AustriaAT

Meldezettel — address registration in Austria

The Meldezettel is the Austrian counterpart to the German Anmeldebestätigung. Deadline: 3 working days from move-in, registration is free of charge, and is filed at the Magistratisches Bezirksamt (Vienna) or Gemeindeamt (other cities). Legal basis: Meldegesetz 1991 (MeldeG).

working days (deadline)

EUR 0

registration fee

up to EUR 726

fine for late registration

1991

Meldegesetz

Pending professional legal review

3 working days deadline

Under § 3 and § 4 Meldegesetz 1991, you must register within 3 working days of move-in. Saturdays count as working days; Sundays and public holidays do not. Late registration may result in an administrative fine of up to EUR 726.

What is the Meldezettel?

The Meldezettel is the address registration form in Austria. The person registering fills it out, and the Unterkunftgeber (landlord or property owner) signs a dedicated section confirming that they provide the accommodation. Unlike the German Wohnungsgeberbestätigung, this is one single, integrated document.

Austria distinguishes between Hauptwohnsitz (main residence) and Nebenwohnsitz (secondary residence). Each person may have only one main residence in Austria, but any number of secondary residences.

Main residence

Hauptwohnsitz

The center of your life — where you work, study or your family lives. This is where you vote, pay municipal fees, register children for school and access local services. Exactly one per person across all of Austria.

Secondary residence

Nebenwohnsitz

A second address where you regularly stay (e.g. a holiday home or student lodgings). Multiple are possible. No voting rights in that municipality, no impact on tax obligations.

Required documents

Bring originals, not just copies. Vienna and larger cities allow online appointment booking through the Meldeservice; most municipalities accept walk-ins.

Required

Filled and signed Meldezettel

Form is available on the municipality website or on site. The 'Unterkunftgeber' field must be signed by the landlord — without that signature the registration cannot be processed.

Required

Passport or national ID

For Serbian citizens: valid passport. EU/EEA/Swiss citizens may use a national ID card.

Required

Mietvertrag (rental contract)

Usually not strictly required if the Meldezettel carries the Unterkunftgeber's signature, but recommended — some offices ask for it.

Third-country nationals

Birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde)

Often requested from non-EU citizens at first registration. With Apostille and translation by a sworn court translator (gerichtlich beeideter Übersetzer) into German.

Optional

Marriage certificate, divorce decree

When registering the whole family: marriage certificate or divorce decree — apostilled and translated.

Registration process step by step

Find the competent authority

In Vienna you go to the Magistratisches Bezirksamt (Meldeservice) of any district — you are not bound to your residential district. In other cities and municipalities: Gemeindeamt (Stadtamt). List and opening hours: oesterreich.gv.at.

Fill the Meldezettel and obtain landlord signature

Download the form from your municipality's website and complete it. The Unterkunftgeber must sign the dedicated field before your appointment — this is a legal prerequisite.

Visit the office within 3 working days

Bring the completed and signed Meldezettel, passport (and if applicable, birth certificate with apostille and translation). The office confirms registration and issues a Meldebestätigung (registration confirmation) — your proof.

Health insurance through ÖGK via your employer

With the Meldebestätigung, your employer can register you with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK). Within a few weeks you receive your e-card by post at your registered address.

Bank account, mobile phone, utilities

With the Meldebestätigung and passport you can open an account (Erste, BAWAG, Bank Austria). Online-only banks (N26, bunq) also work — but for a rental contract and utility contracts an Austrian address and Meldezettel are required.

Health insurance and e-card (ÖGK)

Since 2020, the nine regional Gebietskrankenkassen have merged into the single Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK). It covers more than 7 million employees and their families — the standard fund for most workers from Serbia.

ÖGK — what it covers

• General practitioners and specialists (Vertragsarzt)
• Hospital care, prescription drugs (~EUR 7 co-payment)
• Pregnancy, childbirth and pediatric care
• Emergency dental care and care for children (cosmetic dentistry not covered)

e-card

• Smart card replacing the paper insurance slip
• Carries your Sozialversicherungsnummer
• Arrives by post 2-4 weeks after employer registration
• Reverse side serves as European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Special groups and other funds

Beside the ÖGK there are specialised funds: BVAEB (civil servants, railways, mining) and SVS (self-employed and farmers). Details: gesundheitskasse.at.

How it differs from the German Anmeldung

Many terms sound similar, but Austria and Germany have different rules — from deadlines to authorities:

Criterion	Austria	Germany
Registration deadline	3 working days	14 days
Competent authority	Magistratisches Bezirksamt / Gemeindeamt	Bürgeramt / Einwohnermeldeamt
Legal basis	Meldegesetz 1991 (MeldeG)	Bundesmeldegesetz (BMG)
Maximum fine	up to EUR 726	up to EUR 1,000
Registration types	Hauptwohnsitz / Nebenwohnsitz	Hauptwohnung / Nebenwohnung (similar)

Practical tips

Vienna: use the Meldeservice in any district

In Vienna the Meldezettel can be submitted at any of the 23 Magistratisches Bezirksamt (MBA) offices — you are not tied to your residential district. The shortest queues are typically in outer districts (Donaustadt, Floridsdorf, Liesing).

Hauptwohnsitz is registered exactly once

When you move within Austria, an <bold>Ummeldung</bold> (re-registration) is enough — the old address is deregistered automatically. Double-registration at two main residences is an administrative offence.

Save the Meldebestätigung digitally

Scan or photograph the Meldebestätigung as soon as you receive it. Banks, mobile operators, ORF-GIS, kindergartens — all will request a confirmation. Keep the original at home, carry copies as needed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Meldezettel cost?

Registration itself is free. Costs may arise only from translations of foreign documents by a sworn translator (birth, marriage certificates) — about EUR 30-60 per document.

Can I register online?

Currently no. The Meldezettel is filed in person at the office. Many cities (Vienna, Salzburg, Graz, Linz) offer online appointment booking. An online Ummeldung via ID Austria is possible in some cases — check your municipality's website.

What if the landlord refuses to sign the Meldezettel?

If the landlord refuses unlawfully (e.g. unregistered rental), this is an offence under § 8 MeldeG — the Unterkunftgeber is legally required to sign. You can report this to the registration authority, but in practice negotiation or moving is often more pragmatic.

Does the Hauptwohnsitz affect taxes?

Yes. The main residence determines the municipality competent for local fees, vehicle registration, voting at municipal elections and entitlement to certain social benefits. Income tax (Lohnsteuer) is processed via the Finanzamt and your employer — independent of the municipality.

Do I need a residence permit before registering?

No — the Meldezettel is mandatory for anyone moving in within Austria, regardless of residence status. On the contrary, address registration is a prerequisite for applying for the RWR Card or any other residence permit.

Next steps

If you need a residence permit for work or study in Austria, see our RWR Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte) guide. Before applying, also review the rules on dual citizenship — Austria does not allow it (§ 27 StbG).

Legal references and sources

Meldegesetz 1991 (RIS) — deadlines, penalties, Hauptwohnsitz / Nebenwohnsitz
oesterreich.gv.at — An- und Abmeldung des Wohnsitzes
Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) — health insurance fund, e-card, employer registration
Stadt Wien — Meldeservice

Last updated: April 2026. Information based on Meldegesetz 1991 and the official portals oesterreich.gv.at and migration.gv.at.

Anmeldung (Germany)RWR Card (Austria)