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Your checklist for moving to Vienna

Welcome to your essential Vienna relocation guide, offering a step-by-step moving checklist to navigate the Austrian capital with ease. As you prepare for your new life in Vienna, our comprehensive checklist will be your trusted companion, ensuring a smooth transition to the city known for its imperial history and modern living. For added peace of mind, the Austrian government provides official guidance in German for before moving preparation and after moving adjustments, complementing our resources. 

Before moving to Vienna

- 12 to 6 months before moving

    • Visa and residency permits: Get your visa and residency permits (If you’re not a EU citizen)
    • Research: Get to know about Vienna’s lifestyle, cost of living, and expat experiences, you can learn this in our page about the districts of Vienna
    • Learn German: Even though you can live for years in some parts of the city without German, consider starting to get familiar at least with the basics, signing up for language courses or use apps like Duolingo or Babbel.
    • Schools: If you have children, research international schools and their application deadlines and start the enrollment process.

- 6 to 3 months before moving

    • Plan your travel: Book your flights, train or bus tickets if needed.
    • Search for housing in Vienna: You can find helpful tips about the housing market on Vienna here.
    • Find a temporary accommodation: You might want to find first a temporary place to stay like a hotel or Airbnb while you look for a forever apartment.
    • Prepare all your official documents: The most important documents are your Passport and ID, make sure they’re not expired or close to expiration. You might also need documents like your University degree, marriage certificate or medical history (this is specially important if you need continuous treatment).
    • Translate your documents if needed: You might also need your documents to be translated by a legally sworn translator. For your University documents you might also need an Apostille, you can read more about it in this guide by the University of Vienna. You can find a list of sworn translator from the Federal Ministry of Justice  or use other translation services like Alphatrad. You can also ask for a list of translator in your country at your Austrian embassy.

- 3 to 1 months before moving

    • Health insurance: Research you options and set up your health insurance plan. If you’re moving to Vienna for a job your employer should take care of the insurance (depending on the contract you have). If you’re relocating to study or for other reasons you need to sign up for your own health insurance, you can learn more about it in this article by Expatica. The ÖGK provides public health insurance and offers a discounted price for students. Another option is private insurance, you can compare plans and providers in Durchblicker.
    • Consider temporary travel insurance: As you might arrive in Vienna a bit before starting a new job or course, and before your health insurance plan is active, consider getting a temporary travel insurance plan to cover your first days in the city. Alternatively if you are a European citizen make sure you have your European health insurance card with you and that it’s not expired.
    • Confirm your accommodation: Reach out to your future landlord to ensure that your new home will be ready for your arrival or confirm that everything is in order with your temporary accommodation.
    • Moving company: Book a moving company if you need it.

- 4 to 1 weeks before moving

    • Bank Account: Look into opening a bank account. Some banks may allow you to start the process online (if you’re a European citizen). The most common banks are Erste, Bank of Austria, Raiffeisen, or the online bank Easybank.
    • Mobile phone plan: When you arrive in Vienna, if you’re from the EU, you can use your phone as usual (make sure roaming is activated). If not, it’s cheaper to get a travel eSIM for your first days. Set up your phone before arriving plan so your new SIM card is waiting for you. You can choose from the main providers like A1, Magenta, and Drei, or cheaper ones like Spusu, HoT (Hofer), and Lidl. You can compare plans using Durchblicker. If you are a Students can get and even cheaper deal from educom. Getting an Austrian phone number is crucial if you plan to stay in Vienna for an extended period. You’ll need it for administrative tasks.
    • Public transport: Get a travel pass from Wiener Linien. By setting it up before you arrive in the city you’ll avoid overpaying for public transport. You can use your phone to show your travel pass and the physical card should be waiting for you at your new home.

Moving day

    • Take date-stamped pictures of your new home: Get a newspaper with the current date and use it in your photographs. Documenting the exact state of your new home is crucial, especially for any pre-existing issues. These photos will be your evidence in case of any future disputes with your landlord. You can also use them as reference when you move out to leave the place exactly as it was given to you. Remember to also take photos of the gas and electricity meters to avoid being overcharged.
    • Set up the utilities: If you are moving into a home without any services check with your landlord or the real state agency who will set up the gas, electricity and internet plan. If you need to set this services up yourself plan for the services to start and the technicians to come in on the day you move in. You compare plans for gas, electricity (strom) and internet using Durchblicker.

After moving to Vienna

- Before your 3rd day in Vienna

    • Meldezettel: Register at your new address. This process is compulsory and for everybody, you can learn more about the Meldezettel in our bureaucracy page.
    • Bureaucracy: Check what are the other processes you need to make, there are fixed deadlines for a lot of them and you might be fined if you miss them. Learn more in our bureaucracy page. You can also check at the MA 35: Business Immigration Office.

- 1st months in Vienna

    • Set up your ID Austria: ID Austria allows you to prove who you are online, access digital forms of ID, and you can use it for numerous processes like filing your taxes. You will need your smartphone, a valid official photo ID and a recent passport photo. Find more information and where to set it up at Digital Austria.
    • Get to know Vienna: Be a tourist and walk around the city. You can sign up for free walking tours or explore by yourself the numerous museums and landmarks all over the city. Learn all about the Viennese history, monuments and gastronomy in our page. 
    • Network and meet new people: Attend events and start integrating, check out all the events that happen in Vienna or join integration programmes.