Last updated: October 2026 · Official sources linked
The short answer in 30 seconds
- Luxembourg citizens do not need a visa or a residence permit. If you stay longer than three months, you apply within four months for a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung, €44).
- You have free access to the labour market, without a permit.
- You register a trade just like Austrians, unless the activity is reserved for Austrian nationals.
- When buying property, you are treated the same as Austrians.
- For companies, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Brussels is also the point of contact for Luxembourg.
Vienna offers a high quality of life and a central location in Europe. If you move from Luxembourg to Austria, you benefit from EU law. Even so, a few steps in Austria are mandatory. This guide sets them out, briefly and checked.
Your status as a Luxembourg citizen
You enjoy EU freedom of movement (Freizügigkeit). You may stay for three months without conditions. After that, you have a right of residence if you
- work as an employee or are self-employed,
- have sufficient means of subsistence and comprehensive health insurance cover, or
- are in education or training and can prove sufficient funds and insurance.
After five years of continuous lawful residence, you receive a certificate of permanent residence (Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts) on application. Read on: Permanent residence, Citizenship.
Entry and where to apply
You enter with your identity card or passport. You do not need to apply at the Austrian Embassy in Luxembourg. In Austria, the following applies:
| Step | Deadline | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Register your residence (Meldezettel) | within three days of moving | Registration office (Meldebehörde) (guide for EU citizens) |
| Registration certificate | within four months of entry | Settlement authority; in Vienna, MA 35, EEA unit (Referat EWR) (details) |
You apply in person. Employees submit a confirmation from their employer, self-employed people proof of their self-employment. If you are not working, you prove sufficient means of subsistence and health insurance. Family members from third countries receive a residence card (Aufenthaltskarte).
Working in Austria
You do not need an employment permit. Eligible family members may also work freely, whatever their nationality. The Red-White-Red Card and the EU Blue Card only concern third-country nationals.
Studying in Austria
At public universities, EU citizens only pay tuition fees once they exceed the standard duration of study by more than two semesters: €363.36 per semester. Universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) may charge no more than €363.36 per semester. More: Studying in Austria and Staying after your studies.
Starting a company and investing
You may register a trade just like Austrians. Regulated trades require a certificate of competence (Befähigungsnachweis). You have your Luxembourg qualification recognised by the provincial governor (Landeshauptmann). Alternatively, you appoint a managing director under trade law (gewerberechtlicher Geschäftsführer).
Typical routes:
- your own company: Founding a GmbH or FlexCo
- a Luxembourg company with a location in Austria: Branch office
- investing capital without relocating: Investing in Austria without relocating, Entrepreneurs and investors
The Start-up Founder Card and the Self-employed Key Worker route are only for third-country nationals.
Property
When acquiring property, EU citizens are treated the same as Austrians. You do not need approval under the rules on property acquisition by foreigners. Provincial rules, for example on secondary or holiday homes (Freizeitwohnsitze), still apply. More: Buying property.
Tax and social security
Tax: A double taxation agreement (DBA) applies between Austria and Luxembourg. The BMF cites it, for example, in the Transfer Pricing Guidelines 2021 (Art. 6 DBA Luxembourg). Double taxation is avoided through exemption or credit. Residents prove their status with a certificate of residence from the tax office (form ZS-A). All texts: BMF list of DTAs.
Social security: Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 applies. You are only ever insured in one country, usually the country where you work. For a posting of up to 24 months, the A1 certificate proves cover under the Luxembourg system.
Qualifications and driving licence
For regulated professions, EU Directive 2005/36/EC on the recognition of professional qualifications applies. The Ministry of Science lists a cultural agreement with Luxembourg, but no separate agreement on university degrees. Nostrification (Nostrifizierung) is only necessary if the law requires an Austrian degree.
Your Luxembourg driving licence remains valid. Exchanging it is voluntary. You may use a car with Luxembourg number plates for no more than one month after establishing your main residence. When the car is first registered in Austria, the standard fuel consumption tax (NoVA) is due.
Business links between Luxembourg and Austria
According to the WKÖ country profile, Austria imported goods worth €400 million from Luxembourg in 2025. Exports to Luxembourg amounted to €214 million.
ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA covers Luxembourg through its Brussels office in the Commercial Section of the Austrian Embassy in Belgium. Its partner search helps you find Austrian companies by sector. In October 2026, a pop-up shop in Luxembourg City showcased products by three Viennese designers.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a work permit as a Luxembourg citizen? No. You have free access to the Austrian labour market.
How much does the registration certificate cost? €44. You apply for it in person; in Vienna, at MA 35.
Can my Luxembourg company do business in Austria? Yes. Options include a branch office or an Austrian subsidiary.
Can I buy an apartment in Austria? Yes, just like an Austrian and without approval.
Do I have to exchange my driving licence? No. It remains valid. Exchanging it is voluntary.
Is Austria right for you? Take the free Quick-Check or talk to our founders: Contact.
