Living in Vienna — The Attaché Desk

For information only. This guide is an editorial orientation resource. It does not constitute legal, tax, or administrative advice, and does not recommend or encourage any specific course of action. Regulations, procedures and entitlements change; always verify current requirements with your mission or organisation, the relevant Austrian authorities, and qualified advisers before taking any decision.

Overview

Vienna is the seat of a uniquely concentrated cluster of intergovernmental organisations: the United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and OPEC, among others, all maintain major offices or headquarters in the city. This concentration shapes the administrative and residential landscape in ways that distinguish Vienna from other European postings. The procedures and entitlements governing your stay depend on which organisation or mission you serve, and whether you hold the status of a bilateral diplomat, a member of a permanent mission, or an international civil servant.

The legal framework

The underlying entitlements of diplomatic and consular staff in Austria derive from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (1963). It is worth noting that both conventions were negotiated and concluded in Vienna, and Austrian practice reflects a long familiarity with their application.

For staff of international organisations based in Austria, the applicable framework is the relevant headquarters agreement between Austria and the organisation, supplemented by Austrian implementing legislation. These instruments confer distinct categories of privileges and immunities, which differ in scope from those accorded to bilateral diplomatic missions.

The body responsible for managing privileges and immunities in Austria is the Protocol Department of the Bundesministerium für Europäische und Internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA), the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs. The BMEIA publishes a Protocol Guide on Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities, available on its website, which covers the ID card procedure, vehicle registration, tax exemptions, and other practical matters.

The diplomatic identity card

Upon arrival and accreditation, diplomatic and consular personnel receive an identity card (Legitimationskarte) issued by the BMEIA Protocol Department. This card certifies your accredited status and the scope of your privileges and immunities.

For bilateral diplomats, the card is issued after:

your mission has notified the BMEIA of your arrival and function;
you have presented a confirmation of registration at your embassy’s consular department; and
you have presented proof of a bank account opened in Austria (where applicable to your category).

The card must be collected in person at the Protocol Department. On end of mission, it must be returned to the BMEIA.

For staff of international organisations, the card application procedure runs through the administrative service of your organisation, which submits documentation to the Protocol Department on your behalf.

Health coverage

Austria has a comprehensive national health insurance system (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung), but diplomatic and international civil service staff are not automatically covered by it. The same principle applies here as in other European postings: your home state’s scheme, your organisation’s staff health insurance, or a private arrangement is expected to provide coverage.

Several international organisations based in Vienna operate their own staff health insurance schemes. Confirm with your organisation’s HR which scheme applies to you and your family before arrival, and verify the practical access arrangements for Austrian healthcare providers under that scheme.

Registration

The applicable registration requirement depends on your status:

Bilateral diplomatic staff (D and C card holders): registration is managed through the Protocol Department and your mission. You are not required to register at the local Magistrat under ordinary residence law.
International organisation staff: procedures vary by organisation. Confirm with your organisation’s administrative service.
Administrative and technical staff and other categories: may be required to register at the competent municipal authority (Magistrat or Bezirkshauptmannschaft) of their place of residence in Vienna.

Housing

Residential areas most commonly chosen by diplomatic and international organisation families include the 13th district (Hietzing), the 18th (Währing), and the 19th (Döbling). These districts are quiet, well-maintained, and offer good public transport links to both the UN Campus (Vienna International Centre, 22nd district) and the city centre. Hietzing and Döbling are also close to the Vienna Woods (Wienerwald), which is a material quality-of-life asset in a city with outdoor-oriented residents.

The 1st district (Innere Stadt) and surrounding central districts attract some diplomatic families who want proximity to embassies and the OSCE; rents are higher and apartments tend to be larger, older-building types.

Vienna’s housing market is materially less pressured than Geneva or Paris. Vacancy rates are higher, and the combination of purpose-built Gemeindebau (municipal housing) and a well-regulated rental market means that finding accommodation of reasonable quality at moderate cost is more achievable than in comparable capitals. Mission accommodation arrangements vary; check with your administrative office before arriving.

Emergency contacts in Austria

Number	Service
112	European emergency number
133	Police (Polizei)
122	Fire brigade
144	Ambulance

Official sources

Last reviewed 1 July 2026.