Registration for temporary protection (status for displaced persons from Ukraine, registration offices, ID card for displaced persons from Ukraine, legal)

Temporary protection – status for displaced persons from Ukraine

Temporary protection under the EU Mass Influx Directive has been in force for Ukrainians since 4 March 2022, and has been extended for the fourth time until 4 March 2027. (Registration and Residence) This is an ex lege right of residence that exists independently of the issuing of an ID card for displaced persons. Therefore, the right of residence will continue to exist after March 4, 2026, regardless of the validity date on this ID card. The ID cards with the extended validity date (March 2027) will be automatically sent to the addresses of the Central Register of Residents (ZMR) of displaced persons without them having to submit an application.

Requirements for obtaining temporary protection

• Ukrainian nationals residing in Ukraine who had to leave Ukraine due to the armed conflict as of 24 February 2022.
• Other third-country nationals or stateless persons with international protection status or comparable national protection status granted before 24 February 2022
  under Ukrainian law, who had to leave Ukraine due to the armed conflict as of 24 February 2022. This applies to persons with asylum or complementary protection in
  Ukraine.
• Family members of these groups, if they were residing in Ukraine as family members of one of the persons listed above before 24 February 2022. Above all, this applies to family members who are not Ukrainian citizens or who do not meet one of the other conditions for the right of residence as displaced persons for other reasons.
  Family members include:
  − Spouses and registered partners, unmarried minor children of persons from the above-mentioned target group (1. and 2.) or of their spouses or registered partners
  − Other close relatives of persons from the target group (1. and 2.) who lived together with them in a household before displacement and who were completely or mainly dependent on them
• Ukrainian nationals who were lawfully residing in Austria visa-free or with a visa on 24 February 2022, after the end of the visa-free stay or the expiry of the visa if they cannot return to Ukraine or the state of their residence. Above all, this applies to Ukrainian citizens who were on a trip to Austria at the beginning of the war and lived in Ukraine or another state to which they cannot return. Persons who lived in another state and can return there are not included.
• Ukrainian nationals with a valid residence permit in Austria on 24 February 2022, after the end of the period of validity if they cannot return to Ukraine. This only applies to cases where the residence permit has not been renewed. Persons with currently valid residence permits are not included because they are still lawfully residing in Austria.
• Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine and left Ukraine shortly before 24 February 2022 (VfGH E 3249/2022, 15.03.2023)
• A further requirement is that the respective person is staying in Austria and that there are no reasons for exclusion. Reasons for exclusion include war crimes or crimes against humanity, serious offences and the like.

You can find further information on the information sheet and the BFA FAQs. Under the following link you can find the information sheets in Ukrainian, Russian and German.

Relocation from another EU country

You can also register as a displaced person in Austria if you previously had temporary in another EU country. Please note that you must deregister in the respective EU country and comply with the regulations applicable there. In addition, the reception centers in Austria are operating at full capacity on a daily basis and it is therefore possible that no emergency beds will be available.

Registration for temporary protection

• The initial registration of Ukrainian refugees is carried out by the executive at the following police stations. You will receive a registration confirmation when you register – please keep this confirmation. Registration with the police is a requirement for the issuance of an ID for displaced persons by the Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (BFA). Registration is also a requirement for applying for basic care (financial benefits and health insurance).

Please take the following documents with you for registration (if available):

o    Passport

o    Birth certificate, marriage certificate, other civil status documents

o    Other identity documents, e.g., identity card, driver’s license, residence permit,

• You should register your place of residence in the central register within three days in order to be issued a residence card (ID for displaced persons).
• After registering, you can apply for basic care. If you are in need of assistance, you will receive health insurance and benefits through basic care. The application can be submitted to the respective province in which your residence was registered.
• The registration for displaced persons from Ukraine is not intended for persons who are only passing through (the upper limit is three days).

You can find the list of registration offices of the police departments here. You can make an appointment at the registration office in Vienna here:

Human trafficking is a serious violation of human rights. Victims are exploited through violence, deception, dangerous threats, or exploitation of a situation of distress, among other means. Exploitation includes sexual exploitation, exploitation through organ removal, labor exploitation, exploitation for begging, and exploitation for the purpose of committing criminal acts.

If you have been a victim of human trafficking or suspect that you may have been, please contact the following counseling centers and the police:

• LEFÖ
• MEN VIA
• Criminal Intelligence Service Austria
• Police: 133

Be safe on the way: Be safe on the way! – LEFÖ

You can find further information on the human trafficking taskforce here.

Unaccompanied minor refugees (UMF) are children who are staying in Austria without their parents or legal guardians. If custody cannot be transferred to relatives or other particularly suitable persons in Austria, the guardianship court transfers custody to the responsible child and youth welfare agency.

• Stadt Wien– Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (MA 11)
• Niederösterreich – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Burgenland – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Steiermark – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Oberösterreich – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Salzburg – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Kärnten – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Tirol – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• Vorarlberg – Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• SOS-Kinderdorf
• Buddyprogramm

SOS emergency aid for children and families

If you are a family living in Vienna and would like to take in an unaccompanied minor, please send an email to: Magdalena Minich, magdalena.minich@sos-kinderdorf.at. After applying and attending an initial interview with SOS Children’s Villages, the Vienna Child and Youth Welfare Service will assess your suitability as a host family. SOS Children’s Villages will then make a selection based on the characteristics and interests of the host family and the young person and organize an initial meeting, further meetings, and visits to the family. If both sides wish to live together, the young person will be taken in by the host family.

Questions & contact: SOS-Kinderdorf, Theresia Verweyen, theresia.verweyen@sos-kinderdorf.at; 0676 88 144918

Rat auf Draht

Our colleagues at Rat auf Draht provide tips on how to talk to children about war and terror. You can find further information here: www.rataufdraht.at and www.elternseite.at.

If you are staying in Austria for more than three days, you have to register your residence at the responsible registration office (municipalities/magistrates) in accordance with the registration law.

• In the case of private accommodation, you have to report your place of residence directly to the registration office within three days after moving into the accommodation. A confirmation and signature of your accommodation provider is needed (owner, private landlord, …). Persons who have a private accommodation in Austria and are not dependent on organized housing in the basic care system should register their place of residence within three days. They should then register with a registration office at the police station. After the registration, they can apply for basic care for private residents.
• If you are accommodated within the framework of a lodging/tourist establishment (eg hotel), the registration is carried out by the owner in accordance with the relevant regulations (depending on the duration of the stay, e.g. entry in the guest register).
• In the case of admission to basic care in organized housing, this notification is arranged by the landlord.
• There is only an exception to the obligation to register if you do not stay in Austria for more than three days.

Registration of residence – Fees for submitting original foreign documents

Please note that individuals must now pay a fee of €42 when submitting a foreign passport for residence registration. This fee must only be paid when submitting an original foreign document for the first time. If the foreign document has to be presented to an authority at a later date and it can be proven that the fee has already been paid, this fee does not have to be paid again. Furthermore, the fee must only be paid when presenting an original foreign document – if a copy of a foreign passport is presented, no fee is required.

There is no exemption for displaced persons from Ukraine. However, an application for leniency can be submitted to the tax office. (Bundesministerium für Finanzen Gebührenrichtlinien 2025: Fee Regulations 2025)

 1. Application for basic care – contact details provinces

If assistance is required (for example, because no financial resources are available or accommodation with relatives/acquaintances is not possible), admission to basic care in the provinces will be granted. In addition to providing accommodation and meals, basic care also includes medical care (health insurance). To be eligible, you must register with a registration office of the police station here.

Contact details for the relevant offices in the provinces:

 2. Deduction of Ukrainian pension – Changes in Vienna as of 1 August 2025

Displaced persons from Ukraine under § 62 Asylum Act are not entitled to social welfare and are unable to improve their financial situation as seniors.

The allowance rule is now applicable in Vienna for pension payments of displaced persons from Ukraine, in order to prevent poverty.

The allowance rule will be applicable on pension payments from 1 August 2025. Pension payments that were deducted prior to 1 August 2025 under the previously applicable regulation will currently not be reviewed.

• Please note that as of 1 August 2025, pension payments will be deducted from the basic care benefits in accordance with the additional allowance and the 65:35 allowance rule.
• The amount of the pension payments will be considered during the financial needs assessment. If the monthly income, including pension payments and any additional payments, does not exceed the basic care benefits, a financial need is determined.
  • Currently, the maximum basic care benefit for private accommodation is €423 per month and for organized housing €812.50 per month.

An exemption of €110 is applied to the calculation of the basic care benefits. Pension payments of up to €110 are not deducted from the basic care benefits. For any pension payments above €110, 65% are deducted from the basic care benefits.

For displaced persons from Ukraine residing in private accommodation, the additional allowance and allowance rule will be applied by the Caritas service center (Caritas Servicestelle) at the next payment date.

For displaced persons from Ukraine residing in organized housing, the basic care support center (Beratungszentrum Grundversorgung) will recalculate the entitlement to basic care benefits.

This regulation is applicable to all displaced persons from Ukraine who are entitled to basic care benefits in Vienna.

 3. Changes regarding Ukrainian cars in basic care since 1 January 2025

As of 1 January 2025, Ukrainian cars have been included in the means test for basic care. Previously, Ukrainian cars were considered escape cars and were not included in the means test. As a general rule, it is not possible to own a car and receive basic care, as the car is considered an asset.

As of 1 January 2025, the procedure for Ukrainian car ownership changed and was adapted to the general rules for basic care. If displaced persons from Ukraine use a Ukrainian car, an individual assessment will be carried out to determine whether the person is classified as in need of assistance and whether basic care benefits can continue to be received. For further information, please contact the relevant basic care authority in your province.

What to do if displaced person from Ukraine need hospitalization immediately after arriving in Austria?

If you need to be admitted to a hospital in Austria immediately after your arrival due to your health condition, you will receive emergency medical treatment. Please note that the treatment is not automatically free of charge. Without prior registration and admission to basic care, the costs cannot be covered and must be paid.

In order to have these costs covered, it is essential that you complete the following steps as soon as possible:

• Mobile registration with the police directly at the hospital (only if the requirements for temporary protection are met). You can find a list of police stations organizing mobile police registration in hospitals here: Erfassung und Aufenthalt (Section: „Welche Erfassungsstellen der Polizei gibt es? Wohin muss ich mich wenden?“)
• Apply for basic care with the relevant authority. Only after being admitted to the basic care system, will you receive health insurance.

Medical treatments are merely covered by the health insurance once you are granted basic care. Otherwise, the hospital will issue the invoice directly to the patient and the costs must be paid privately. If a person passes away in a hospital due to serious illness before being granted basic care, the costs for the funeral must be covered by the family members themselves.

If there is no medical emergency, it is advisable to first register with the police and apply for basic care before seeking medical treatment. Therefore, the steps listed above are merely applicable to medical emergencies immediately after arrival in Austria.

The automatic health insurance according to Z21 (ASVG § 9 Inclusion Ordinance), which applied to displaced persons from Ukraine expired on 31 May 2025 and has not been extended.

What does this mean?

• Displaced persons who were not granted basic care, were covered by health insurance under the Inclusion Ordinance § 9 ASVG (Z21). However, as of 31 May 2025, this automatic health insurance has expired.
• Displaced persons who were previously insured under Z21 now have the option to obtain a self-insurance or obtain a co-insurance with a family member, who is employed. Persons in financial need can apply for basic care and health insurance would be provided through the basic care system. In the case of co-insurance or self-insurance, a plastic e-card is issued. Persons receiving health insurance through the basic care system will be issued a replacement e-card voucher by the ÖGK.
• Please note: the exemption from prescription fees/exemption from the deductible for persons who were insured via Z21 is no longer automatically (see point 4, FAQ of the ÖGK).
• When registering with the police, a health insurance certificate will therefore no longer be issued from 1 June 2020. From 5.3.25, a registration certificate will be issued confirming registration as a displaced person.
• There are no changes for all persons who are already receiving regular basic care. They will continue to have health insurance.
• Further information and FAQs from the Austrian Health Insurance Fund

As of 1 November 2025, an amendment to the Family Burden Equalization Act entered into force, stipulating that displaced persons from Ukraine must now proof their (self-)employment or registration with the AMS when applying for family allowance and childcare allowance. (BGBLA_2025_I_64.pdf)

The receipt of family benefits has been limited until 30 June 2026.

As of 1 November 2025, a new application for family allowance or childcare allowance must be submitted:

• Family allowance: via https://finanzonline.bmf.gv.at or by post to the tax office (Finanzamt Österreich).

• Childcare allowance: via https://www.meinesv.at or by post to the health insurance provider.

Applications already submitted will be processed once the amendment enters into force. If any documents are missing, authorities will request them – a new application is not required in such cases.

However, if an application has already been rejected, a new application must be submitted.

Persons who:

• are between 18 and 65 years of age,
• are granted temporary protection,
• are currently neither employed nor self-employed
• wish to continue receiving family allowance or childcare benefits

are affected by the amendment.

Persons are exempt from this regulation if the AMS determines that the registration is not possible for specific reasons. In these cases, a confirmation from the AMS must be submitted with the application:

• illness or incapacity for work (medical certificate),
• attendance at school or university,
• receipt of a pension from Ukraine or reached the Austrian retirement age,
• childcare for a child under the age of 2 (parental leave),
• maternity protection,
• care for dependent relatives (care level 3 or higher).

Important: Please note that there may be an interruption in payment of family allowance and childcare benefits.

General information on family allowance

Family allowance is granted per child and month, ranging between €138.40 to €200.40, depending on the age of the child. Families with two or more children receive an additional monthly amount.

Together with the family allowance for September, a school start allowance (Schulstartgeld) of €121.40 is paid automatically for each child aged 6 to 15 years. No separate application is required.

In case your child has a disability of 50% or more, you are entitled to an increased family allowance of an additional €189.20 per month.

In general, family allowance can be received until the child is 24 years old. After the child reaches legal age (18 years), entitlement to the family allowance is usually conditional upon participation in vocational training or education. A child’s income is not relevant until the year in which the child turns 19. From the calendar year in which the child turns 20 years, the taxable total annual income may not exceed €17,212 in order to maintain entitlement. Adults who are still eligible for family allowance may apply for it themselves at the tax office (Finanzamt).

Further information on the family allowance can be found here.

General information on childcare allowance

Displaced persons from Ukraine who hold a “Displaced Persons Card” (Ausweis für Vertriebene) are entitled to childcare allowance (Kinderbetreuungsgeld).

Important! Receiving childcare allowance affects entitlement to basic care benefits. Unlike the family allowance, childcare allowance is considered income within the basic care system. Depending on the chosen payment model and family situation, a residual entitlement to basic care may remain. However, receiving childcare allowance may also lead to a reduction, suspension, or repayment of basic care benefits. If you are receiving basic care, it is strongly recommended to consult your social advisor before submitting an application.

General information:

Childcare allowance may be received by one parent following the birth of a child.

It can only be claimed by one parent at a time. The duration of payment ranges from 365 to 851 days, depending on the chosen payment model (details below).

As a displaced person from Ukraine, you may apply for childcare allowance if:

• you live in the same household as your child, and
• you receive family allowance in Austria for your child.
• While receiving childcare allowance, you may not earn more than €18,000 gross per year in additional income.

The childcare allowance can be applied for from the date of birth, but retroactively only for up to 182 days. The application form is available here: Application for childcare allowance (Antrag auf Kinderbetreuungsgeld). To receive the full amount of childcare allowance, the mandatory mother-child health examinations (Mutter-Kind-Pass-Untersuchungen) must be completed; otherwise, the benefit is reduced by €1,300 per parent.

While receiving childcare allowance, health insurance coverage is provided for both the parent receiving the benefit and the child.

There are two childcare allowance models:

Childcare allowance account (“Kinderbetreuungsgeld-Konto”): The entitlement period can be selected between 365 and 851 days. In the shortest option (365 days), the daily childcare allowance amounts to €33.88 per day, and in the longest option (851 days), it is €14.53 per day. The individual option can be specified in the application and changed once per child (change request). The additional income limit is €18,000 per year.

Income-related childcare allowance (“Einkommensabhängiges Kinderbetreuungsgeld”):  The amount is 80% of the income received before the birth. If you were continuously employed in Austria for 182 days prior to the birth of the child or the start of maternity leave, you can alternatively apply for an income-related childcare allowance. The additional income limit is €8,600 per year. The allowance can be claimed for a maximum of 365 days after the birth of the child.

You can find further information here.

For general questions you can contact the nationwide information hotline at 0800 240 014 (free of charge, Monday-Thursday, 9:00 – 15:00).

For questions regarding your specific entitlement, please contact the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK) in your province.

Further details are available on the ÖGK website: Kinderbetreuungsgeld

You can also use the online childcare allowance calculator provided by the Federal Chancellery: Kinderbetreuungsgeld

With an ID for displaced persons, you have free access to the Austrian labor market and may work both in employment and self-employment.

Important! If you are receiving basic care and start working, you must immediately inform your regional basic care authority/landlord/ regional coordinator. As basic care is a subsidiary benefit, all income will be deducted from the basic care benefit. Every person has an allowance of €110 per person and €80 for each additional family member. Also for displaced persons from Ukraine the 65/35 allowance rule is applicable.

You can find further information here.

You can use the informal income calculation tool to estimate (for guidance only — the regional basic care authority makes the final decision) how much of your income remains after applying the allowance rule: Inoffizieller ZuverdienstgrenzenRechner OÖ v2.1 de

Registration with the AMS

It is recommended to register with the Public Employment Service (AMS) or to declare yourself as a jobseeker. In Upper Austria and Vienna, AMS registration is required in order to receive basic care. However, registration with the AMS is only possible after obtaining the ID for displaced persons.

AMS will collect data on your education, professional experience, skills, and personal details. Further information is also available in Ukrainian on the AMS website. Furthermore, AMS offers training, job placement, and advisory services.

You can find further information here:

Information in Ukrainian, Russian, English, and German (AMS website)

Info folder WEB German  (Offers in Styria)

Labor Market Brochure ONLINE (Offers in Vienna): “I want to work. Work – Training – Courses – Free.” Offers for people displaced by the war in Ukraine (starting from p. 193)

When participating in a course or labor market policy measure, financial assistance to cover living expenses (DLU) may be paid by the AMS. Please note that the receipt of DLU must be reported to the basic care authority. As basic care is subsidiary, DLU is a 100% deducted from the basic care benefits.

Displaced persons can also be employed as temporary workers (e.g., Trenkwalder, Payroll Büroring, …), but they must always have an ID for displaced persons.

Furthermore, displaced persons can also find work through the service check system; see Dienstleistungsscheck Online (dienstleistungsscheck-online.at).

Qualifications and training acquired in Ukraine can be recognized through the nostrification process. You can find further information here, as well as at the recognition offices for qualifications acquired abroad: AST: AST: Anlaufstellen für Personen mit im Ausland erworbenen Qualifikationen

Transition RWR+

As of 1 October 2024, displaced persons from Ukraine can apply for the RWR+ residence permit if they:

• have been in fully insured employment for at least 12 months within the past 24 months;
• have a realistic prospect of income at the time of issuance (not application) of the RWR+ card of at least:
  • €1,273.99 net/month for single persons;
  • €2,009.85 net/month for couples;
  • €196.75 net/month per child (family allowance not counted; childcare allowance is counted).
• have German language skills at level A1 or higher, certified by a recognized institution (e.g. ÖSD, ÖIF, etc.).

The RWR+ is issued for one year and can be renewed upon application.

If displaced persons have been continuously residing in Austria for at least two years and have completed Module 1 of the Integration Agreement, the RWR+ can be issued for three years. Periods of residence as a displaced person also count as a residence.

Certain family members can transition to the RWR+: spouses, registered partners, children, adopted, and stepchildren.

You can find further on the website of the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Ukrainian here.

Displaced persons from Ukraine aged 15 years and older are entitled to free German courses provided by the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). Information on free German courses in Austria can be found on the ÖIF website/the ÖIF information hotline, or the AMS.

Compulsory education applies to all children who are permanent residents of Austria, regardless of their citizenship. Compulsory education lasts for nine school years and begins on 1 September following the child’s sixth birthday. Please note that all children who have reached the age of five by 1 September of the relevant calendar year are obliged to attend kindergarten for a period of one year. Please note that compulsory education is applicable even if children do not have a valid health insurance!

Compulsory education is applicable even if children do not have a valid health insurance

Please note that as of 31 May 2025, the automatic health insurance according to § 9 ASVG Z21 has expired. Therefore, the automatic health insurance is no longer provided for displaced persons from Ukraine. There is now the option to obtain self-insurance or co-insurance if relatives are employed. (Krankenversicherung für Ukraine-Vertriebene) Furthermore, displaced persons from Ukraine can apply for basic care if they are in financial need and health insurance would be provided through basic care.

Regardless of the health insurance coverage, compulsory education applies in Austria (RIS – Schulpflichtgesetz 1985 – Bundesrecht konsolidiert, Fassung vom 26.08.2025). Please note the following:

• Compulsory education (grades 1–9) must be attended from 1 September after a child’s sixth birthday.
• There is no automatic exemption from physical education or school events (exceptions include serious illness, if the appropriate documentation is provided; see §11(6) of the School Education Act and §9 of the Compulsory Education Act).
• According to § 13 SchuG, students are not obliged to participate in school events involving an overnight stay away from their place of residence.
• As stipulated in § 175 ASVG, students are covered by an accident insurance, regardless of their health insurance coverage. The AUVA accident insurance covers the costs of medical treatment for injuries sustained while fulfilling their school obligations. For further coverage, we would recommend obtaining a private accident or health insurance in addition to the AUVA accident insurance.

Therefore, we would advise you to obtain a health insurance for your child, in order to be prepared for any emergencies. You can find further information here: Krankenversicherung für Ukraine-Vertriebene.

Compulsory education until the age of 18

As of 1 July 2024, following the amendment of the Compulsory Education Act, compulsory education also applies to young people from Ukraine. The compulsory education requirement is fulfilled by attending a secondary school: e.g., a general secondary school (AHS), a vocational middle school (BMS), or a vocational secondary school (BHS); school or training in the social and health sector; or vocational training; or participation in recognized courses (e.g., AMS course, German course, etc.), possibly with simultaneous support from youth coaching. Attendance at a Ukrainian secondary school in online format, which concludes with a school-leaving examination (Matura), is recognized as part of education until the age of 18. You can find further information here.

Please note that displaced persons from Ukraine are also exempt from tuition fees in the 2025/26 winter semester. You can find further information here. In order to be considered for admission to study in Austria, Ukrainian school graduation certificates must be submitted. You can find further information here.

Counselling centers

The website of Asylkoordination Österreich provides a nationwide overview of social, educational, labor market and legal counselling centers, as well as psychotherapeutic services for people seeking protection in Austria: Österreichweite Beratungsstellen

• Legal counselling for displaced persons from Ukraine in Vienna:
  Legal counselling for displaced persons from Ukraine– Diakonie
  Lemböckgasse 49/Haus 1/Stiege A/3. floor
  1230 Vienna
  Phone: +43 1 40 56 29 51
  Email: beratung.ost@diakonie.at
  telephone consultation hours:
  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9:00 – 13:00
  Wednesday: 13:00-17:00

• Caritas – Legal counselling Vienna
  Mariannengasse 11
  1090 Vienna
  Phone: +43 1/4061011-20
  Email: asylrechtsberatung@caritas-wien.at
  Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00-13:00, Wednesday 11:00-15:00 (no appointment needed)

Change to Ukrainian cars in basic care as of 1 January 2025

As of 1 January 2025, Ukrainian cars have been included in the means test for basic care. Previously, Ukrainian cars were considered escape cars and were not included in the means test. As a general rule, it is not possible to own a car and receive basic care, as the car is considered an asset.

As of 1 January 2025, the procedure for Ukrainian car ownership changed and was adapted to the general rules for basic care. If displaced persons from Ukraine use a Ukrainian car, an individual assessment will be carried out to determine whether the person is classified as in need of assistance and whether basic care benefits can continue to be received. For further information, please contact the relevant basic care authority in your province.

Vehicles with Ukrainian registration

Following the amendment to § 79 of the Motor Vehicle Act of July 19, 2024, displaced persons from Ukraine are now permanently exempt from having to re-register their vehicles, as long as they have their ID for displaced person (=blue card). The following sentence was added to § 79 of the Motor Vehicle Act: “The limited period of one year does not apply to vehicles with Ukrainian license plates that are used by persons who have a temporary right of residence on the basis of a § 62 (1) of the Asylum Act 2005.”

Therefore, there is no obligation to register these vehicles in Austria or to travel outside Austria with them once a year, provided that and as long as vehicles with Ukrainian registration are used by displaced persons from Ukraine with a right of residence according to the Displaced Persons Ordinance.

Link to the Motor Vehicle Act: § 79 KFG 1967 (Kraftfahrgesetz 1967) – JUSLINE Österreich

Sale and purchase of Ukrainian cars in Austria:

• In some provinces, displaced persons from Ukraine receiving basic care are required to disclose the value of their car and sell it within four weeks.
• An estimate of a car’s value can be obtained from the Autopreisspiegel, which is free for ÖAMTC members 5 times a year. A single query directly from the Autopreisspiegel costs €12. Important information: Only an average price between the dealer purchase price and the selling price is inquired, which does not reflect the value of the car based on its actual condition. Cars that are or have never been in the car trade in Austria, or vehicles for which there are no market values, cannot be inquired in the Autopreisspiegel.

– ÖAMTC members can have their vehicle valued at an ÖAMTC base for €132.60. The cost of a vehicle valuation outside an ÖAMTC base, as well as the valuation of a camper van, is higher. Alternatively, you can hire a vehicle expert to value your vehicle, but this will result in higher costs.  ÖAMTC Kauf-Überprüfung – Der Ankaufstest für Ihr Fahrzeug | ÖAMTC

• The biggest hurdle when selling a Ukrainian car is the cost borne by the buyer. The purchase of a Ukrainian car is therefore considered rather unattractive due to the increased costs. In principle, the purchase of such a car is unproblematic, provided that an ÖAMTC purchase inspection confirms that there are no defects in the verifiable area and that the vehicle is eligible for an inspection sticker (“Pickerl”). Even if the car is already in Austria, you must go through the official import procedure for Austria. This means that the general rules for importing a car (Eigenimport | ÖAMTC) from a non-EU country, i.e., a so-called “third country,” apply. It should therefore be checked whether an EU type approval for the car can be documented with a COC paper. In addition, there is normally 10% customs duty on the current car value plus 20% import sales tax on everything. Import sales tax. A subsequent charge may be applied in the form of standardised consumption tax (NoVA), which can be calculated using the NoVA calculator provided by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Toll exemption:

• Humanitarian aid transports are currently exempt from tolls on Austrian highways and expressways. This applies to all types of tolls, i.e., vignette, distance-based toll, and truck toll. The term “humanitarian aid transports” includes both trips for the purpose of transporting goods and trips for the purpose of transporting persons who are considered displaced persons within the meaning of the Displaced Persons Ordinance, Federal Law Gazette II No. 92/2022.

The exemption from the vignette requirement and the toll exemption for Ukrainian vehicles expired on 31 October 2025. Therefore, as of 1 November 2025, a vignette is required and the toll must be paid. You can find further information here: Mautordnung.

Information on the permanent parking permit in the city of Vienna

As of 1 June 2023, Ukrainian cars can no longer park in Vienna free of charge. However, displaced persons from Ukraine can apply for a permanet parking permit. You can find further information here.

For persons from Ukraine: Start Wien

“Erstankunft Ukraine-Ticket” => The First Arrival Ukraine ticket was discontinued on 31 December 2024.  There is currently no free public transport for displaced persons from Ukraine.

Checklist: To-dos for a permanent departure from Austria

The expiration of temporary protection in Austria is stated in §4(3) of the Displaced Persons Ordinance: “The right of residence pursuant to §§ 1 or 3 expires if the person concerned leaves the federal territory for more than a short period of time.”

This includes, for example

– if the center of life has been moved outside Austria, e.g., relocation to another EU country or to a non-European country (England, USA, …)

– permanent return to Ukraine

What to do if you are planning to leave permanently:

Please inform the relevant regional office of the BFA (Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum) in the province where you had your main residence and return your ID for displaced persons ID in person or by post. (Kontakt)

If you are receiving benefits:

• Notify the relevant basic care authority and social services office in your province of your departure timely
• Cancel hildcare allowance: Verzicht auf bzw. Beendigung von Leistungen nach dem Kinderbetreuungsgeldgesetz (für Geburten ab 01.03.2017)
• Care allowance: Pflegegeld: Voraussetzungen, Höhe & Pflegestufen 2025 | PV
• Family allowance: FinanzOnline Login
• Important: Deregistering your place of residence with the registration authority
• Deregistering at kindergarten/school
• Terminating existing contracts (e.g., cell phone contract, deregister your Wiener Linien card, Klimaticket, permanent parking permit, fitness center, etc.)
• Closure of Austrian bank account (online or in person)

If employed:

• Termination/mutual termination of employment
• Application for payment from employee pension fund
• Request a reference

If living privately:

• Inform landlord
• Terminate/cancel rental agreement
• Cancel contracts (home insurance, internet, television, etc.)
• If applicable: Terminate parking space for car (e.g., garage)

Please note that these lists are not mandatory instructions, but rather recommendations. Sonstige Fragen

Currently, there is no financial assistance for voluntary return to Ukraine. However, there is the possibility to have free return counselling. You can further information here.