Your duties after a positive decision in Austria
If you receive international protection in Austria, you also have important duties, in particular to actively participate in integration, learn the German language, and respect Austrian values and laws.
Click on each duty to learn more about what you need to do.
Overview of your duties
Below you can find the most important duties you must follow in your daily life in Austria.
You must obey all laws in Austria. This includes criminal laws, traffic rules, and all other national and local regulations.
If you break the law, it can affect your residence status.
You must appear in person without delay at the Integration Centre of the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF) responsible for your federal province. Contacting or making an appointment with the nearest Integration Centre is provided digitally via the Integration Portal. Register here.
As part of the statutory integration obligations, you must participate in certain integration measures, such as German language courses and values and orientation courses. Your participation will be monitored and may have consequences for your residence status or financial entitlements.
Participation in these integration obligations is required by law and is mandatory. Failure to comply may result in sanctions.
Important: The degree of integration is taken into account when return decisions are assessed. Participation in integration measures (for example, German language courses or values courses) may be a significant factor in this assessment.
You must make sure that your residence permit, travel documents, and other official papers are valid. If they expire or are lost, you must apply for renewal or replacement in time.
You must inform the authorities if important things in your life change. For example, if you change your address, name, family situation, or marital status, you must report it.
In addition, if you have refugee status or subsidiary protection and you have a child who is born after you have received protection, you also need to apply for international protection for the newborn child.
In Austria, there is an obligation to register your residence at the registration office in the municipalities (municipal office). You also have to report any change of residence. You can find further information here.
You must respect the rules connected to your protection status. For example, you must not misuse documents or give false information to authorities.
What about your rights and possible consequences?
You also have important rights, and there can be consequences if you do not follow your duties. Below you can learn more about both.
