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Family & Education
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Welcome to the Carinthian Welcome Center, Carinthia’s first official self-service touchpoint for homecomers, newcomers and everyone who wants to live and work in Carinthia. Our information page, “Welcome to Carinthia”, offers you help with your successful arrival.
In the heart of the Alpe-Adria region and linking north and south, Carinthia combines alpine landscapes with Mediterranean influences. As a result, you can enjoy a temperate climate and inspiring cultural diversity on the southern side of the Alps at the intersection of three cultures. Numerous bathing lakes with crystal-clear water, surrounded by picturesque mountain panoramas, make the province a popular destination for nature lovers, sports enthusiasts and people looking for something special.
As an economic and technological hub, Carinthia also offers you job opportunities with an eye on the future. Its many educational institutions and research centres attest to the high value of science and further development. Security, family-friendliness and a high quality of life have long been the defining features of Carinthia. The south of Austria is therefore an attractive place to live and work, one of the places to be.
You’re interested in Carinthia? To help you, we have compiled relevant information that will make it easier for you to settle in Austria’s southernmost province.
The information page “Welcome to Carinthia” offers you comprehensive first tips and useful recommendations. The aim of this page is to provide a good basis for many questions, to eliminate ambiguities and to guide you through your first steps in Carinthia. Whether you need information on finding accommodation, on official and legal steps, on job opportunities or educational institutions, this page offers you the information you need.
Welcome indeed to Carinthia!
Navigate through Carinthia’s innovative economic regions with our interactive map and discover those personal prospects for you and your family in the south of Austria.
© Michael Stabentheiner
You’re moving to the south? Now your new chapter in life can begin. There are a few things to consider when arriving and settling in Carinthia:
Within the first three days of moving in, you have to register your new residence. One small bureaucratic step and you are officially at home here. Click here to go to the registration office.
Electricity, district heating or gas – think about registering for your supply of energy. An overview of the providers in Carinthia is easy to find, for example on durchblicker.at
You will have to pay a fee for your radio and TV reception – information on this can be found at https://orf.beitrag.at/ And your Internet connection? This moves with you or is registered anew.
Don’t forget to register or re-register your vehicle within a week. And don’t forget to change the address of your vehicle insurance. More information is available here.
Already thought about childcare? The best thing is to make prompt contact with childcare centres. Please note the registration deadlines. That way, nothing stands in the way of fun and games for your children.
With a forwarding order from the post office you can ensure that your letters arrive safely at your new home.
Your pet’s moving with you? Remember to also register your dog’s move at the relevant office. In Carinthia, you can do this at the municipal authority (Gemeineamt) of your place of residence or, if you live in Klagenfurt or Villach, at the city authority (Magistrat) of the city. Here you can find out about all the details in advance.
A small tip on the side:
A move is a good opportunity to take care of all address changes at the same time – be it with the tax office, your health insurance, banks or insurance companies.
This checklist is free initial information and will help you to find your feet in Carinthia quickly and easily. However, the list does not claim to be complete. You can find more information here.
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Welcome to Carinthia! To ensure that your start in our federal state is successful from the very beginning, we’ve compiled an overview of the most important documents and information for EU and non-EU citizens:
You can find further valuable tips on our website.
You’ll find more information of interest here.
Carinthia welcomes you with open arms. Whether you have moved to Carinthia from a distant country or from another part of Austria – please remember to register with the relevant authorities within three days.
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A cosy home is the key to feeling really at home in Carinthia. Are you looking for a nice flat, an appartment, a house or shared accommodation? Here are some sites that can help you in your search:
And very important: everything you need to know about housing and possible subsidies can be found here.
Do you need legal information or professional support? The housing advice centre in Carinthia will be happy to help you..
Usually, a flat is offered unfurnished. In many cases, however, there is already an existing kitchen. If you are looking for a partially furnished flat that you can use for a short stay, for example, we have a helpful link for you here: www.niceflats.net
Student budgets are sometimes a little tight. Especially when it comes to housing. Here are some link tips that might help you in your search:
We wish you an unforgettable time studying in Carinthia.
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Once you’ve arrived in Carinthia, you must register officially.
Here’s an overview:
Important: You need the signature of your landlord or landlady on your registration form.
You can find detailed information in the section “Registration/de-registration of residence“.
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The average rent for a flat in Carinthia depends on the region. These amounted to 6.8 euros per square metre in 2022, including service charges.
This means that Carinthia is more favourable than the majority of the other federal provinces in Austria in terms of housing costs (source: Statistics Austria).
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Before you start this new chapter in your life in Austria, it is necessary to inform some authorities in your country of origin about your move. Think of institutions such as your children’s school or your registration office.
As an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you can stay in Austria for up to three months without a visa. And the best thing about it? You can also extend your stay under certain conditions. This is possible with proof of permanent employment, self-employment, sufficient financial means and comprehensive health insurance or if you are at the beginning of an education programme.
But consider: Within three days of your arrival, it is absolutely necessary to register yourself and your family members at your new place of residence. In Carinthia, you can do this at the municipal authority of your place of residence or, if you live in Klagenfurt or Villach, at the city authority . You can find all the information and which documents you need to take with you for registration here.
If you come from the EU, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you have to register your stay in Carinthia within four months after your arrival either at the district administration or, if you live in Villach or Klagenfurt, at the city authority.
Want to delve deeper into this topic? You can find more information here:
We wish you a wonderful new beginning in your new home in Carinthia.
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Welcome to the world of work in Carinthia! If you’re wondering how pay is regulated in Austria and Carinthia, you’ve come to the right place.
Citizens from EU member states and the EEA states Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein as well as from Switzerland have free access to the Austrian labour market and do not need an official work permit.
If you are coming to us from a third country such as the UK, we recommend you read the following information.
For the work you do, you receive the salary specified in your employment contract. The exact amount depends on various factors: laws, collective agreements, company-internal agreements, but also your age, your qualifications and your position in the company. Usually you can expect your salary to be directly in your account at the end of the month. What you get is the net wage. The difference from the gross wage? This goes directly to various authorities such as the tax office, health insurance and social security. You can see exactly how this is made up on your pay slip or salary statement.
If the collective agreement or a corresponding company agreement provides for it, the salary/wage is paid 14 times a year in Austria and therefore also here in Carinthia. The special payments are called Christmas bonus and holiday bonus. These are automatically transferred to your salary account in addition to the twelve monthly salaries.
The Public Employment Service (AMS) in Carinthia is there to help you. Here are the contact details:
Arbeitsmarktservice Kärnten
Rudolfsbahngürtel 42, 9021 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel.: 050 904 240
The Carinthian Chamber of Labour is there to help you with advice and practical help. Be it on topics such as labour law, further training or taxes. You can find out more at kaernten.arbeiterkammer.at.
You have your sights set on self-employment?
Here is more relevant information.
We wish you all the best on your professional path in Carinthia.
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If you want to work in Carinthia and have already acquired qualifications abroad, you need to take a few important steps.
To be able to work here, your foreign qualifications must be recognised. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research evaluates the qualifications. You can read about how this process works here here.
This contact point for people with qualifications acquired abroad is here to help you:
Location: Rudolfsbahngürtel 42, A-9021 Klagenfurt (on the premises of Arbeitsmarktservice Kärnten)
Important: An appointment is essential.
Tel.: (+43) (0)316/83 56 30
E-Mail: ast.kaernten@zebra.or.at
www.zebra.or.at
We wish you a smooth entry to the world of work in Carinthia.
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Here we provide you with the most important information about the care and education of your youngest family members:
For babies and toddlers, there are well-trained and caring people who look after the well-being of your children in child-friendly places called nurseries (Kinderkrippen) and crèches (Krabbelstuben). Once the little ones reach the age of three and until they are six, they can play and learn in public or private nursery schools or children’s groups. Some of these are also bilingual. A great extra: the province of Carinthia supports families and pays part of the childcare costs. You can find all information about the Carinthian children’s grant here.
Things get exciting from the age of six, because this is when compulsory school attendance starts for your child in Austria. Every child who lives in Carinthia for more than six months has to go to school. This exciting time lasts nine years – from 6 to 15 years old. And the best thing about it: Attending classes in state schools is completely free of charge.
We wish you and your family many wonderful experiences in one of Carinthia’s schools.
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When it comes to the care and education of your child, we have some information for you here:
If you would like to register your child at a kindergarten/nursery or other school, please contact the municipal or city authority of your place of residence, the nursery school of your choice or make an appointment at the school of your choice in good time.
An important note: The last year of nursery school before starting school is compulsory in Austria! You can find all the details here.
Registration at a primary school is often referred to as “Schüler:inneneinschreibung”. Building on the primary school, there is also the possibility of continuing through junior school.
Numerous secondary and higher general education (AHS) and vocational education and training (BHS) schools are available for young people in Carinthia. The International School Carinthia (ISC) offers an internationally recognised academic programme with English as the language of instruction.
Carinthia, land of education, offers you numerous opportunities in education and training. You can find all further information here.
Address: 10.-Oktober-Str. 24, 9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel.: (+43) (0) 50 534-0
E-Mail: office@bildung-ktn.gv.at
Here’s further information for you:
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If you want to learn German or improve your German language skills, there is a wide range of courses in Carinthia. Here you can find a list of some institutions in Carinthia that offer German courses:
Alpen-Adria-Universität Klagenfurt
Sprachenzentrum “Deutsch in Österreich”
Universität Klagenfurt
Universitätsstraße 65 – 67
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel: (+43) (0)463 24180
dia@aau.at
https://dia.aau.at/
WIFI Kärnten
Europaplatz 1
9021 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel: (+43) (0)5 9434
wifi@wifikaernten.at
www.wifikaernten.at
VHS – “Die Kärntner Volkshochschulen”
Bahnhofstraße 44
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel: (+43) (0)50 477 70 70
office@vhsktn.at
www.vhsktn.at
bfi-Kärnten – Berufsförderungsinstitut
Bahnhofstraße 44
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel: (+43) (0)5 78 78
info@bfi-kaernten.at
www.bfi-kaernten.at
ÖIF – Österreichischer Integrationsfonds
Integrationszentrum Kärnten
10. Oktoberstraße 15
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel: (+43) 463/50 37 81
kaernten@integrationsfonds.at
www.integrationsfonds.at
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If you’re looking for holiday care for your child, there are some interesting options here in Carinthia. It’s worth asking about what’s available when you register. Here are a few tips on where to start:
Wide-ranging holiday programmes?
We hope you find the perfect holiday programme for your child.
© Michael Stabentheiner
If you want to travel by public transport through our beautiful province, you can rely on Kärntner Linien. All transport companies that operate public transport in Carinthia are united under the umbrella brand “Kärntner Linien”.
Are you only planning a short trip or do you want to be flexible all year round? Kärntner Linien has the right ticket for every need – whether it’s a single, daily, weekly or annual ticket.
You can find more information about what’s available at kaerntner-linien.at.
The website even has a handy route and fare planner to help you plan your route.
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In Carinthia we attach great importance to social security. That is why there is compulsory insurance. Our social insurance is your personal protective shield and is the main mechanism responsible for health, pension and accident insurance. Every company and every employer must pay social insurance contributions for every employee and their dependents.
It’s very likely you do if you belong to one of these groups:
Everyone can additionally and voluntarily opt for private health and pension insurance. Sometimes treatment costs arise that you have to pay yourself – for example, for private doctors or certain dental treatments. Often a private health insurance company will cover these costs or the statutory social insurance will reimburse you for part of the costs.
We hope that you will always feel safe and in good hands here with us in Carinthia.
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The insured persons and their family members are entitled to medical care by general practitioners, specialists, dentists or services in public hospitals or hospitals that have a health insurance fund contract.
The prerequisite for free health treatment is presentation of an e-card, on which your personal data (name, insurance number, etc.) are stored. Your partner and your children must also have such a card, which they automatically receive if they have compulsory insurance.
Important: The e-card must be presented on every visit to a doctor, dentist or hospital.
You’ll find more about the topic of health here.