My Visa has been Approved

Like mum has always instilled in me ‘where there's a will there’s a way” and I was obsessed with finding a way to stay in the country without having to pass A1 German.

Firstly I haven’t studied anything this intently in over 30 years and I just don’t like having pressure on me and this was huge pressure with every day passing running out of time BUT….

Now I don’t have to worry about this anymore. And I am so happy, relieved and feel the weight lifted because my Visa has been approved and I have now received my residency card (expires 22nd September 2026) and I can stay for the year as planned!!

How this all came about….

The 90 day bilateral agreement between Australia and Austria sounded good but I didn’t trust it to be real, it was just something I researched before I left Australia and it didn’t mater how many people consulates, police confirmed that it could be possible no one could give me a diminutive answer as to how I activate this or ensure this so it got me searching another way to stay..surely there would be a new way and alas these was.

One of Ben’s work colleagues from his adventure guide gig passed on a number for a lawyer who was incredibly helpful.

Prior to this I had also been speaking to the Vienna consulate and asking if there was a way I could stay. The lawyer did some digging and found that under special circumstances if the applicant finished their high school year and went on to university this would by pass the need to pass A1 German. The fact that I was already booked into my A1 German and had started the course helped too.

The authorities seemed to think and kept saying “passing A1 German is easy” which I beg to differ it’s phenomenally complicated and I will be finished my 6 weeks -  first section of the course next week and then I’m going to wait until January to start the second section (I need time to learn the first part of the course before I fill my brain with more German.)

So once I had my original HSC certificate for my studies (which i needed to order from NSW education standards authority) and then proof of my Newcastle University BA Arts studies. I also needed to provide proof of residency income, a police check and proof of accommodation and then purchase private health insurance which I organised through Care Austria.

I needed to go into the embassy and provide all the details and answer the questions and I got the same guy (Lucas) who told me when I first arrived I would have to do A 1 German no exceptions. I don’t think they want people to know they can provide their high school learning certificate to by pass this or he just didn’t know, either way he was lovely and submitted my visa for approval and I only had to wait 10 days for the approval.

My certificate for the first part of the course

I am now an official citizen of Austria and registered here with all the same opportunities. I can go and get a new job if I like or start my own business. It feels good to now not have to think or worry about this and just enjoy every minute I can here.

But of course there is more to work out in regards to tax!

a) am I still a resident in Australia for tax purposes - and yes I am

b) but I am also a resident in Austria for tax purposes.

So I have to make sure I don’t get taxed twice on my Australian income.

I am now sitting in the Finanzamt Österreich – Terminerinnerung as my next thing I need to organise is to get an AustriaID.

My view at the finance office while waiting to be called

Bitte schon

As I am working from home for a company in Australia and sending money over to Austria I need to pay tax. I am currently getting taxed on my Australian income.

There is a double tax law between Australia and Austria so I need to get a tax file number for myself in Austria to then lodge a tax return for this income.

It feels complicated but I’m hoping it will be straight forward.

Arrange a tax file number and the difference I owe in Austria I will pay tax on.

There’s also the issue of the OGK and the public health care security system. I’m hoping as I have private heath care I may not need to go under this system but just not sure. Will have some answers very soon I hope.

My Visa approval allows me to stay for a further year. I need to apply again if I want to extend for a year. I was informed this would be a simple process of just signing a form but this will need further research as everything is not as it seems and is not straight forward that’s for sure.

After 2 years they explained I would need to pass A2 German 🇩🇪 well that’s a long way away and there are no firm plans at present.