Property in Austria: buying and support
Vienna, Tyrol, Salzburg: EU citizens buy on general terms, others need provincial approval. Second-home zoning derails more purchases than anything else.
Why Austria
A transparent registry and strong protection
A stable market with a transparent land registry and strong protection for the owner's rights.
Vienna — a stable rental market
One of Europe's most demand-stable cities, with a high share of rental housing.
A clear permit procedure
Buyers outside the EU and EEA need a permit from the regional land authority. For straightforward cases involving a primary residence with a full document set, it takes 4–8 weeks.
Honestly, about zoning
Tyrol and Salzburg apply Freizeitwohnsitz zoning, which restricts using a home as a second residence. It is the most common reason foreign buyers' deals fall through — the status is checked at the exact address before any deposit.
Honestly, about residency: there is no programme
Buying property in Austria does not grant residency — there is no golden visa here. Any offer claiming otherwise is a reason to doubt the seller.
Smaller budget — we'll source it
Tell us the amount and the goal, and we'll come back with options from developers and partners that are not in the catalogue.
Send a requestHow the purchase works
- 1
We map your goal
Goal and region: Vienna for long-term rental, or Tyrol and Salzburg for resort use — with zoning taken into account.
- 2
We check the property in the registry
The land registry shows the title, encumbrances and the property's status.
- 3
We check the zoning
For resort properties in Tyrol and Salzburg — the Freizeitwohnsitz status at the exact address, before any commitment.
- 4
We file with the land authority
For buyers outside the EU and EEA — the contract, identity and status documents, the purpose of the purchase and proof of funds.
- 5
We obtain the permit
For a primary residence with a complete set of documents — usually 4–8 weeks. For holiday properties in strictly regulated regions it takes longer.
- 6
Notarisation and registration
Notarisation of the deal and entry of the title in the land registry.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy property in Austria?+
EU and EEA citizens buy on equal terms with Austrians. Citizens of other countries need approval from the provincial authority of the Bundesland where the property sits. Without it, title will not be entered in the land register.
How long does an approval application take?+
In straightforward main-residence cases with complete documentation, usually 4–8 weeks. Holiday-home applications and provinces with restrictive regimes, such as Tyrol and Salzburg, take longer. Plan the transaction with margin.
What is Freizeitwohnsitz and why does it matter?+
It is leisure-residence status, separately regulated by zoning in Tyrol and Salzburg. Without it a property cannot be used as a seasonal second home. This restriction derails foreign purchases more often than any other, so the status is checked for the specific address before any deposit.
Does buying property grant residency in Austria?+
No, there is no residency programme tied to buying property in Austria. If anything the reverse applies: for non-EU citizens, lacking status makes the purchase harder, because approval is assessed against the purpose of the acquisition and a demonstrated housing need.
Why do the rules differ by region?+
Property transfers in Austria are regulated at Bundesland level: each has its own act, its own authority and its own practice. Generalised guides "about Austria" therefore mislead — the rules are checked for the specific province.
What are the purchase costs?+
Real estate transfer tax, the land register entry fee, notarial or legal services and agency commission. Exact rates differ between provinces and are confirmed by a lawyer for the specific property.
Will a bank lend to a non-resident?+
Austrian banks lend mainly to residents with income in the country. Credit is available to non-residents on a limited basis, with higher requirements for the down payment and proof of income.
Does buying in Vienna to let make sense?+
The Vienna market is oriented to long lets and has strong tenant protection. That produces steady but moderate income and lengthens the exit scenario — worth factoring in before buying rather than after.
Go deeper
Property prices in Austria 2026: price per m² by city and what a foreigner pays to buy
A flat in Austria costs about 4,200 euro per m² nationally and 5,200 in Vienna, but 6,400 in Innsbruck; buying costs add 10% to 12%, and what a foreigner may buy depends on the federal state.
Rental yield in Austria: what an investment apartment in Vienna, Graz or Salzburg really earns
Austria is a capital-preservation market, not a high-yield one: published gross yields run from about 3% to nearly 5%, and after costs and tax a typical apartment nets around 2%.
Austrian house and flat prices rose 3.9% in the first half of 2026
According to Statistik Austria, purchase prices for houses and flats were 3.9% higher in the first half of 2026, and the end of a longer phase of moderate price growth was declared.
Overview
Austria combines strong legal protection with tight control over property transfers. Non-EU and non-EEA buyers need approval from the provincial authority (Grundverkehrsbehörde), and Tyrol and Salzburg add zoning that restricts using a home as a second residence.
Why buy here
A stable market with a transparent land register and strong protection of ownership. Vienna is one of Europe's steadiest cities by demand, with a high share of rented housing. The Alpine provinces — Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia — offer the resort segment, though that is exactly where regulation is strictest.
Taxes, costs and yield
Benchmarks for taxes, purchase and holding costs and rental yield. Exact figures depend on the property and your situation.
On purchase, real estate transfer tax and a land register entry fee. Annually, local property tax.
The main purchase costs are real estate transfer tax and the land register entry fee, plus notarial or legal services and agency commission. An annual local property tax is payable, depending on the municipality and the property's characteristics. Exact rates and calculation differ between provinces and are confirmed by a notary or lawyer for the specific property.
1. Check the property in the land register. 2. For non-EU and non-EEA citizens, apply to the provincial authority of the relevant Bundesland. The application takes the signed contract or a draft, proof of identity and residence status, evidence of the intended use, and proof of funds; some provinces also require an energy certificate and a site plan. 3. In straightforward main-residence cases with complete documentation, approval is commonly granted in 4–8 weeks. Holiday-home applications and provinces with restrictive regimes — Tyrol, Salzburg — take longer. 4. Notarial execution and entry of title in the land register.
Austrian banks lend mainly to residents with income in the country; credit is available to non-residents on a limited basis.
Buying property in Austria does not grant residency: there is no golden visa here. If anything the reverse holds — for non-EU citizens, lacking status makes the purchase itself harder, since approval is assessed against the purpose of the acquisition and a demonstrated housing need.
The decisive factor is neither price nor location but zoning. Freizeitwohnsitz (leisure residence) status in Tyrol and Salzburg is restricted, and a property cannot be used seasonally without it. This is what most often derails foreign buyers. Vienna, by contrast, is a long-let market with strong tenant protection — which shapes the exit scenario.
What to bear in mind: — provincial approval for non-EU citizens must be obtained before title is entered in the register; — Freizeitwohnsitz zoning in Tyrol and Salzburg restricts use as a second home — check the status for the specific address before any deposit; — regimes and rates differ between provinces, so generalised guides "about Austria" mislead; — there is no residency programme tied to buying property, and offers claiming otherwise are a reason to doubt the seller. Checked in September 2026. Thresholds, rates and programme terms change — confirm the current requirements with a lawyer in the country before you buy.
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Figures are indicative, change over time and depend on the specific property and your circumstances. Obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before any purchase.
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