plans to implement a digital nomad visa in Austria. Most countries in Europe with such a visa demand digital nomads earn high salaries – in areas that usually have lower average wages. This heats up the local economy and brings money to the country or specific regions, such as the coastal areas of Portugal. 

It’s perfect for countries such as Croatia, Greece, Malta and Spain. However, Austria has other issues that won’t be addressed through a digital visa. 

Currently, the country is actually trying to attract more workers to its short-staffed full-time workforce. Whereas it is hiring full-time teachers, doctors, or IT professionals, Austria is not looking for temporary workers who won’t contribute to the tax system and pension fund in the ageing country – at least for now.

READ ALSO: How Austria is making it easier for non-EU workers to get residence permits

Instead, the government is looking for ways to bring back retirees to the workforce, attract part-time workers and make it easier for high-skilled immigrants to work in hired positions in Austria.

What are the rules now?

Citizens of EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries can stay in Austria for up to three months (90 days) without having to register as a resident – and can work during this time.

For stays of more than three months, you’d have to get an Anmeldebescheinigung, which is a registration that shows you have health insurance and means to support yourself (usually through employment). In practice, since EU/EEA citizens have freedom of movement within the bloc, many people only find out about the registration years later – in that case, the fine for the delay is €50 (different provinces might have different fines).

READ MORE: Anmeldebescheinigung: How to get Austria’s crucial residence document

For non-EU citizens, things are more complicated. Some third-country nationals, like those from the US, the UK, Canada and Brazil, can stay in Austria for up to 90 days out of every 180 days as a tourist without the need to apply for a visa beforehand.

For people who want to stay in Austria for longer than 90 days, there is the option to apply for Visa D, which allows third-country nationals to stay in the country for up to six months as a visitor (or up to 12 months in exceptional circumstances). This visa has to be applied for in your country of residence before arriving in Austria.

However, as there is not a dedicated digital nomad visa in Austria, working in Austria remotely as a third-country national with a tourist visa or Visa D is not legal. In practice, it is something digital nomads do, as it is obviously impossible for authorities to check every tourist’s computer for evidence of remote working. Still, working illegally in Austria could lead to extradition, fines and even a re-entry ban.

READ ALSO: Six official websites to know if you’re planning to work in Austria

What about a self-employed visa?

Austria has a long-term visa option for self-employed key workers. This immigration route is essentially an investor visa. It involves a minimum investment of €100,000 into a business, the creation of new jobs and proof that the business will have an impact on the region.

This is financially out of reach for most digital nomads and not in keeping with the digital nomad lifestyle.

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IMMIGRATION

Do Brits in Austria need to carry a residence permit at the border?

Whether you arrived in Austria before the Brexit cut-off date or moved here more recently, you may be wondering if carrying your residence title or permit is necessary when entering or leaving the country.

Published: 25 May 2023 15:12 CEST
Updated: 2 June 2023 17:20 CEST
Do Brits in Austria need to carry a residence permit at the border?

For many Brits living abroad in the EU, the past few years have been a steep learning curve. For the first time in a generation, they have to register for their residence rights or navigate the complicated immigration rules for third-country nationals, like applying for work or study visas.

This means that even Brits who have lived in Austria for years may end up encountering situations they haven’t dealt with before, such as being asked for residence permits when applying for jobs or crossing the border into and out of Austria. 

But what are the rules in general for Brits when entering and leaving Austria? And is it necessary to always have a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) or post-Brexit residence document – known as an “Article 50 Card” (Aufenthaltstitel “Art 50 EUV”)? 

What is the status of Brits in Austria after Brexit?

Since the transition period ended, UK citizens have been treated in much the same way as other non-EU citizens in Austria – albeit with a few more perks. 

These include the right to visa-free travel in Austria (and the Schengen Area) for up to 90 days in every 180, the right to enter the country before applying for a visa and the ability to work for employers abroad while living in Austria.

In general, however, for people who didn’t live in the country before the end of the Brexit transition period, the immigration requirements are much the same as they would be for someone from, for example, Japan or the USA.

In order to live in Austria long-term, Brits now need an appropriate residence permit, such as work, family reunification or study visa, or another status such as citizenship that assures their rights.

Brits who arrived before the Brexit transition period ended on December 31st, 2020 have a special residence permit known as an Article 50 Card or “Aufenhaltstitel ‘Art 50’ EUV.” 

Without either an Article 50 Card or a regular residence permit, immigration authorities will enforce the so-called ’90-day rule’, meaning that Brits will be unable to spend more than three months out of every six in the Austria.   

READ ALSO: How Britons can move to Austria to live and work post-Brexit

Do Brits Article 50 Card holders need their residence card to cross the border?

You won’t be denied entry into Austria if you show up at the border without your Article 50 Card, provided you have a British passport. That’s because British citizens are typically allowed to visit Austria for up to three months without a visa.

But you will likely have your passport stamped if you don’t show a residence card such as the Article 50 card.

However a stamp in your passport will also not affect your rights as a legal resident of Austria. Any stamp is simply considered null and void if you later produce evidence of your residency rights. Many Brits resident in Austria and other countries have fretted about stamps after Brexit but residency rights trumps all passport stamps. However they are important for those travelling in the Schengen area because of the 90 day rule.

That said, to avoid bureaucratic headaches, official British government advice is to make sure you carry your Article 50 Card with you and to proactively present it to Austrian border control. Don’t wait until you’ve been asked to show it. Simply present it right away alongside your passport to avoid any confusion.

If you have applied for an Article 50 Card but not yet received it, for example if your passport has expired and you needed to get a new Article 50 Card, you can bring the certificate with you confirming that you’ve applied instead.

Austrian border policemen check papers of car passenger at the Austro-Hungarian border in Nickelsdorf, Austria, near Hegyeshalom, Hungary. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR / AFP)
 

The same rules generally also apply to Brits who have regular Austrian residence permits rather than Article 50 Cards.

Although Austria typically requires you to have at least three months remaining on your passport to cross the border, if you can produce your valid Article 50 Card or residence permit, you can cross into Austria with less than three months remaining on your passport – as long as it’s still valid.

If you cannot prove that you are a resident in Austria, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the EU.

READ ALSO: Reader Question: Can Britons living in EU spend more than 90 days in another Schengen country?

Do Brits who live in Austria with a visa need their residence permit to enter and/or leave?

According to official advice, foreigners can be required to show their passport whenever they cross the Austrian border, even potentially those shared with other Schengen states, and should also be able to show a residence document if required.

That means that, where possible, it’s important to have both with you if you are planning on leaving Austria for any amount of time. 

As we mentioned, Brits are allowed to enter Austria without a visa, even if you don’t have your residence permit. But having it with ensures the most hassle-free crossing.

According to recent stats, only 195 Brits were turned away at the EU border in 2022 due to the 90-day rule. 

However, this is always a risk that you face if you don’t have the required documents with you and, even if you are let in, you may have to deal with numerous questions beforehand and may even receive a passport stamp. 

READ ALSO: How many travellers are turned away at European borders because of 90 day limit

Can I still travel after my residence permit expires? 

The short answer is yes – though it is a good idea to be proactive about renewing it.  

In most cases, booking a visa appointment will automatically extend your visa until the date of your appointment, just make sure you have documents with you proving your pending appointment or application.

Remember that initial Article 50 Cards in Austria expire after five years, and no reminder is given for renewal. If your Article 50 Card expires, you may be in danger of losing many of your Withdrawal Agreement rights, even if you’re eligible for another type of Austrian residence permit.

Article 50 Cards issued after the first one are valid for 10 years. As we mentioned, people continuously resident in Austria for at least five years – whether they have Article 50 Cards or a different kind of permit – can apply for permanent residence.

READ ALSO: EES and ETIAs: The big changes for travel in Europe

READ ALSO: Visas and residency permits: How to move to Austria and stay long-term

With additional reporting by Aaron Burnett.

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