Essential steps to handle housing, finances and paperwork when leaving Austria permanently
A comprehensive checklist outlines the legal notice periods for rentals, how to close or keep bank accounts, and the de-registration process required when moving abroad from Austria.
Leaving Austria permanently involves several legal and administrative tasks. Tenants must respect the three-month notice rule for fixed-term leases after the first year, while open-ended contracts generally require one month’s notice, with written notice essential. Early departure is possible if a new tenant takes over the lease.
All service contracts—electricity, internet, insurance, gym, mobile—should be cancelled according to their notice periods, and recurring payments must be stopped to avoid debt collection. Bank accounts, including savings and business accounts, may be closed or kept open depending on future financial ties, with careful attention to transfer fees and exchange rates. Residents must de-register online within three days before or after the move, and Austrians abroad need to register for voting.
Employees should hand in notice, retrieve payslips and references, while self-employed individuals must inform the SVS, surrender trade licences and notify the Finanzamt. Vehicles require deregistration and possible re-registration abroad, and health checks, medication supplies and medical records should be arranged before departure.
