Key Facts
Government type: Parliamentary Representative Democracy
Capital: Vienna
Total Area: 83,878 km²
Population: 8.584 million (2015)
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $43,905
Official languages: German
Religions: Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 4%, Islam 6%, Eastern Orthodoxy 6%, other or none 22.5% (2014)
Country code: +43
Currency: Euro
Voltage: 230 V
Brief Overview
Austria is located at the eastern end of the Alps in the middle of Central Europe. Bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Italy and Slovenia to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Austria is landlocked but dissected at its northern third by the longest and most commercially significant river on the European continent—the Danube.
The Republic of Austria is comprised of 9 federal provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, and the capital city and 9th federal state, Vienna.
Although there is evidence of human settlement in Austria as far back as 23,000 B.C., it was not until the first century AD when Vienna was established as one of the northernmost outposts of the Roman Empire, that any historical record appears. By 300 AD Vienna was a thriving center of northern Roman trade, but with the decline of the Roman Empire, it was repeatedly overrun by various Germanic and Celtic tribes.
In 803 AD Charlemagne conquered the Danube territories and brought them into the hands of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1278 Rudolf II of Habsburg took control of what is now Austria and began one of the longest dynastic rules in European history—the Habsburg Empire. The Habsburgs were able to accumulate vast land wealth through savvy political marriages, and by the 15th century had established power throughout much of central Europe and stretching even as far as the Iberian Peninsula. With the help of their Polish Allies, the Habsburgs successfully deterred attacks from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, and by the 19th century, the then “Austro-Hungarian Empire” had become the dominant power on the European continent.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the proliferation of nationalist movements throughout Europe threatened the stability of the multiethnic and multinational Austro-Hungarian territories. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in 1916 marked the beginning of World War I and the eventual dissolution of the Habsburg Empire.
Turbulent economic and political times followed the end of World War I, and in March of 1938, Hitler marched into Austria and officially annexed it as a part of the Third Reich. After World War II, Austria established the Second Austrian Republic, based on a constitution from 1920, and after a protracted occupation by USSR, US, and other Allied Powers troops, was finally granted independence in 1955.
Culture
As well as being a melting pot of Western European, Italian, Central European, and Slavic cultures, Austrian culture has been influenced by its long position of power as the seat of the Habsburg Empire.
The rugged culture of the Alpine countryside is juxtaposed with the heady, intellectually elite culture, which arose in Vienna along with the fortunes of the Habsburgs. From Mozart, to Freud, to Rilke, to Zweig, to Klimt, just to name a few- Austrians have been responsible for substantial contributions to the world of music, art, and literature.
Today, Austria has become one of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world and is consistently ranked as having one of the highest qualities of life in the world.
Rental Market
The Austrian Rental Market can be particularly difficult to navigate for expats. Unusually high up-front costs and an unorthodox real estate culture make it a challenge to find the right properties.
Standard Contract Length: 3-5 years – The tenant is free to end the contract after the initial binding period of 12 months plus a standard 3 month notice period.
Notice Period: Standard is 3 months – it is sometimes possible to mitigate this period through the use of a company or diplomatic clause, but this must be negotiated individually.
Security Deposit: Standard is 3 months rent, but in exceptional cases it can range between 2 and 6 months rent.
Government Contract Processing Fee: Is calculated as 1% of the total value of the contract over the course of the first 3 years. Common practice is for the tenant to pay this.
Schools
There are a number of school options for international families in Vienna. The public school system includes a few bilingual (English/German) school distributed throughout the city. In addition, there are a number of private bilingual and foreign language schools such as the French Lycee, the Swedish School, and the Vienna Elementary School. The most sought after schools for children of expats in Vienna however, are the American International School, The Vienna International School, and the Danube International School.
Vienna International School
With over 1400 students, the VIS is the largest of the 3 international schools. Its curriculum focuses maily on the International Baccalaureate and it offers all three programs of the IB. Many children of diplomats working in the UN attend the VIS.
American International School
The AIS is located on the north-western edge of Vienna in an idyllic, but very removed corner of town. The AIS curriculum focuses on the American School System of education.
Danube International School
The DIS is the smallest of the international schools in Vienna and like the VIS focuses mainly on the International Baccalaureate program.
Healthcare
Austria boasts a very high general standard of health care, which is primarily funded by the compulsory contributions of all employed persons, paid as a percentage of their gross earnings. There are also a variety of optional private insurances available.
The government Social Insurance System is divided into two main branches, the Sozialversicherungsanstalt (SVA) and the Gebietskrankenkasse (GKK). Which branch an individual is covered by is determined by the nature of their employment. Most company employees are covered by the Krakenkasse system while most self-employed individuals will be covered by the SVA.
All individuals entitled to Austrian health insurance are issued an e-card, which is presented for all medical needs and is used to monitor all health claims electronically.
Government type: Parliamentary Representative Democracy
Capital: Vienna
Total Area: 83,878 km²
Population: 8.584 million (2015)
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $43,905
Official languages: German
Religions: Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 4%, Islam 6%, Eastern Orthodoxy 6%, other or none 22.5% (2014)
Country code: +43
Currency: Euro
Voltage: 230 V
Austria is located at the eastern end of the Alps in the middle of Central Europe. Bordered by Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Hungary and Slovakia to the east, Italy and Slovenia to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west, Austria is landlocked but dissected at its northern third by the longest and most commercially significant river on the European continent—the Danube.
The Republic of Austria is comprised of 9 federal provinces: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Styria, Salzburg, Vorarlberg, Tyrol, and the capital city and 9th federal state, Vienna.
Although there is evidence of human settlement in Austria as far back as 23,000 B.C., it was not until the first century AD, when Vienna was established as one of the northernmost outposts of the Roman Empire, that any historical record appears.
By 300 AD Vienna was a thriving center of northern Roman trade, but with the decline of the Roman Empire, it was repeatedly overrun by various Germanic and Celtic tribes.
In 803 AD Charlemagne conquered the Danube territories and brought them into the hands of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1278 Rudolf II of Habsburg took control of what is now Austria and began one of the longest dynastic rules in European history—the Habsburg Empire.
The Habsburgs were able to accumulate vast land wealth through savvy political marriages, and by the 15th century had established power throughout much of central Europe and stretching even as far as the Iberian Peninsula.
With the help of their Polish Allies, the Habsburgs successfully deterred attacks from the Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries and by the 19th century, the by then “Austro-Hungarian Empire” had become the dominant power on the European continent.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the proliferation of nationalist movements throughout Europe threatened the stability of the multi ethnic and multi national Austro-Hungarian territories. The assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand by a Serbian nationalist in 1916 marked the beginning of World War I and the eventual dissolution of the Habsburg Empire.
Turbulent economic and political times followed the end of World War I and in March of 1938, Hitler marched into Austria and officially annexed it as a part of the Third Reich.
After World War II Austria established the Second Austrian Republic, based on a constitution from 1920, and after a protracted occupation by USSR, US and other Allied Powers troops, was finally granted independence in 1955.
Whether you’re planning a move to Vienna or settling in one of Austria’s scenic towns, this guide helps you prepare for expat life.
As well as being a melting pot of Western European, Italian, Central European, and Slavic cultures, Austrian culture has been influenced by its long position of power as the seat of the Habsburg Empire.
The rugged culture of the Alpine countryside is juxtaposed with the heady, intellectually elite culture, which arose in Vienna along with the fortunes of the Habsburgs.
From Mozart, to Freud, to Rilke, to Zweig, to Klimt, just to name a few- Austrians have been responsible for substantial contributions to the world of music, art, and literature.
Today, Austria has become one of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world and is consistently ranked as having one of the highest qualities of life in the world.
The Austrian Rental Market can be particularly difficult to navigate for expats. Unusually high up-front costs and an unorthodox real estate culture make it a challenge to find the right properties.
Standard Contract Length: 3-5 years – The tenant is free to end the contract after the initial binding period of 12 months plus a standard 3 month notice period.
Notice Period: Standard is 3 months – it is sometimes possible to mitigate this period through the use of a company or diplomatic clause, but this must be negotiated individually.
Security Deposit: Standard is 3 months rent, but in exceptional cases it can range between 2 and 6 months rent.
Government Contract Processing Fee: Is calculated as 1% of the total value of the contract over the course of the first 3 years. Common practice is for the tenant to pay this.
There are a number of school options for international families in Vienna. The public school system includes a few bilingual (English/German) school distributed throughout the city.
In addition, there are a number of private bilingual and foreign language schools such as the French Lycee, the Swedish School, and the Vienna Elementary School.
The most sought after schools for children of expats in Vienna however, are the American International School, The Vienna International School, and the Danube International School.
Vienna International School
With over 1400 students, the VIS is the largest of the 3 international schools. Its curriculum focuses mainly on the International Baccalaureate and it offers all three programs of the IB. Many children of diplomats working in the UN attend the VIS.
American International School
The AIS is located on the north-western edge of Vienna in an idyllic, but very removed corner of town. The AIS curriculum focuses on the American School System of education.
Danube International School
The DIS is the smallest of the international schools in Vienna and like the VIS focuses mainly on the International Baccalaureate program.
Austria boasts a very high general standard of health care, which is primarily funded by the compulsory contributions of all employed persons, paid as a percentage of their gross earnings. There are also a variety of optional private insurances available.
The government Social Insurance System is divided into two main branches, the Sozialversicherungsanstalt (SVA) and the Gebietskrankenkasse (GKK).
Which branch an individual is covered by is determined by the nature of their employment.
Most company employees are covered by the Krakenkasse system while most self-employed individuals will be covered by the SVA.
All individuals entitled to Austrian health insurance are issued an e-card, which is presented for all medical needs and is used to monitor all health claims electronically.
Relocation Guide to Bulgaria
