Great nature, robust social welfare, many job opportunities, convenient location, and a high standard of living—there are many reasons why Americans move across the globe to Austria.
As an American, here is what you should think about when moving to Austria.
Consider your visa status
Get health insurance
If you are employed in Austria, you will be insured by the insurance fund that your employer uses.
The most typical is the public health insurance fund Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) or Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen (SVS) if you are self-employed.
If you are working for a company, your employer is responsible for registering you with the appropriate health insurance fund based on your type of employment.
Contributions to public health insurance are deducted monthly from your salary, and coverage is provided through the Austrian social security system. Once enrolled in the system, you will receive a health insurance card (E-Card) by post, which you can use to access medical services.
As a student, you usually have to pay for your public health insurance yourself, but it is subsidised to €69.13 (2024).
If you are considering private insurance, you can look at the healthcare packages from private funds.
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You need to file taxes to the US
Preparing a tax return from abroad is more complex, because the forms are long and the instructions not always easy to understand.
There is also the FBAR - an acronym for Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. This is a separate document that anyone who has accounts of any kind in a non-US bank must file.
So if you have a savings or any other account in an Austrian bank - including mortgage, life insurance, retirement plans, annuities, etc. - you must declare the highest amount (converted into US dollars) in each of these accounts during the year for which you file.
Learn about the employment laws and the job market
Many Americans are attracted to Europe because of the famous work-life balance. And it is true - much of the work culture differs significantly to the US.
In Austria, people do not usually work round the clock and workers tend to use all of their paid holiday days - a minimum of 25 days per year.
In the US, employees usually get a maximum of five paid sick days. In Austria, you are entitled to a significant amount of paid sick leave if you have an illness, including depression or burnout.
Meanwhile, after you have passed your initial probation period in Austria, your employer cannot easily fire you. They would need to justify it with a legally valid reason.
On top of this, there are also many parental benefits and support for families.
However, it is important to be aware that salaries are generally lower than in the US.
According to last year's Stepstone's analysis, the average gross annual salary for full-time employees in Austria in 2023 was €57,731. Meanwhile, the median gross income was €50,633, about €7,000 lower than the average salary.
READ ALSO: How does Austria decide if I am a tax resident in the country
Public transport works very well
If you are heading to one of Austria's cities, you probably do not need a car, unlike in many places in the US.
Vienna, just like most other Austrian cities, is known for its affordable and effective public transport system, which stands out in comparison to other European capital cities.
A yearly transport pass in Vienna costs €365 and provides transport to all areas within the city without long waiting times.
You can also get a Klimaticket, a yearly pass, that at €1,095 per year, covers nearly all public transport nationwide.
Main cultural differences
Whenever you move to another country, you are likely to notice some cultural differences.
For Americans coming to Austria, some of these differences might include that shops are closed on Sundays, that people are very particular about titles and formality when addressing one another, that travelling by car is less common, and that people truly embrace their time off work, which is much more valued than in the USA.
Also, outdoor sports, especially skiing, are a significant part of life, with many Austrians heading to the mountains on weekends.
You might also find it strange that Austrians go to the sauna without any swimwear, and there are plenty of nude beaches. When you do not raise your eyebrows at this (or even join in), integration is complete.
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Get familiar with the German language
Although you do not necessarily need to speak German unless your job requires it, learning some basic language skills is always a good idea.
It will help you with many tricky things when moving abroad, such as making friends and dealing with bureaucratic tasks.
Attending a language class is also a fun way to meet people and make connections. Some workplaces also offer German lessons to their international staff.
It is also important to remember that getting permanent residence - and citizenship - requires at least B1 level German in most cases. If staying in Austria is your long-term goal, focusing on learning the language is a good idea.
READ NEXT: A, C, D: What types of visas are there in Austria and which one do you need?
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