Mitschrift

Third Country Nationals: Family Reunification

What happens if you are from a third country and wish to move to Austria to live with your parents or spouse? In such cases, your purpose of residence would fall under Familienzusammenführung, or family reunification. This process allows non-EU nationals to join their family members already living in Austria. But what are the requirements for family reunification, and how does the application process work? Let’s explore the key points.

Requirements and Application

Family reunification is only possible if certain conditions are met. First, the family member living in Austria must have a sufficient income and enough living space to accommodate the entire family. Additionally, in principle, only spouses and their minor children can submit an initial application for family reunification. If your relatives in Austria are Austrian or EU citizens, there may be more flexibility, allowing siblings and other relatives to join under certain conditions. More information on these specific cases can be found in our video on "Immigration from EU Countries."

To initiate the process, the application must be submitted at the Austrian embassy in the applicant’s country of origin. If you are eligible to enter Austria without a visa, you can also submit the application personally during your legal stay at the municipal department MA 35 (Immigration and Citizenship). However, if the residence permit cannot be processed within your legal stay, you may need to leave Austria temporarily and await the decision abroad.

The Application of Linda and David

Let’s take an example to illustrate the process. Linda is an IT expert from Canada working in Vienna with a stable income and a suitable apartment. Her husband, David, wishes to move to Vienna with their daughter. To start the family reunification process, David completes the application forms for himself and his daughter at the Austrian embassy in Ottawa.

The essential documents for the application include:

a valid passport

birth certificates

marriage certificate

acertificate of good conduct

proof of David's German language skills at level A1

Linda’s residence permit

proof of Linda’s income and housing

health insurance

Originals and copies of these documents must be provided, and any foreign-language documents require certified translations. Additionally, when applying, David signs the Integrationsvereinbarung, or integration agreement. This agreement outlines the expectations for immigrants, which you can learn more about in our "Integration Agreement" video.

The Procedure and Residence Title

After David submits the application, the Austrian embassy forwards it to the Viennese immigration authority, MA 35. Once the MA 35 approves the application, the embassy informs David of the decision. Following approval, David and his daughter can enter Austria. Upon arriving in Vienna, they collect their residence permits from the MA 35. In this case, they receive Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karten Plus (Red-White-Red Cards Plus), which are valid for one year.

To learn how to renew these cards, check out our video on "Integration Agreement and Residence Prolongation." A helpful tip for newcomers like David is to take advantage of free Start-Coaching services. The StartWien team offers support and guidance to help you settle into your new home in Vienna.