Sources: MA 35 Wien · NAG § 51 · EU Visa Code 810/2009 · ÖGK · Care Concept AG AVB · Bezirkshauptmannschaft

Health insurance for foreigners in Austria — MA 35-accepted cover by age and stay length

Care Austria from €51/month (Education, ages 12–35) or €95/month (Standard, 0–64) is the long-stay private Incoming tariff MA 35 Wien and the Bezirkshauptmannschaft regularly accept as the Krankenversicherungsnachweis for the Aufenthaltstitel, the Niederlassungsbewilligung, the Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte and the Anmeldebescheinigung (§ 51 NAG). Schengen-only stays use Care Visa Protect from €0.85/day.

Indicative: around €800 in lost gross weekly wages at the Austrian median per week of residence-permit delay (source: indicative AT median earnings 2024/25) — Care Austria premium for the same week: about €12.

No medical questionnaire, no German required, no Austrian bank account or Sozialversicherungsnummer needed to apply — third-country nationals from Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Türkiye, Nigeria or anywhere outside the EU can buy and attach the certificate before the MA 35 appointment.

Below: why ÖGK is normally closed to freelancers, retirees and family-reunification cases · when Wahlarzt access actually matters · how the entry-age band locks the Care Austria premium for the full contract length.

Editor's note: covering MA 35 and Bezirkshauptmannschaft files since 2009, the two most common mistakes we see at the Vienna counter are an international travel policy the case officer cannot verify in German, and a tariff with a Selbstbehalt high enough to fail the "comprehensive cover" wording of the NAG (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz). Both are avoidable — the Care Austria price table, the situation matrix, the cost-of-living-in-Vienna anchors and the 3-step checklist further down cover the Austria visa requirements, healthcare in Austria for foreigners (statutory ÖGK plus private health insurance Austria), the EU Anmeldebescheinigung route and the bridging path toward eventual Austrian nationality. Final acceptance always rests with the responsible MA 35 case officer or the regional Bezirkshauptmannschaft. Last reviewed by Steffan Grund on April 11, 2026. Editorial standards & how we verify prices.

What is health insurance for foreigners in Austria?

Quick answer: Health insurance for foreigners in Austria is any health cover — statutory (ÖGK through employment, public-university enrolment or EU Form S1) or private long-stay Incoming insurance such as Care Austria — that MA 35 Wien or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft recognises under the NAG (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz) as proof of comprehensive cover for the Aufenthaltstitel or the Anmeldebescheinigung (§ 51 NAG).

In practice, three routes exist for foreigners moving to Austria. First, statutory health insurance (ÖGK, Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) is open through an ASVG-eligible employment contract, enrolment at a public Austrian university, or via EU Form S1 (EU Regulation 883/2004) for pensioners of an EU/EEA/Swiss statutory fund. Second, substitutive Austrian private health insurance (PKV)exists for long-term residents but is medically underwritten and normally chosen only after the first years in Austria. Third — and the practical route for the overwhelming majority of foreigners who do not yet qualify for ÖGK — is private long-stay Incoming insurance: Care Austria from €51/month on the Education variant (ages 12–35) or €95/month on the Standard variant (0–64 age band), recognised by MA 35 and every Bezirkshauptmannschaft as comprehensive cover under the NAG. The responsible MA 35 case officer always issues the binding decision in individual files.

One wrong insurance choice can cost you money, time and your application deadline

A medical incident can become expensive fast — but the wrong certificate can also delay your visa, enrollment, residence permit or work start.

• Wrong or incomplete proof can delay your visa, enrollment or authority process.
• Cheap home-country policies may miss the exact coverage, dates or repatriation wording required.
• The cheapest policy can become expensive if it is the wrong proof for your situation.

Before you apply, check: coverage amount, validity dates, destination area and repatriation cover.

Why act before Austrian residence paperwork

Austria has its own residence-process requirements. A Germany-focused insurance route may not fit MA35 or magistrate documents.

Recommended health insurance for foreigners in Austria — by case

Care Austria — all prices by variant, age band & duration

Quick answer: Care Austria — the recommended private long-stay tariff for foreigners in Austria — is priced in two variants: Education (training stays, ages 12–35) and Standard (every other purpose, entry ages 0–74). Each variant has a 364-day option and an unlimited option. The entry premium is from €51/month for Education and €95/month for the 0–64 Standard band. The certificate is regularly accepted by MA 35 and the Bezirkshauptmannschaft as comprehensive cover under the NAG.

Which tariff for which Austria situation?

Quick answer: The right tariff depends on the residence purpose, the age band and the length of stay — not on the passport. The matrix below maps the most common foreigner cases in Austria to the recommended Care Concept tariff.

Not sure which fits? Try the 30-second tariff finder.

ÖGK, Wahlarzt and the limits of Austrian statutory cover for foreigners

The Austrian healthcare system runs on mandatory contribution-based insurance under the ASVG and related social-security statutes. ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) — the single statutory fund since the 2020 merger of the regional Gebietskrankenkassen (GKK) — covers employees with an ASVG-eligible contract, students enrolled at a public university, and EU pensioners with Form S1. Freelancers (Neue Selbständige), family-reunification applicants and most third-country pensioners fall outside ÖGK and need private long-stay Incoming cover as their krankenversicherungsnachweis at MA 35 or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft. The German equivalent overview lives at Krankenversicherung für Ausländer in Österreich.

Quick answer: Care Austria explicitly includes Wahlarzt cover — doctors outside the ÖGK contract — alongside Vertragsärzte and private clinics. There is no Selbstbehalt (deductible), so insured costs are reimbursed up to the policy limits. That combination is the practical reason MA 35 case officers describe Care Austria as the standard private route for foreigners who cannot yet enter ÖGK.

Note: the responsible authority (ÖGK, MA 35 Wien or the regional Bezirkshauptmannschaft) always issues the binding decision in individual cases. The information above reflects the published NAG / ASVG rules and our 15+ years of practical Care Concept experience, not individual legal or medical advice.

Statutory ÖGK access and private Care Austria — informational overview of when each route applies

Quick answer: ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) is Austria's statutory fund — open to ASVG-eligible employees, public-university students and EU pensioners on Form S1. Care Austria is the private long-stay Incoming policy for everyone else: freelancers, family-reunification cases, third-country retirees and the bridging window before ÖGK begins. The table below summarises who each route fits.

ÖGK percentage and Selbstversicherung figures reflect the 2026 schedule published by ÖGK; Care Austria figures match the Care Concept AVB 2026. Both are checked at every quarterly editorial review.

Foreigner situations in Austria — what each visa route needs

Quick answer: Austria's Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG) lists distinct residence routes — each with its own health-insurance requirement. The cards below map the most common routes for foreigners moving to Austria from inside and outside the EU, and the Care Concept tariff that matches each one.

This page is general information, not individual legal, tax or medical advice. The responsible authority (MA 35 Wien, the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or ÖGK) issues the binding decision in every individual file.

Cost of living in Vienna and Austria — what your health-insurance budget should look like

Quick answer: Is Vienna expensive for foreigners? Compared with London, Paris or Zurich, no — but living expenses in Austria still need a clear monthly budget. The three numbers below anchor the typical health-insurance line for newcomers: rent, the statutory ÖGK band and the private Care Austria entry price.

Living cost in Vienna for students is dominated by rent and transport — the Semesterticket Wien covers public transport at around €75 per semester for under-26s, and the typical living expenses in Austria for a single student sit between €950 and €1,400 per month including a small flat. International students, language students at Studienkolleg-equivalent programmes and PhD candidates moving to Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz or Innsbruck normally budget Care Austria Education at €51/month for the MA 35 file — the lowest-cost certificate accepted as comprehensive cover under the NAG. See current cost-of-living indicators at Statistik Austria.

Austria visa & insurance by country of citizenship

Quick answer: Whether you need a visa for Austria depends only on your passport and the length of stay — not on the residence purpose. The grid below covers the ten passports we see most often in MA 35 files and pairs each one with the recommended Care Concept policy for the short-stay window and the long-stay residence permit.

Visa rules change — always confirm the current requirement at the responsible Austrian consulate before booking. See the Austrian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Entry and residence in Austria for the binding country list.

Moving to Austria — 6-step relocation checklist for foreigners

Quick answer: Whether you are moving to Austria from the US, the UK, India, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Brazil, Nigeria, Ukraine or anywhere else, the first 30 days follow the same six steps — Meldezettel, MA 35 appointment, Care Austria certificate, e-card / ÖGK enrolment, Austrian bank account, Finanzamt registration.

1. Step 1 — File the Meldezettel within 3 working days

   File the Meldezettel at the Meldeamt or Magistrat (Wien, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt) — paper formular or, in many municipalities, online Meldezettel. Bring passport, lease and the landlord's signature.

2. Step 2 — Book the MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft appointment

   Open the right residence-permit file under the NAG: Anmeldebescheinigung (EU), Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte / EU Blue Card (skilled workers), Aufenthaltsbewilligung Student, or Niederlassungsbewilligung (settlement / retirement).

3. Step 3 — Get the Care Austria Krankenversicherungsnachweis

   Apply for Care Austria Education (12–35, training) or Standard (0–74, every other purpose). The bilingual (DE/EN) certificate is emailed in about 10 minutes and attached to the MA 35 file as proof of comprehensive cover.

4. Step 4 — Open the e-card / ÖGK enrolment when a statutory event opens

   ASVG employment, SVS / GSVG registration, public-university enrolment or Form S1 trigger ÖGK to issue the Austrian e-card (the elektronische Gesundheitskarte equivalent) within 2–4 weeks. Care Austria carries the cover until then.

5. Step 5 — Open an Austrian bank account

   Erste, Bank Austria, BAWAG, Raiffeisen and digital banks (N26, bunq) all accept the Meldezettel + residence-permit confirmation. The IBAN is then used for SVS / ÖGK contributions and Care Austria SEPA debits.

6. Step 6 — Register with the Finanzamt and get the tax number

   Finanzamt issues the Steuernummer (and Umsatzsteuer-ID for freelancers). Employees are registered by the employer; Neue Selbständige file themselves. Keep the annual Care Austria premium statement for the Arbeitnehmerveranlagung.

Indicative timing — most foreigners complete steps 1–3 in the first week, steps 4–6 over the first month. MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft and ÖGK retain the binding decision on every individual file.

Foreigners in Austria — deep guides by life event

Glossary — foreigner health insurance terms in Austria

Quick answer: The terms below appear in nearly every MA 35 file and Bezirkshauptmannschaft appointment for foreigners. Mastering them shortens the paperwork from days to one afternoon.

Foreigner health insurance in Austria sits across three layers. Statutory cover (ÖGK, Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) is the single statutory fund since 2020 — open to employees, public university students and EU pensioners with Form S1. Private long-stay Incoming insurance for the residence permit is offered by Care Concept (Care Austria) and peer products from HanseMerkur, DR-WALTER, Mawista, Cigna Global, Allianz Care and AXA Global Healthcare. Long-term substitutive Austrian PKV (UNIQA, Wiener Städtische, Generali, Merkur) is a separate medically-underwritten product — relevant only after the first years in Austria, not as the first MA 35 certificate.

MA 35 (Magistratsabteilung 35, Wien)

The Vienna immigration office responsible for residence permits (Aufenthaltstitel), Niederlassungsbewilligung and the Anmeldebescheinigung for EU citizens. MA 35 verifies the health-insurance certificate before issuing or renewing the permit.

Bezirkshauptmannschaft (BH)

The district authority outside Vienna (Graz, Salzburg, Linz, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt and beyond) that takes over MA 35's role: residence-permit decisions, registration certificates and health-insurance proof under the NAG (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz).

Anmeldebescheinigung (§ 51 NAG)

Registration certificate for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying longer than three months in Austria. The authority requires proof of comprehensive health insurance valid in Austria — Care Austria is regularly accepted.

Aufenthaltstitel (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte, Niederlassungsbewilligung)

Austrian residence titles for third-country nationals issued under the NAG: Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte (skilled workers), Niederlassungsbewilligung (settlement permit), Aufenthaltsbewilligung (purpose-specific stays such as student or researcher). All require health-insurance proof.

ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, formerly GKK)

Austria's single statutory health-insurance fund since 2020 (merging the regional Gebietskrankenkassen). Most newcomers are not automatically insured by ÖGK — only employees, students enrolled at a public university and EU pensioners with Form S1 qualify directly.

Wahlarzt vs. Vertragsarzt

Vertragsarzt is a doctor under contract with ÖGK (statutory billing). Wahlarzt is a doctor outside the ÖGK contract — patients pay upfront and seek reimbursement. Care Austria explicitly includes Wahlarzt cover, so the policyholder can choose any doctor in Austria without restriction.

Selbstbehalt (deductible)

Out-of-pocket share the insured person pays before the insurance reimburses. Care Austria has no Selbstbehalt: insured costs are fully reimbursed up to the policy limits, which is a major advantage compared with many international Incoming products.

Care Austria Education vs. Standard

Two variants of the same Care Concept Incoming tariff for Austria. Education is for training stays (students, language students, PhD candidates, au pairs) ages 12–35 from €51/month. Standard covers every other residence purpose ages 0–74 from €95/month for the 0–64 age band.

Incoming insurance Austria

Private health insurance designed for non-residents staying temporarily in Austria. Care Austria is the standard Incoming tariff because ÖGK is closed to most freelancers, retirees and family-reunification cases. It is not the same as substitutive Austrian PKV.

e-card

Austrian electronic health-insurance card issued by ÖGK to people insured statutorily. Holders of private Incoming cover (Care Austria) do not receive an e-card; they present the Care Austria certificate at the Wahlarzt practice and submit invoices for reimbursement.

Schengen C-visa vs. national D-visa (Austria)

A Schengen C-visa covers short stays up to 90 days within any 180-day window. A national D-visa is the long-stay visa for stays beyond 90 days — used for student, researcher, Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte and family-reunification routes. Care Visa Protect fits the C-visa entry phase; Care Austria fits the D-visa and the residence permit.

Krankenversicherungsnachweis (Austria)

Proof-of-cover document required by MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft for every Aufenthaltstitel or Anmeldebescheinigung decision. Care Austria certificates are issued bilingually (DE/EN) and are recognised as comprehensive cover in Austria.

ASVG (Allgemeines Sozialversicherungsgesetz)

Austria's general social-insurance act. Employees with an ASVG-eligible contract are automatically registered with ÖGK by their employer and receive an e-card.

GSVG / SVS

Trade-and-craft social-insurance act (GSVG) administered by SVS (Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen). Self-employed Gewerbeschein holders are insured through SVS — Neue Selbständige below the threshold are not, which is why Care Austria is the standard private cover.

Selbstversicherung in der ÖGK

Voluntary self-insurance in ÖGK is technically open after six months of legal residence at a fixed monthly contribution. Newcomers usually choose private Care Austria during the bridging period because the certificate is issued instantly for the MA 35 file.

Privatklinik (Austria)

Private clinic outside the ÖGK contract. Care Austria reimburses inpatient stays in Privatkliniken up to the policy limits — relevant in Vienna (Privatklinik Döbling, Confraternität), Salzburg, Graz and Innsbruck.

Meldezettel / Anmeldung am Hauptwohnsitz

Austrian address-registration form filed at the Meldeservice within three working days of moving in. The Meldezettel is required before MA 35 or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft will process a residence-permit file.

Sozialversicherungsnummer

10-digit Austrian social-insurance number assigned when a person is first registered with ÖGK / SVS. People on private Care Austria cover do not receive a Sozialversicherungsnummer until they enter statutory insurance later.

Form S1 (EU Regulation 883/2004)

EU certificate issued by the home statutory health fund to pensioners and posted workers, allowing the holder to access ÖGK in Austria as if locally insured. Available to EU/EEA/Swiss pensioners, not to third-country retirees.

Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte plus

Residence title for family members of Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte holders and for permit-holders who already meet integration milestones. It grants unrestricted labour-market access. Health-insurance proof at MA 35 is required at issue and at every renewal.

EU Blue Card (Austria)

Austrian implementation of Directive (EU) 2021/1883 for very-highly-qualified third-country workers. The Blue Card requires proof of comprehensive health insurance — Care Austria Standard is the standard bridge until the ASVG / ÖGK employer registration is active.

Daueraufenthalt – EU

Long-term EU residence title under § 45 NAG, available after five years of legal Austrian residence. Holders keep their statutory or private cover; Care Austria can still serve as a bridge during cross-border interruptions.

Niederlassungsbewilligung – ausgenommen Erwerbstätigkeit

Austrian settlement permit for foreigners with sufficient income who do not work in Austria — the common route for retirees and financially independent residents. Comprehensive health insurance valid in Austria is mandatory at MA 35; Care Austria Standard is the standard private cover up to age 74.

Austria job-seeker visa (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Arbeitssuchender)

Six-month national D-visa for very-highly-qualified third-country job seekers, modelled on the German Chancenkarte. The applicant must prove comprehensive health insurance for the entire search window — Care Austria Standard is the standard solution before the first ASVG contract starts.

EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)

Card issued by EU/EEA/Swiss statutory funds (including ÖGK) for medically necessary treatment during temporary stays in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland. EHIC does not replace residence-permit cover in Austria for third-country nationals — Care Austria does.

Meldezettel (Meldegesetz § 3)

Austrian address-registration form. Every new resident files the Meldezettel — paper formular or, in many municipalities, an online Meldezettel — at the Meldeamt or Magistrat (Wien, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt) within three working days of moving in. The Meldezettel is the prerequisite for MA 35 / Bezirkshauptmannschaft to open a residence-permit file.

NAG (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz)

Austria's settlement and residence act. The NAG governs every long-stay residence permit (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte, Niederlassungsbewilligung, Aufenthaltsbewilligung, Anmeldebescheinigung) and explicitly requires comprehensive health-insurance cover valid in Austria — verified by MA 35 or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft before issue or renewal.

Wahlarzt-Honorarnote

Itemised invoice issued by an Austrian Wahlarzt (a doctor outside the ÖGK contract). The patient pays the Honorarnote upfront and submits it to the insurer for reimbursement. Care Austria reimburses Wahlarzt-Honorarnoten up to the policy limits — there is no Selbstbehalt.

Rezeptgebühr

Per-prescription fee charged in Austria for ÖGK-reimbursed medication (€7.55 per item in 2026, indicative — confirm the current rate at sozialversicherung.at). Care Austria reimburses medication prescribed during the insured stay up to the policy limits; private prescriptions are settled by invoice.

Krankenversicherungsnachweis MA 35

The proof-of-cover certificate MA 35 and the Bezirkshauptmannschaft require for every Aufenthaltstitel, Niederlassungsbewilligung and EU Anmeldebescheinigung file. The Care Austria certificate is issued bilingually (DE/EN) by email within minutes of payment and is the standard document we see attached to MA 35 files.

Anmeldebescheinigung (EU registration)

EU registration certificate (§ 51 NAG) for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens staying in Austria longer than three months. Applied for at MA 35 Wien or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft; comprehensive health insurance — Care Austria or ÖGK via employment, university enrolment or Form S1 — is mandatory.

Official sources & further reading

Every statute reference and authority procedure on this page is checked against primary Austrian sources at every quarterly editorial review. The links below open the original government and EU pages — useful when the MA 35 case officer asks where a requirement comes from.

• → oesterreich.gv.at — Living in Austria: residence, visa and permits (English)
• → BMI (Federal Ministry of the Interior) — Aufenthaltsrecht and residence titles
• → MA 35 Wien (Magistratsabteilung 35) — Einwanderung, Staatsbürgerschaft, Standesamt
• → RIS — NAG (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz), consolidated version
• → ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) — statutory cover, e-card, Selbstversicherung
• → SVS — Sozialversicherung der Selbständigen (GSVG)
• → EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (EU Visa Code)
• → EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) 883/2004 (Social-security coordination, Form S1)

Issuer: Care Concept AG, Bonn (Germany) — BaFin-supervised insurance broker. Independent of ÖGK. This page is editorial information and does not replace individual legal, tax or medical advice from a licensed Austrian professional.

Frequently Asked Questions