Active Support,
for your (new) start in Carinthia
Do you want to return home to Carinthia? Or would you like to call Carinthia home in future?
Seizing your opportunities in Carinthia!
The Carinthian Welcome Center (CWC) is the first point of contact for your questions about “Settling in Carinthia”. Whether you’re a new arrival or a Carinthian returning home, we offer fast and unbureaucratic assistance tailored to your personal and professional background.
Astrid Kircher-Yu
» Each move to Carinthia is as different as the people behind it. This is why every enquiry to the Carinthian Welcome Center is dealt with individually and unbureaucratically. «
How we assist you:
We help you get the right answers to your questions – be it a general enquiry about career or educational opportunities in Carinthia, or if you require specific information about childcare or about getting your university or school qualifications recognised.
We’re also here to help if you need information about health care, leisure activities, mobility, culture or events from the realm of work-life balance.
We can also help by:
- putting you in touch with Carinthian companies,
- providing general information about the Carinthian housing market,
- helping you build networks with partners or institutions in Carinthia
The benefits for you:
- settle into your (new) home quickly
- support with administrative processes
- direct communication with the relevant contacts
- no need for time-consuming research
With our extensive network of partners, we are also happy to help if you are a Carinthian company looking for highly-skilled employees.
Contact
Carinthian Welcome Center
Office of the Government of Carinthia
Mag. Astrid Kircher-Yu
Völkermarkter Ring 29 | 9020 Klagenfurt |
T +43 50 536 35015 |
M +43 664 805 36 35015 |
E-Mail: cwc@ktn.gv.at
Welcome to Carinthia!
We understand that returning home or taking your first steps in a new region can often be a challenge. We have therefore put together some useful tips and important information to help you get off to a good (new) start in Carinthia.
The guide to living and working in Carinthia:
In cooperation with the ABA – Austrian Business Agency, the comprehensive reference work was created in English to make it easier for all newcomers to start in Carinthia.
Here you can download the guide, simply fill out the form and receive “The essential guide to living and working in Austria – Carinthia Edition”.
Checklist for Your New Life in Carinthia
Registration:
You must register your place of residence within 3 days of moving into your new home.
Electricity, District Heating, Gas:
Don’t forget to register with a new utility provider or notify your existing provider of your change of address. Here is a list of electricity suppliers in Carinthia.
TV Licence (GIS), Internet:
Please remember: You are required to pay a licence fee for radio and/or television sets. All information about registering your TV and radio or providing notification of an address change can be found here (www.gis.at) You should also remember to have your Internet disconnected when you move or have it transferred to your new address.
Registering Your Car:
You must register your car with the competent authority within a week of moving to Carinthia. This also affects your vehicle insurance. Further information on the actual process can be found here.
Childcare:
You should contact your preferred childcare provider in advance. Attention: Note the deadlines for registration!
Notification of Address Change (if appropriate):
• Tax office
• Health insurance funds
• Insurance companies
• Banks
• Further Information
Post:
It is advisable to sign up for the mail forwarding service offered by the post office.
Dogs:
Dog owners must register their pet with the responsible authority.
Note: This checklist is intended to provide you with some initial information and does not claim to be complete!
EU citizens and non-EU citizens must be able to present the following documents in the original:
• Passport (also for minors)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• E-forms/Portable Documents (Europe-wide standardised forms that ensure the recognition of social and work-related data)
• Driving licence, vehicle licence: If you hold a foreign driving licence, you must exchange it for an Austrian licence within six months of moving to Austria.
• Health insurance
• References, proof of employment, certificates, proof of language skills etc. in the original and in German or English
• Children’s school reports and confirmation of school attendance
Other important things to do:
• Organise accommodation in Carinthia in good time
• Make sure you have sufficient funds available to cover your living costs
• Arrange health insurance in Carinthia
• Open a bank account
Further Information: Living and Working in Austria
Anyone establishing a residence in Austria is required to register with the authorities. Within three days of moving into your new home, you must register with the relevant registration authority regardless of whether you are coming to Carinthia from abroad or from somewhere else within Austria.
These registration authorities are
• the municipal office (Gemeindeamt) or
• the municipal district office (Magistrat) in cities.
Necessary documents:
• To register, you will have to fill in a residence registration form (Meldezettel) for each member of your household (including under-age children) – the form can be obtained from the relevant registration authority or can be downloaded from the Internet
• Passport
• Birth certificate
Attention: If you are living in rented accommodation, the residence registration form must be signed by your landlord!
Further Information: Registering and De-Registering
Residence in Carinthia
It is important that you notify the authorities in your country of origin that you have moved. e.g., the registration authority and your children’s school. Citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are generally permitted to remain in Austria for up to three months. They do not require a visa. This period may of course be extended if you have a permanent job with an employer or are self-employed or if you have sufficient financial resources, including health insurance, or if you have entered education. Important: You must register your place of residence in Austria within three days of moving into your home.
Within four months of entering Austria, citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland must notify the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the municipal district office (Magistrat) in cities. If the conditions are met, a confirmation of registration (Anmeldebescheinigung) will be issued.
Further Information:
Information on Permanent Residence
Information on Temporary Residence
Information on Residence in Austria
Third-country nationals are people who are neither citizens of the EEA or Switzerland. They require a residence permit if they wish to remain in Austria for longer than six months. Third-country nationals wishing to stay in Austria for up to six months at most do not require a residence permit, but must apply for a visa. Citizens of some countries, however, may stay in Austria for up to 90 days within a 180 period without a visa.
Residence permits are always issued for a specific purpose.
If you are a third-country national and wish to take up regular employment in Carinthia, you will need a Red-White-Red card for highly qualified workers from third countries. The Red-White-Red card is issued for a period of 24 months and entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and employment by the employer specified in the application. You are eligible for a Red-White-Red Card if you belong to one of the following groups:
• Very highly qualified workers
• Skilled workers in shortage occupations
• Other key workers or self-employed key workers
• Graduates of an Austrian higher education institution
• Start-up founders
Requirements:
• Adequate means of subsistence
• Health insurance
• Accommodation
• You do not pose a threat to public order and security
If you are a third-country national and wish to work in Carinthia temporarily, there are a number of options for researchers, school pupils and students, etc.
Further Information:
Information on Permanent Residence
Information on Temporary Residence
Information on Residence in Austria
Working in Carinthia
Employees are entitled to the wages or salary specified in their employment contract. The final amount will depend on two factors: Legal stipulations, collective bargaining agreements and/or company-internal agreements on the one hand; age, qualification, position in the company and of course the working hours model on the other. Wages/salaries are usually paid into a current account on the last day of the month or the first day of the following month. The money paid out is the net amount. Taxes, social insurance contributions and all other deductions are taken off the gross amount from the employer and forwarded to the respective agencies (tax service, social insurance companies, health insurance companies, trade unions etc.) On your payslip, you can see exactly what amounts are taken off and to what purpose.
Special payments
If stipulated by the collective bargaining agreement or works agreement, the salary/wages are paid out 14 times a year. These special payments are Christmas and holiday remunerations that are paid in addition to the twelve monthly salaries.
The Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) is the public-sector provider of labour-market related services in Austria.
Public Employment Service
Rudolfsbahngürtel 42
9021 Klagenfurt
Tel.: (+43) (0) 463 38 32
www.ams.at
Further Information:
Average pay in Austria, including gross/net calculator
AMS Salary Compass
Living and Working in Austria
The Chamber of Labour Carinthia (Arbeiterkammer Kärnten) offers advice and tips on issues of labour and social security law, consumer protection, professional training and continuing education, subsidies and saving taxes. Detailed information can be found at kaernten.arbeiterkammer.at
Would you like to strike out on your own and become self-employed? More detailed information can be found here.
To be able to work in Carinthia, you must have your qualifications recognised. There are special agencies that can help you with this. The Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research will assess your qualifications. This is done via the website of the Ministry and is useful for your job search.
More detailed information can be obtained from the service centre for people with qualifications obtained abroad:
Anlaufstelle Steiermark, Kärnten und Südburgenland (AST Steiermark – AST Kärnten)
Sprechstunden Klagenfurt (AMS Kärnten)
Rudolfsbahngürtel 42
9021 Klagenfurt
By appointment!
Tel.: (+43) (0)316/83 56 30
ast.kaernten@zebra.or.at
www.zebra.or.at
Further Information: Recognition of Qualifications, Working in Austria
Children in Carinthia
Care for babies and toddlers is provided in crèches. Older children – from 3 years to 6 years of age – are cared for in public or private kindergartens or in other types of children’s groups. The state of Carinthia provides a subsidy to help parents cover the cost of childcare. More information on the Carinthian Children’s Grant can be found here.
Schooling is compulsory in Austria for children from the age of six. Any child who spends more than 6 months in Austria is required to attend school. Compulsory schooling starts in the year in which the child has its sixth birthday and lasts 9 years until the child is 15. Schooling in state schools is free of charge.
If you wish to register your child for childcare or at a school, make sure you enquire in good time about the registration deadlines. Such enquiries should be made to the municipal office or municipal district office (Gemeindeamt, Magistrat), or the kindergarten or school of your choice. Remember that the final year of kindergarten before a child starts school is compulsory (for further information on this see). The process of registering a child for school is generally known as “SchülerInneneinschreibung”. Carinthia is a land of education with a large number of educational and training institutions that all work hard to ensure a bright future for our children. Further information can be found here.
School Service Centre in Carinthia:
Bildungsdirektion für Kärnten
10. -Oktober Str. 24
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Tel.: (+43) (0) 50 534-0
office@bildung-ktn.gv.at
Further Information:
The Austrian education system
Information on registering your child for school (SchülerInneneinschreibung)
Overview of all schools in Carinthia
Multilingual educational offer
Education Counselling in Carinthia
A number of private and public sector organisations offer childcare during the school holidays. You should clarify which options are available when you register. Here are some useful links:
www.sommerbetreuung.at
www.familieundberuf.at
www.ferien4kids.at
Housing in Carinthia
Finding somewhere to live where you can really feel at home is an important part of settling down in Carinthia. We have put together some important information and tips about house hunting that we hope will be useful.
A list of all estate agents is available here.
Useful addresses for finding accommodation:
www.willhaben.at
www.immobilienscout24.at
www.wohnnet.at
www.immowelt.at
Comprehensive information about housing and subsidies is available here.
Legal information can be obtained from the following housing advisory services in Carinthia.
Apartments are usually offered unfurnished. However, furnished flats are sometimes available, for example, for short stays.
Students often have rather a tight budget for accommodation. It is therefore all the more important to find a suitable flat. Shared flats are often a good way for students to save money.
The average cost of accommodation in Austria varies from one region to the next. In 2019, average rental costs, including service charges, in Carinthia amounted to 6.3 euros per square metre, which is lower than in the majority of the provinces.
Source: Statistik Austria
Language
There are plenty of courses available if you would like to learn German or improve your German language skills. Here is a list of some of the institutions that offer German courses in Carinthia:
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
Tel: (+43) (0)5 9434
wifi@wifikaernten.at
www.wifikaernten.at
VHS – “Die Kärntner Volkshochschulen”
Bahnhofstraße 44
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: (+43) (0)50 477 70 70
office@vhsktn.at
www.vhsktn.at
bfi-Kärnten – Berufsförderungsinstitut
Bahnhofstraße 44
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: (+43) (0)5 78 78
info@bfi-kaernten.at
www.bfi-kaernten.at
ÖIF – Österreichischer Integrationsfonds
Integrationszentrum Kärnten
10. Oktoberstraße 15
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: (+43) 463/50 37 81
kaernten@integrationsfonds.at
www.integrationsfonds.at
Health and Social System
Social security is a priority not just in Carinthia but throughout Austria. Statutory social insurance in Austria covers health insurance, pension insurance and accident insurance. As this insurance is compulsory, every business and every company pays social insurance contributions for every employee and their dependants.
This system of compulsory insurance covers
• almost all employees
• the majority of those who are self-employed
• recipients of unemployment benefits
• recipients of a pension
• the dependants of the above
Furthermore, anyone can take out health and pension insurance on a voluntary basis.
Some services have to be paid for (e.g., private medical care, orthodontic treatment, dental bridges, etc.). Generally speaking, however, your health insurance provider will reimburse you for at least some of the costs.
All those who are insured, and their dependants are entitled to medical care by general practitioners, specialists, dentists or public hospitals that have a health insurance contract with their social insurance provider.
To obtain free treatment when you go to the doctor’s, you must present your e-card which contains your personal details (name, insurance number, etc.).
Further information about healthcare can be found here.
Everyone who is insured automatically receives an e-card that entitles them to receive treatment from doctors and hospitals. This e-card must be presented whenever you visit a physician!
Further Information:
Österreichische Sozialversicherung: www.sozialversicherung.at
Information about social insurance
Transport and Mobility in Carinthia
The Carinthian Transport Authority (Kärntner Linien) is responsible for all public transport in Carinthia and combines all transport companies involved in the provision of public transport in Carinthia. There is a wide range of tickets available – from single journey tickets to one-day passes, weekly passes and annual season tickets. The Carinthian Transport Authority website offers route and tariff planners for all journeys within Carinthia: www.kaerntner-linien.at
For other useful services, contact:
Lakeside B06
9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
office@weltkaerntner.at
www.weltkaerntner.at
Hauptplatz 7
9500 Villach
Tel: (+43) (0) 650 260 81 95
office@cic-network.at
www.cic-network.at
Mag. Patricia Leitgeb
Tel: (+43) (0) 463 2700 9314
interactive@aau.at
www.aau.at
Mag. Birgit Wilpernig
Villacher Straße 1
9800 Spittal
Tel: (+43) (0)5 90 500 7303
karriere@fh-kaernten.at
Fromillerstraße 31/2
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: (+43) (0)463 – 50 46 50
office@bildungsberatung-kaernten.at
www.bildungsberatung-kaernten.at
Status November 2020. Subject to change.
