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STUDYING IN AUSTRIA

Banking: How to open a blocked account in Austria

A blocked account is often required for non-EU citizens looking to study or in some cases even work in Austria. How do you go about setting one up?

Banking: How to open a blocked account in Austria
You might say that a blocked account is like slowly taking money out of a piggy bank. Photo: DPA

What is a blocked account (BA)?

A blocked account is separate from a normal bank account in that it sets aside a specific amount of money for the number of months someone intends to live in Austria. It pays out a specific required amount monthly to the holder based on how long they will be here. 

The BA is a way of demonstrating to Austrian immigration authorities that you have enough money to sustain yourself during the time you’re studying or looking for work.

“All the money which authorities ask for is paid back to you. It’s securing your financial independence,” Tim Meyer, Managing Director of X-patrio Global Services, told The Local.

Who applies for a blocked account?

In general, anyone from a non-EU country who won’t have income in Austria can apply for a blocked account. It’s often required for students who have already been accepted to study in Austria, as well as job seekers, au pairs, and international apprentices.

You don’t need a block account if you’re coming to Austria on a fully-funded scholarship from a reputable organization, such as Fulbright, for example.

For some countries, such as the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea, it’s possible to come to Austria on a three-month holiday visa, and apply for a blocked account when you’re already in Austria. You may need to demonstrate having one to get your residence permit.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Austria and what does it let me do?

How do you transfer money into a blocked account?

It’s possible to cheaply transfer money into a blocked account through services such as Transferwise, which allows you to send money from one country and currency to a different country and currency for a rate of only 0.5 percent. Transfers usually take up to five days to be completed, and sometimes a tad bit longer depending on your local bank.

ways to make extra money in spain

A blocked account is one way Austrian immigration authorities ensure people on visas can support themselves during their stay in the country. Photo: Ann H/Pexels

If you don’t have the money on hand, you can receive a so-called Haftungserklärung (a declaration of commitment). This only applies in some circumstances.  Typically au pair ‘parents; in Austria provide it for their au pairs, or sometimes the person has a family member who can also write this letter.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How does the au pair program work in Austria

How much do you put in a blocked account?

How much you need to put in depends on how long you’re staying and how old you are.

If you’re under 24 years of age, you’ll need to put about €550 in per month that you’re going to be in Austria. If you’re 24 or older, you’ll need to put in €1,000. Married couples need nearly €1,600 per month and another €155 needs to be in the BA for each child coming with.

If you’re leaving Austria earlier than planned, you’ll need an official letter from the immigration authorities to line up a “closing order” from the bank.

Where do I open a blocked account?

Your account will need to be with an Austrian bank authorised to issue blocked accounts for student visas. 

There are many banks which offer the possibility of a blocked account, though not all of them offer the possibility to simply open an account online. Seeking services that do allow opening accounts online is not only more convenient, but often the only way to go forward for students or job seekers from countries who need a visa to enter Austria in the first place.

From there, you will have a newly created account which you can bring with you to the Austrian embassy after making an appointment to apply for a visa.  

READ ALSO: How do I get a language study visa for Austria?

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LIVING IN AUSTRIA

Why internet users in Austria need to be aware of new ‘shitstorm’ ruling

'Shitstorm' is a ubiquitous Anglicism used in Austria referring to public, online and broad harassment people sometimes suffer. And now the country's supreme court is cracking down on perpetrators.

Why internet users in Austria need to be aware of new 'shitstorm' ruling

The word “shitstorm” officially arrived in German dictionaries more than ten years ago,

Its meaning is different from the English version, which according to the Oxford dictionary is used to a describe “a situation marked by violent controversy”.

However in German the Duden Dictionary explains it as a “storm of indignation in an internet communication medium, sometimes accompanied by insulting statements”.

The word is back on Austrian media after a controversial decision of Austria’s Supreme Court, which decided to crack down on instances of online harassment. According to the decision, simply participating in a “shitstorm” can cost an individual plenty. 

According to the court’s decision, it’s sufficient for a victim of a “shitstorm” to identify one person involved. You can “then assert a claim against this person for the entire immaterial damage that the person has suffered as a result of the ‘shitstorm’ “, media lawyer Maria Windhager told broadcaster ORF

READ ALSO: Four reasons Austria is great for women and four reasons why it isn’t

The Supreme Court’s decision means that those who spread hate and fake news online must also accept that they can be prosecuted for it. 

Police officer vilified online

Austria’s highest court dealt with the specific case of a police officer photographed and filmed as he worked in one of the 2021 demonstrations against COVID-19 measures. In a Facebook post, his image was shared with the false accusation that he pulled an 82-year-old man to the ground before arresting and interrogating him. 

According to the police officer, the post had many unpleasant consequences for him. He, his sister, and his mother had been asked about it many times, and even his former post commander had confronted him about it, the report stated. 

He was able to identify several people who shared the post and was able to bring one to court. In an initial trial, the court only awarded him a small portion of the €3,000 compensation he had demanded. 

Austria’s Supreme Court, however, awarded the man a total €3,000. In its reasoning, the Supreme Court stated that a “shitstorm” is defined precisely by the fact that many people participate in it. At the same time, the Supreme Court disagreed with the argument that this makes the individual act of every participant less significant. 

READ ALSO: What to do if you experience online abuse in Austria

Such an argument would have the consequence that the more people who take part in a shitstorm, the “less liable” everyone would be.

“The effect of a shitstorm is all the more violent, the more people participate in it”, according to the Supreme Court. With this, the court said those affected by a “shitstorm” could claim the total damage from a single perpetrator. 

Lawyer Windhager said: “I do believe that the ruling will shake people up and make them think a little more carefully about what they post and, above all, what they share”.

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