Residence Permit – Researcher-Mobility

The "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" will be granted to nationals of third countries who are already in possession of a valid residence title "Researcher" of another EU member country (except Ireland and Denmark).

It is therefore available to nationals of third countries who have a doctoral/PhD degree or a university degree allowing access to doctoral/PhD programmes and who are going to pursue scientific work requiring at least that degree in Austria. Moreover, they need a Hosting Agreement with a certified research institution or a research institution that does not require certification.

You can apply for a "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" at the locally competent residence authority in Austria after entering Austria visa-free with a valid residence title “Researcher” of another EU member country if your research stay will exceed 180 days (within a period of 360 days).

In this case you have to apply as soon as possible. You can start your research activities immediately after entry. If all necessary documents have been submitted, the authority will process your application within eight weeks.

You have to submit your application in person.

You will find all the requirements for granting a "Residence Permit - Researcher Mobility" in the checklist.

In principle a travel health insurance must be taken out to enter Austria. Please note that this insurance must be valid in Austria and provide sufficient cover for various health issues (insurance cover well over EUR 30,000 including guarantee to cover possible recovery and repatriation costs).

Third-country nationals will only get a residence title if they can additionally provide proof of having a health insurance "covering all risks". Travel health insurance is only sufficient for the period until a health insurance covering all risks can be taken out after entry.

Researchers who are employed by an Austrian research institution within the framework of a hosting agreement fulfil the requirement of a health insurance covering all risks due to the statutory insurance associated with this employment. Provided that the salary exceeds the limit ("Geringfügigkeitsgrenze") of EUR 518,44/month [as of 2024] employees will automatically be covered by health insurance (and also accident and pension insurance).

The "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" will as a rule be issued for the duration of your research in Austria or for the validity period of your residence title "Researcher" of the other EU member country, but not more than 2 years.

Researchers who are pursuing research in Austria with a residence title "Researcher" of another EU member country (except for Ireland and Denmark) or a "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" are allowed to take up their research activities without requiring any further labour market permit.

You have to apply for a renewal of your residence permit at the competent residence authority in Austria before your residence permit expires; however, at the earliest three months before expiry of the residence permit. Until a decision about your application for a renewal is taken you are considered to be lawfully resident in Austria, even if your current residence permit expires in the meantime.

The "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" can be renewed for up to a total period of two years in Austria. It is also possible to change to another residence title (e.g. "Settlement Permit – Researcher") if you meet the conditions for it.

Further information about the topic "renewal of residence titles" can be found here.

Family members* of researchers holding a "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" can apply for a “Residence Permit – Family Community”.

As a rule family members have to apply at the competent Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate with power to issue visa) in their country of residence. If the family members are permitted to enter Austria without a visa, they may alternatively apply at the competent residence authority in Austria.

If the family members are also in possession of a residence title of another EU member country and are going to stay in Austria for more than 180 days (within a period of 360 days) they can apply for the "Residence Permit – Family Community" at the locally competent residence authority in Austria after entering Austria visa-free. If all necessary documents have been submitted, the authority will process their application within eight weeks.

Family members enjoy free access to the labour market and may carry out any job without a work permit as long as the family relationship remains upright.

* Spouses, partners in a civil union and unmarried minors. Spouses and partners in a civil union must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

The "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" will be issued in credit card format with a photograph and also serves as an ID document. You should carry your "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" at all times to prove your entitlement to residence in Austria.

During its validity period your “Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility” entitles you to travel through and stay in other Schengen countries (Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Croatia) for a maximum duration of 90 days within a time period of 180 days.

You have to register within three working days of arrival in Austria with the registration office at your place of residence.
A registration with the registration office is not needed if you reside in a tourist accommodation (e.g., hotel, guest house, campsite, private room, AirBnB) for a maximum of 2 months.

You have to enclose to the application photocopies the following documents with the personally signed application form (explanation of the application form) and additionally show only the originals:

• Valid travel document
• Passport-sized photograph according to the ICAO criteria (colour photograph, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm) not older than 6 months
• Valid residence title "Researcher" of the other EU member country (except for Ireland and Denmark) for the duration of stay in Austria
• Accommodation in Austria for a minimum of 3 months (e.g., rental agreement, accommodation agreement ["Wohnrechtsvereinbarung"]) in connexion with the proof of the required funds to cover the living costs (the calculation is based on the stated accomodation)
• Hosting Agreement of a certified research institution or a research institution that does not require certification
• minimum funds to finance your stay in Austria [as of 2024]:
  • EUR 1,217.96/month
  • Couples: EUR 1,921.46/month for both
  • for each child additionally: EUR 187.93/month
  If the rent for accommodation and/or instalment is higher than EUR 359.72/month, you have to prove additional funds.
• Declaration of regular expenses (loans, maintenance payments or other financial burdens)
• Proof of health insurance "covering all risks" (unless you have or are going to have statutory health insurance)

In case of first-time application additionally:

• copy of the passport (all pages)
• Birth certificate or equivalent document (legalised and afterwards translated)
• Police clearance certificate from your country of residence (in individual cases also from your country of origin) not older than 3 months at the time of application (eventually legalised and afterwards translated)
• certificate of doctoral degree/PhD or a university degree with which you can have access to doctoral/PhD programmes

In case of renewal application additionally:

• current extract from the files of an officially recognised credit reference agency (e.g. KSV 1870 Information GmbH)

It is recommended to submit all foreign documents in German language.

Foreign documents and proofs (e.g. birth certificate, police clearance certificate) need to be legalised according to the applicable regulations and have those translated afterwards into German language by a sworn and court-certified interpretor as the residence authority can ask for a German translation. Further information can be found here.

The residence authorities may require the submission of further documents and confirmations (e.g. birth certificate) in individual cases. In order to avoid delays, we recommend that you submit all the above-mentioned documents together with your application.

Documents issued by authorities of a member state of the EU only need to be translated if the authority has not attached a multilingual form (will be issued by the authority of the EU member state) to the document as well.

Costs: EUR 160 (EUR 120 when submitting the application, EUR 20 when the permit is granted and EUR 20 fee for the collection of police identification data)
Additionally for foreign civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, civil union certificate) depending on the type of document: EUR 3,90, EUR 7,20 or EUR 14,30

The residence permit will be issued in credit card format with photograph and also serves as an ID document. It is recommended to carry it at all times.

Checklist for a "Residence Permit – Family Community" for family members of holders of a "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" You have to enclose to the application photocopies of the following documents with the personally signed application form (explanation of the application form) and additionally show only the originals:

• Valid travel document
• Passport-sized photograph according to the ICAO criteria (colour photograph, size 3.5 x 4.5 cm) not older than 6 months
• Proof of the required minimum funds to finance your stay in Austria [as of 2024]:
  • Couples: EUR 1,921.46/month for both
  • For each child additionally: EUR 187.93/month
  (e.g., by means of presentation of the husband's or wife's employment contract)
  If the rent for accommodation and/or instalment is higher than EUR 359.72/month, you have to prove additional funds.
• Declaration of regular expenses (loans, maintenance payments or other financial burdens)
• Proof of health insurance covering all risks (as a rule family members will be covered by the researcher’s statutory health insurance)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria according to the local standards (e.g., rental or subtenancy contract, legally valid preliminary contract of husband or wife or parent, accommodation agreement ["Wohnrechtsvereinbarung"]
• If applicable, proof that the applicant already lived in the other member country as a family member of the holder of the "Residence Permit – Researcher Mobility" (in this case proof of accommodation will not be required)

In case of first-time application additionally:

• copy of the passport (all pages)
• Police clearance certificate from your country of residence (in individual cases also from your country of origin) not older than 3 months at the time of application (legalised and afterwards translated)
• Proof of family relationship (e.g. marriage certificate or birth certificate, partnership certificate; legalised and afterwards translated)

In case of renewal application additionally:

• current extract from the files of an officially recognised credit reference agency (e.g. KSV 1870 Information GmbH)

It is recommended to submit all foreign documents in German language.

Foreign documents and proofs (e.g. birth certificate, police clearance certificate) need to be legalised according to the applicable regulations and have those translated afterwards into German language by a sworn and court-certified interpretor as the residence authority can ask for a German translation. Further information can be found here.

Documents issued by authorities of a member state of the EU only need to be translated if the authority has not attached a multilingual form (will be issued by the authority of the EU member state) to the document as well.

Costs: EUR 160 (EUR 120 when submitting the application, EUR 20 when the permit is granted and EUR 20 fee for the collection of police identification data)
Additionally for foreign civil status documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, partnership certificate) depending on the type of document: EUR 3,90, EUR 7,20 or EUR 14,30

The residence permit will be issued in credit card format with photograph and also serves as an ID document. It is recommended to carry it at all times.