Last updated: October 2026 · Official sources linked
The short answer in 30 seconds
- If you already lived in Austria before 31/12/2020, you are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement and receive the residence permit “Article 50 TEU” (Artikel 50 EUV) (oesterreich.gv.at).
- If you are new, you are a third-country national: short stays are visa-free, but for longer stays you need a residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) (BMI – visa list, BMI – EES).
- As a visa-free traveller, you may also submit your first application in Austria (oesterreich.gv.at).
- You can exchange your UK driving licence for all categories without a practical test (oesterreich.gv.at).
- Social security: the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement; taxes: a double taxation agreement (Ministry of Social Affairs, BMF).
Since Brexit, a great deal has changed for British citizens. If you already lived in Austria before 2021, you largely keep your rights. If you come now, the rules for third-country nationals apply. That sounds stricter than it is: entry remains visa-free, and you can submit many applications in Austria. The authority decides on every application.
Your status as a UK citizen
Did you already live in Austria before 31/12/2020? Then the Withdrawal Agreement applies to you. You receive the residence permit “Article 50 TEU”, initially for five years. After five years of lawful residence, you can obtain permanent residence; periods before and after Brexit are added together. The application deadline ended on 31/12/2021. Later applications are only possible for justified reasons. The fee is €91; in Vienna, the MA 35 is responsible (oesterreich.gv.at).
According to oesterreich.gv.at, spouses who married only after 1 January 2021 can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte plus) under the Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz) (source as above).
Are you new to Austria? Then you are a third-country national. British citizens are exempt from the EU visa requirement (BMI – countries requiring a visa). For short stays, the rule is generally 90 days within any 180-day period (BMI – entry).
On short stays, British citizens are recorded in the Entry/Exit System (EES), which has been fully operational since 10 April 2026 (BMI – EES). The BMI has announced the ETIAS travel authorisation (€7, valid for three years) from the fourth quarter of 2026 (BMI – ETIAS).
Entry and where to apply
| Route | Where | Important |
|---|---|---|
| Application abroad | Austrian Embassy in London | in person, before entry |
| Application in Austria | residence authority in Austria; in Vienna, the MA 35 | only during your permitted visa-free stay |
Applying in Austria does not extend your permitted stay. Once your visa-free period is over, you must leave and wait for the decision abroad (oesterreich.gv.at).
Working in Austria
For newcomers, the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) is the main route. For “Other Key Workers” (Sonstige Schlüsselkräfte), the 2026 requirements are a minimum salary of €3,465 gross per month plus special payments and at least 55 points. Highly qualified graduates should also look at the EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU).
Because you enter visa-free, you do not need a job-seeker visa. If you find a job during your stay, you can apply for the card in Austria (migration.gv.at).
Studying in Austria
To study, you need the “Residence Permit – Student” (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Student). As a visa-free traveller, you can apply for it after entering Austria. Alongside your studies, you may work up to 20 hours per week with an employment permit from the AMS (migration.gv.at). Read more: Studying in Austria and Staying after your studies.
Starting a company and investing
How to found an Austrian company is explained in Founding a GmbH or FlexCo. British companies can also open a branch office (Zweigniederlassung). If you move to Austria yourself, you need a residence permit:
- Self-employed Key Worker (Selbständige Schlüsselkraft), for example with an investment of €100,000.
- Start-up Founder Card (Start-up-Gründer-Karte) with at least €30,000 in capital and 50 points.
For a life without gainful employment, there is the quota-bound “Settlement Permit – except gainful employment” (Niederlassungsbewilligung – ausgenommen Erwerbstätigkeit). In 2026, you need a regular income of at least €2,616.78 per month as a single person and €4,128.24 as a married couple (migration.gv.at). Only want to invest, without relocating? See Investing without relocating.
Real estate
As a British newcomer, you count as a third-country national when acquiring property. As a rule, you need approval under the land transfer law (Grundverkehrsrecht) of the federal province; in Vienna, under the Vienna Act on Property Acquisition by Foreigners (Wiener Ausländergrunderwerbsgesetz). If you are a beneficiary of the Withdrawal Agreement, have it checked individually whether different rules apply to you. More: Buying property as a foreigner.
Taxes and social security
- Social security: Coordination is governed by the Withdrawal Agreement and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom (Ministry of Social Affairs).
- Taxes: Austria and the United Kingdom have a double taxation agreement (BMF – list of DTAs, BMF – DTA partner states).
Your personal situation is best discussed with our partner tax advisers.
Qualifications and driving licence
For regulated professions, your qualification must be recognised. Clarify this before you move.
After taking up residence, you may drive with your UK licence for six months. Within this period, have it exchanged. For the United Kingdom, there is no practical driving test for any category (oesterreich.gv.at).
Business links between the United Kingdom and Austria
The Austrian Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer) is present on the ground with its foreign trade centre (AußenwirtschaftsCenter) in London. According to the WKO economic report, Austrian goods exports rose by 6.9% in 2025 and services exports by 5.7% (WKO – economic situation). You will find market news and contacts on the WKO country page for the United Kingdom.
Frequently asked questions
I have lived in Vienna since 2019 but never applied for an Article 50 permit. Is it too late? Not necessarily. Later applications can be accepted for justified reasons. You must explain why you did not apply in 2021 (oesterreich.gv.at).
Do I need German for the Article 50 permit? No. According to oesterreich.gv.at, no knowledge of German is required.
Will I be recorded in the EES every time I enter? On short stays, yes. Holders of a residence permit or a D visa are exempt (BMI – EES).
Do I have to retake my driving test? No. If you meet the six-month deadline, an exchange is enough.
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