Austria is part of the EU and the EEA, therefore the Austrian social security providers work together with those of other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland. 

Basic principles of cross-border social security

In Austria, the same basic principles apply as already explained in the chapter on European social security:

  • If you are employed in Austria, you are insured in Austria (exception: secondment);
  • If you are insured in Austria, you have the same access to insurance benefits as Austrians, regardless of your nationality;
  • Your periods of insurance, residence, and employment from other EU/EEA countries and Switzerland are recognised in Austria;

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals are covered by social security in Austria under the same conditions as Austrians. See the chapter on social security in Austria. 

I commute between an EU/EEA country and Austria

If you commute between Austria and another EU/EEA country or Switzerland at least once a week for work-related reasons, you are a frontier worker. The social security law of the country in which you are predominantly employed applies. See the details in the sub-chapter "...and I commute from one EU/EEA country to another".

 

I commute between Austria and Switzerland

If you commute to Switzerland, you must obtain a cross-border commuter permit from the Swiss authorities.

If you work mainly in Switzerland, you are insured there. However, you can receive an exemption from Swiss insurance if you can prove that you have equivalent insurance coverage in Austria. To do this, you can take out voluntary insurance with a state insurance provider in Austria (see the chapter on voluntary self-insurance) or take out private insurance.

Insurance benefits

There are certain benefits that EU/EEA citizens and Swiss citizens may only receive after a certain period of residence in Austria:

  • If you want to draw a pension in Austria, you must have been insured for more than one year in Austria. If you fulfil this minimum period of residence, you can claim pension benefits under the same conditions as Austrian nationals. See the chapter on pensions.
  • If you would like to receive minimum income benefits—state financial support in social emergencies—you must have been legally resident in Austria for at least five years. See the chapter on social emergencies.