Getting a mortgage as a non-EU foreigner in Austria is generally possible. But be prepared to jump through a few more hoops.
While Austrian and other EU citizens tend to enjoy a relatively straightforward process, non-EU nationals without permanent residency are considered a greater risk. This is because they may end up having their request to renew their residency permit denied and have to leave Austria, leaving their loan default risk higher.
If you’re a non-EU national applying for a mortgage in Austria, you can still go for it – but expect to be asked for more paperwork than an Austrian or EU citizen might be.
Regardless of nationality, applicants must also meet the bank's financial requirements.
Austria's previous binding mortgage lending regulation, known as KIM-V, expired on June 30th, 2025. However, the Financial Market Authority (FMA) still expects banks to generally follow three benchmarks: a loan amount of no more than 90 percent of the property's collateral value, annual repayments of no more than 40 percent of annual net income, and a maximum loan term of 35 years.
These are supervisory guidelines rather than absolute limits for every borrower. Banks can deviate from them based on their own risk assessments.
READ ALSO:EXPLAINED: Property buying rules for international residents in Austria
Check your residence status and property-buying rules
You do not necessarily have to be resident in Austria to buy property here. There is no nationwide rule requiring buyers to live in the country for at least 183 days a year.
Instead, the rules depend on your citizenship, the federal state where the property is located and how you intend to use it.
EU and European Economic Area (EEA) citizens are generally treated the same as Austrian citizens when buying property. Third-country nationals may need additional authorisation, although exemptions exist.
A mortgage lender can separately request proof of your address or residence status when assessing your application.
Individual lenders decide which applications they are prepared to consider, subject to their obligations to assess creditworthiness. Permanent residence is not a nationwide legal requirement for obtaining a mortgage.
If you hold a temporary residence permit, it is worth asking lenders directly whether they will consider your application and which documents they need.
Property purchases can be more complicated in Tyrol, Salzburg and Vorarlberg, where provincial legislation places additional restrictions on foreign buyers.
However, these provinces do not impose a blanket ban on all non-EU nationals buying property. Depending on the circumstances, third-country nationals may be able to obtain authorisation from the relevant authorities.
Separate restrictions can also apply to holiday homes and certain types of land, regardless of whether the buyer is Austrian or foreign.
Anyone considering a purchase in one of these provinces should check the applicable rules with the local property transfer authority, or Grundverkehrsbehörde, before proceeding.
READ ALSO:Property buying rules for foreigners in Tyrol and Vorarlberg
Have your (euro) bank statements ready
Many banks in Austria will have a strong preference for people who earn their income in euros – whatever your immigration status.
That’s because income earned in another currency brings the risk of currency fluctuations into repayments.
So if your salary is paid or you bill your clients in a currency other than euros, you may experience some issues with lenders.
If you’re interested in buying property in Austria, one of the first things you’re advised to do is to open an Austrian bank account if you haven’t already done so. Many banks may accept accounts in other EU countries denominated in euro, but not all will accept accounts and incomes in other currencies.
READ ALSO:Can owners of second homes in Austria get residence permits?
Check to make sure you think you can get authorisation
Most non-EU nationals buying property in Austria will have to get authorisation from their local authorities to buy. Where authorisation is required, the procedure and processing time depend on the province and the circumstances of the purchase.
You should check the timing of the authorisation process with your mortgage lender and the lawyer or notary handling the purchase.
The documents required vary by province. In Vienna, for example, applicants generally need a signed and certified purchase contract. Where authorisation is required, ownership cannot be registered in the land register (Grundbuch) until the necessary approval has been obtained.
Property authorisation rules cover whether the purchase is likely to have a positive cultural, social, or economic benefit to Austria and no negative effects to the country’s political interests. Providing housing to the applicant is often enough to satisfy the social benefit criteria.
There are exceptions to this though. In Vienna, a married couple where one partner is an EU national doesn’t have to apply for authorisation – even if the other partner is a non-EU national.
In Graz, non-EU citizens don’t have to apply for authorisation at all.
READ ALSO:
Property buying rules for international residents in Vienna
EXPLAINED:The rules for buying property in Graz as a foreigner
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