The glossary

The certificate an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen must obtain when staying in Austria for longer than three months, applied for within four months of arrival. It requires health insurance plus work, study or sufficient funds, and is a documentation of an existing right rather than a permit. The details are on the page for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.

The rule, in force for residential lettings since 2023, that the estate agent's commission is paid by whoever engaged the agent — in practice almost always the landlord. Tenants therefore no longer pay broker fees on most Vienna flats, one of several protections described under renting and tenancy in Austria.

The permanent residence title a third-country national can obtain after five years of continuous lawful residence, subject to income, integration and German at B1 level. It removes the need for renewals and loosens the tie to a particular permit category; the conditions and the absences that break the five years are explained under permanent residence in Austria.

A bilateral treaty allocating taxing rights between two states so the same income is not fully taxed twice. Austria has concluded around 90, generally following the OECD Model, and they take priority over domestic law. How residence is tie-broken and how relief works is covered under Austria's double taxation treaties.

The chip card every person covered by Austrian social insurance carries, presented at doctors and hospitals as proof of insurance. It doubles as the European Health Insurance Card on its reverse. How coverage arises and what it buys is described under healthcare in Austria.

The court order that ends Austrian probate proceedings and makes the heirs owners of the estate. Until it is issued, the deceased's assets are held by the estate as a separate legal person — inheritance in Austria never passes automatically. The procedure sits within Austrian succession law and wills.

The public register of Austrian companies, kept by the commercial courts. A GmbH comes into existence on registration, which usually takes about a week once the documents are complete; the steps are set out under setting up a company in Austria.

A company form introduced in 2024 as a start-up-friendly variant of the GmbH, with lighter formalities and enterprise-value shares designed for employee participation. Founders choosing between the two forms will find the comparison under setting up a company in Austria.

One of the two triggers of Austrian tax residence: a stay under circumstances indicating it is not merely temporary. A presence of more than six months leads irrefutably to a habitual abode — the months need not fall in one calendar year. The full mechanics are explained under Austrian tax residence.

The Austrian limited liability company and the workhorse of Austrian corporate life. Minimum share capital is EUR 10,000, half of which must be paid in, formation requires a notarial deed, and registration usually takes about a week. Formation and running costs are covered under setting up a company in Austria.

The public register of Austrian real estate, open to everyone. Ownership of property passes only on registration — not on signing or paying — which shapes the whole purchase mechanic described under the purchase process and costs.

The tax on transfers of Austrian real estate: generally 3.5% of the higher of price and property value, with a banded scale of 0.5% to 3.5% for gratuitous transfers and special rules for share deals. It applies to purchases, gifts and inheritances alike and is itemised in the full cost of buying Austrian property.

The annual municipal tax on Austrian real estate and the country's only wealth-type levy. Its base is a historic assessed value far below market prices and its rate at most 1% of that base, so the amounts are modest; context is given under wealth tax and other taxes.

The flat 30% tax on capital gains from Austrian real estate, usually withheld by the attorney or notary handling the sale. Main-residence and self-built-home exemptions can remove it entirely; how ownership structure affects it is discussed under ownership structures and rental income.

The withholding tax Austrian banks deduct on investment income — 25% on bank interest and 27.5% on dividends, bond interest and capital gains. For most portfolios the withholding settles the tax in full, which is much of the appeal of an Austrian custody account, explained under investment income and capital gains.

The registration of one's dwelling with the municipal authority, due within three days of taking up residence. It is an administrative duty, not the test of tax residence, though it serves as an indication; it tops the first-weeks checklist for new arrivals.

A class of Austrian settlement permits for third-country nationals. Its best-known variant excludes gainful employment and serves persons of independent means — the de facto route for financially independent newcomers, subject to a strict annual quota and described under the residence permit for financially independent persons.

The one-off tax due when a car or motorcycle is first registered in Austria, whether bought locally or brought along in the move. The rate scales with CO2 emissions, so efficient cars pay little and fully electric vehicles nothing; the practicalities are under moving, customs and vehicles.

The strictest Austrian form for legal documents, executed before a notary public. It is mandatory for, among other things, GmbH articles of association and marriage contracts — a private written agreement, however careful, does not suffice where the deed is required, as the family law page explains for couples.

The statutory health insurance carrier for employees and the largest of Austria's social insurance institutions. Coverage follows employment automatically; the system, its family co-insurance and the private top-ups wealthy families usually add are described under healthcare in Austria.

The share of an estate that the spouse and descendants can claim even against a contrary will — half of what intestacy would have given them, as a monetary claim rather than specific assets. Gifts made during life can be clawed into the computation. The safeguards and planning room are covered under succession law and wills.

A legal entity without owners, endowed by a founder to serve purposes he or she defines — Austria's principal wealth-structuring vehicle. Endowments bear a 3.5% entry tax, the foundation pays 23% corporate income tax with a 27.5% interim tax on interest, realised securities and derivative gains, crypto income and private property gains, and distributions bear 27.5% withholding. The full regime is on the Austrian private foundation page.

The statutory reference value per square metre that caps rents in much of Vienna's pre-1945 housing stock, adjusted by surcharges and deductions for the particular flat. New builds sit outside the system and rent at market rates; the tiers are mapped under renting and tenancy in Austria.

Austria's points-based residence and work permit for qualified third-country workers, spanning categories from the very highly qualified to other key workers, the category most executives use — the latter needing a salary of at least EUR 3,465 per month (2026) and no German. Categories and points are set out under the Red-White-Red Card.

The duty to notify the tax office of larger gifts even though Austria levies no gift tax: within three months, above EUR 50,000 per year between close relatives or EUR 15,000 over five years otherwise, with fines of up to 10% of the value for intentional omission. Details are under inheritance and gift tax in Austria.

The upgraded hospital class — choice of doctor, better rooms, flexible scheduling — that private supplementary insurance buys on top of statutory cover. It is the main reason wealthier residents carry private policies, discussed under healthcare in Austria.

The tax on gratuitous endowments to foundations and similar estates: 3.5% from 1 January 2026 (previously 2.5%), rising to 25% where the recipient fails any of five statutory conditions — comparability with an Austrian private foundation, disclosure of its deeds to the tax office, a duty to name its beneficiaries, registration with its deed in a public register, and comprehensive administrative assistance from its state — which most common-law trusts do not meet. Real estate is carved out to real estate transfer tax instead, with a 3.5% entry tax equivalent charged on top. The gap drives structuring choices explained on the private foundation page.

The fiduciary arrangement under which an Austrian lawyer or notary holds the purchase price in a property deal until the buyer's ownership is secured in the land register. It is the standard protection in Austrian conveyancing, described step by step under the purchase process and costs.

The deceased's assets, debts, rights and obligations, treated as a legal person of its own from death until the court's transfer order. It is represented by the heirs or a court-appointed administrator while probate runs — a structural feature of Austrian succession law that surprises common-law families.

A doctor practising outside the statutory insurers' panel contracts. Patients pay privately and reclaim a portion from their insurer; many English-speaking practitioners in Vienna work this way, as noted under healthcare in Austria.

The tax Austria levies on unrealised gains in financial assets when a resident moves away, generally at 27.5%, with instalment or deferral relief for moves within the EU and EEA. It is the mirror image of the entry step-up and is explained under leaving Austria.

The Austrian register of beneficial owners, recording the natural persons who hold more than 25% of, or otherwise control, companies, foundations and similar entities. General public access ended with the Court of Justice of the EU's 2022 ruling: the register is open to the authorities and to obliged entities such as banks, lawyers and notaries, and to other third parties only where they show a legitimate interest connected with money laundering, terrorist financing or sanctions — still a transparency point owners of structures should know before setting up an Austrian company.

A dwelling kept under circumstances indicating the taxpayer intends to keep and use it — one of the two triggers of Austrian tax residence. Legal title is irrelevant: a holiday home or a permanently available hotel room can qualify. The tests, and the 70-day relief for secondary residences, are under Austrian tax residence.

The public-interest concession for relocating scientists, researchers, artists and sportspersons: non-Austrian income is taxed at a flat rate equal to the prior three years' average foreign rate, minimum 15%, rising after year ten. Who qualifies and how to apply within the strict six-month window is on the preferential tax regime page.

The ordinance under which an Austrian dwelling does not create tax residence for someone whose centre of vital interests has been abroad for more than five years, provided the dwelling is used at most 70 days a year and a day list is actually kept. Miss the list and residence follows; the trap is dissected under Austrian tax residence.

The 27.5% corporate income tax an Austrian private foundation pays on interest, realised gains on securities and derivatives, crypto income and private property gains (raised from 23% on 1 January 2026), credited back when corresponding distributions are made to beneficiaries and finally burdened with withholding tax. It makes the foundation a deferral vehicle rather than a shelter, as the numbers on the private foundation page show.