Integration Agreement

People from third countries who intend to stay in Austria probably have to sign an Integration Agreement. According to the text of the law the purpose of the Integration Agreement is "the gaining of knowledge of the German language, to become capable of participating in the social, economic and cultural life in Austria". Persons applying for Residence permit (Student, Special cases, Researcher or Family) do not need to fulfill the Integration agreement.

The Integration Agreement consists of 2 modules:

•   Module 1 "gaining knowledge for the basic use of German language" and
•   Module 2 "gaining knowledge for the proficient use of the German language"

Module 1 has to be fullfilled for "Red-White-Red - Cards",settlement permit and residence titel "Family Member". Module 2 is compulsory for "Permanent Residence EG", "Permanent Residence Family member" and for the applcation of citizenship.

The following groups of persons do not have to sign an Integration Agreement:

• Persons who are or will be under age (under 14) by the time when the Agreement has to be fulfilled,
• Nationals of third countries whose old age or bad health make it unacceptable to expect them to fulfil the Integration Agreement. This unacceptability has to be established by a public health officer (Amtsarzt).
• Persons who undersign a declaration that they will not stay in Austria for longer than 12 month within a period of 2 years and that they will not apply for renwal of a residence title;

Module 1 of the Integration Agreement is fulfilled when the third country national

• attends a German integration course and completes it successfully;
• is in possession of a school leaving certificate corresponding to the general university entrance qualification according to § 64 Abs. 1 of the University Act 2002 or to the school leaving certificate of a vocational college (berufsbildende mittleren Schule);
• is in possession of a "Red-White-Red - Card" is.

Fulfilling module 2 includes module 1.

Those who are obliged to fulfil the Integration Agreement have to attend a German integration course. These courses are conducted by certified course organisers.

The Integration Agreement has to be fulfilled within 2 years of being granted the residence title. Upon application the authority may postpone the fulfilment date for personal reasons (e.g. illness).