Wer ist in Österreich für Aufenthaltstitel zuständig?

In Wien die MA35, in den anderen Bundesländern die Bezirkshauptmannschaft oder der Magistrat. Für Asyl, Rückkehrentscheidungen und humanitäre Titel ist das Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl (BFA) zuständig.

Wo stelle ich den ersten Antrag auf einen Aufenthaltstitel?

Grundsätzlich vor der Einreise bei der österreichischen Botschaft oder dem Konsulat. Die Entscheidung ist im Ausland abzuwarten (§ 21 Abs 1 NAG). Im Inland geht das nur in Ausnahmefällen.

Was tun, wenn die Behörde nicht entscheidet?

Die Behörde muss grundsätzlich binnen sechs Monaten entscheiden. Danach ist eine Säumnisbeschwerde an das Verwaltungsgericht möglich.

Immigration Law in Austria | Immigration Lawyer Vienna

Quick check

Where are you in your proceedings?

Choose what you received most recently.

A decision (Bescheid) from an authorityFor example from the BFA, MA 35 or a district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft).

A court ruling (Erkenntnis)From the Federal Administrative Court or a regional administrative court. It decides on the merits.

A court order (Beschluss)The court rejected the case, discontinued it or decided on a procedural question.

I am not sureOr nothing has arrived yet.

For guidance only. This is not legal advice.

In short

Residence: third-country nationals need a residence permit under the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG) for stays of more than six months.
Asylum: protection from persecution; subsidiary protection (subsidiärer Schutz) if you face serious danger in your country of origin.
Entry bans and residence bans can be lifted or shortened if certain conditions are met.
Criminal proceedings often affect residence and naturalisation.

Immigration law topics

Residence & settlement

Residence permits, work, family

First application & renewal Red-White-Red Card Family reunification Studying & working as a student Integration agreement Speeding up the MA 35

Go to residence →

Asylum

Procedures, protection status, detention

Dublin procedure Subsidiary protection withdrawn Long proceedings Working during the asylum procedure Detention pending deportation

Go to asylum →

Entry & bans

When the authority will not let you in or stay

Lifting an entry ban Lifting a residence ban Suspected marriage of convenience In Austria without a residence permit Emergency visa

Book an initial consultation →

Criminal law with an immigration angle

Summons, criminal complaint, arrest or administrative fine: what criminal proceedings mean for residence and naturalisation.

Criminal proceedings & residence →

Questions we get asked

Immigration law: short answers

Who is responsible for residence permits in Austria?

In Vienna the MA 35; in the other federal provinces the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the municipal authority (Magistrat). Asylum, return decisions and humanitarian permits are handled by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA).

Where do I submit my first application for a residence permit?

As a rule, before you enter Austria, at the Austrian embassy or consulate. You must wait for the decision abroad (§ 21 Abs 1 NAG). Applying from within Austria is only possible in exceptional cases.

What can I do if the authority does not decide?

As a rule, the authority must decide within six months. After that, you can file a complaint about inaction (Säumnisbeschwerde) with the administrative court.

My application was refused. What now?

You can file an appeal (Beschwerde) against the notice (Bescheid) with the administrative court, usually within four weeks of service. For notices from the BFA the deadline can be shorter. The instructions on legal remedies (Rechtsmittelbelehrung) in the notice are decisive. Against the administrative court's decision, you then have six weeks for a revision (Revision) or a complaint to the Constitutional Court (VfGH).

Options after a negative decision →