Austria
Your start in Vienna
Wien
Austria's capital and a federal province of its own, with about 2.04 million residents in 23 districts. You register your address at any Meldeservice, MA 35 handles residence permits and EU registration certificates, and Wiener Linien runs the U-Bahn, trams and buses.
At a glance
Vienna (Wien) is Austria's capital and at the same time one of its nine federal provinces, so the City of Vienna acts both as municipality and as provincial government. It had 2,042,036 residents on 1 January 2026 (provisional figure from the city's statistics office) and covers 414.9 km², divided into 23 districts (Bezirke) that are usually referred to by number, for example "the 7th" for Neubau.
Who handles what in Vienna
- Meldeservice at the district offices (Magistratische Bezirksämter) registers your address. You can use any office, whichever district you live in. Walk-in hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 to 11:30; afternoon slots are by online appointment only.
- MA 35 – Immigration and Citizenship (Einwanderung und Staatsbürgerschaft), Dresdner Straße 93, Block C, in the 20th district, decides on residence permits for non-EU nationals and issues registration certificates to EU, EEA and Swiss citizens. In-person visits are by appointment only; the customer service number is +43 1 4000-3535.
- The Business Immigration Office, run by the Vienna Business Agency together with the city, gives free advice to international professionals and their employers on the Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card and related permits.
- StartWien, the city's integration programme (MA 17), offers free orientation meetings and information events in more than 20 languages for people who have recently received a first residence permit.
- Wiener Linien runs the U-Bahn, trams and buses. Since 1 January 2026 the annual pass costs €467 (€461 digitally) when paid in one go.
- Wiener Wohnen manages around 220,000 municipal flats, home to about a quarter of the population. Access to municipal and subsidised housing goes through the Wohnberatung Wien and the Wiener Wohn-Ticket, which usually requires two years of main residence in Vienna.
- MieterHilfe, the city's free tenant advice service, and the Arbeiterkammer Wien help with rental and employment questions.
Districts
The 1st district (Innere Stadt) is the historic centre, and the other low numbers are the inner districts around it. The higher numbers lie further out; Floridsdorf (21st) and Donaustadt (22nd) are on the far side of the Danube. Density, building age and the share of municipal, cooperative and privately rented flats differ a lot between districts; the neighbourhood pages compare a selection using the city's own statistics.
Health care out of hours
Call 1450 for health advice by phone at any time, and 141 for the doctors' on-call service in the evening, at night and at weekends. In a life-threatening emergency, call 144 or 112.
Where to start
If you are moving from abroad, read the guide on registering your address (Meldezettel) first: you have three days after moving in, and almost every later step builds on the confirmation you receive. The sections below follow the order in which most newcomers need them. The guides are general information, not legal advice; check the official pages they link before you act.
An overview of moving to Austria, your first month in Vienna and the emergency numbers to save on day one.
Moving Plan two to six months before the move, longer for non-EU work or family permits Arrival Spread over the first four weeks; most steps take an hour or two Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers
Registering your address within three days, getting around by public transport and opening a bank account.
Registration Usually one visit; walk-in mornings or a booked afternoon slot Transport A few minutes to buy a ticket in the app or at a machine Banking An hour at a branch or an online identification; banks must decide on a basic account within ten business days
Which permit fits your situation, from the Red-White-Red Card and the EU Blue Card to student and family permits, and the registration certificate for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.
Residence and visas Several weeks to prepare; the authority decides within eight weeks for most work permits, and up to 90 days for student permits Residence and visas One appointment at MA 35, after registering your address
How Vienna's districts differ, from Leopoldstadt and Neubau inside the Gürtel to Favoriten, Ottakring, Döbling and Donaustadt further out. Read these guides alongside the neighbourhood pages.
Housing Several weeks for a private rental; years of residence before municipal housing becomes an option Transport A few minutes to buy a ticket in the app or at a machine Family Applications take an hour or two; kindergarten places are allocated months ahead
Private rentals, cooperative flats and the municipal Gemeindebau, the Wiener Wohn-Ticket, and your rights as a tenant on rent, deposits and fixed-term leases.
Housing Several weeks for a private rental; years of residence before municipal housing becomes an option Housing Reading time; a rent check at the Vienna conciliation office takes longer
Finding a job, getting foreign qualifications recognised and your rights as an employee in Austria.
Jobs Often several months Employment Reading time; check your contract before you sign
How statutory health insurance and the e-card work, contracted and private doctors, and the numbers to call in an emergency or out of hours.
Insurance Usually no action for employees; a visit or online application for self-insurance Emergencies Five minutes to save the numbers
Opening an account, how wage tax and the annual employee tax assessment work, and family benefits.
Banking An hour at a branch or an online identification; banks must decide on a basic account within ten business days Taxes About an hour a year for the employee tax assessment, once you have FinanzOnline access Family Applications take an hour or two; kindergarten places are allocated months ahead
Family allowance, kindergarten places in Vienna, the compulsory kindergarten year and school enrolment.
Learning German, the integration agreement for non-EU nationals and the city's StartWien programme.
Neighbourhoods on the map
Select a pin to read about a neighbourhood.
Map of neighbourhoods in Vienna