Relocation to Austria
Legal, tax and practical guidance for individuals and families moving to Austria — before, during and after the move.
In short
- Austria levies no wealth tax, no inheritance tax and no gift tax — the last two were abolished in August 2008 and never reinstated.
- Most investment income is taxed at a flat 27.5%, and gains on financial assets accrued before you arrive are stepped out of Austrian tax on entry — real estate is not stepped up.
- Vienna led the global liveability rankings for years and still places second worldwide (EIU 2026, Mercer 2024), combining safety, culture and central European reach at prices well below Zurich or London.
- Austria has no golden visa: residence is earned through means- or merit-based routes, which is why the order of steps matters.
Political and legal stability, a clean and safe environment, excellent infrastructure and schools, and a healthcare system that works — Austria offers the fundamentals wealthy families weigh most, together with a tax system that leaves private wealth largely untouched while it stays private. High income tax rates on earnings sit alongside flat, final taxes on capital and the complete absence of wealth, inheritance and gift taxation.
This site is that trade-off explained, page by page. Why Austria makes the case for the move in full; who can relocate matches residence routes to profiles, from executives to the financially independent. The rest of the site covers what a move touches — read it before you move, because much of the value lies in the sequence.
One move, six subjects
Immigration
The residence routes into Austria, from EU registration to the independent-means permit — and why there is no golden visa.
Tax
How Austrian tax residence begins, what it taxes at which rate, and why timing decides so much.
Wealth & succession
Foundations, trusts, estates and marriage contracts under Austrian law — and what to review before arrival.
Property
Who may buy, what the purchase really costs, and what Vienna's districts sell and rent for.
Business
Employment, setting up a company, relocating one, and what social security costs at a high salary.
Living
Schools, healthcare, banking, the household move and the first weeks after arrival.
Plan before you move
The best time to obtain Austrian tax advice is before becoming Austrian tax resident.
Austrian tax residence can begin the day a home becomes available to you — and from that day, worldwide income is on the table, a foreign company run from Vienna can turn Austrian-resident, and a trust distribution that would have been tax-free arrives taxed at 27.5% or more. Almost every one of those outcomes can be improved while you are still abroad: gains realised, structures reviewed, distributions timed, entry values documented for the step-up.
Most of what a relocation costs is therefore decided by the order of its steps, not by any single decision. Pre-immigration planning explains what to review and why; the relocation timeline puts the steps in sequence from twelve months out to the first weeks in Vienna; and six illustrative case studies show how the pieces interact for families like yours.
Start with the right questions
Before any of the detail, ten questions settle the shape of a move: which residence route, when tax residence should start, what happens to the investments, the company, the trust, the property, the pension and the estate plan — and what must be done before arrival. The first 10 questions asks and answers each one, and links the page that carries the depth.
Frequently asked questions
The questions people ask before moving to Austria tend to recur — and several have pleasingly short answers. The most common, answered on the FAQ page, one anchor per answer:
How can we assist you?
As one of Austria's largest law firms, we are set up to advise on every part of a move:
- Our relocation practice has advised a significant number of individuals and families moving to Austria — on immigration, tax, wealth and succession, real estate and business. Our advantage lies in the combination of an extensive network of contacts, a direct result of the firm's size and regional reach, and deep experience with the specific procedures a relocation touches.
- We accompany clients throughout the entire process, from an initial assessment of the residence route and the tax position, through pre-immigration planning, to the residence application, the arrival in Austria and the years that follow.
- We combine rigorous legal and tax preparation with coordination of advisers in the country of departure, contact with the competent authorities, planning of preparatory visits to Austria and, where useful, introductions to banks, schools and property agents.
Considering a move to Austria?
Tell us where you stand — the country you are leaving, the shape of your family and your assets, and when you plan to move. We advise on the legal and tax consequences of relocating to Austria and coordinate with advisers in the country of departure.
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