Moving to Austria from the UK: what to sort, in order

Freedom of movement no longer applies, so a British citizen moving to Austria long term goes through the residence-permit process, with insurance forming part of the application rather than a task for after arrival.

Austria is worth taking seriously early. Its insurance standard is one of the stricter ones in Europe and, because it publishes no figure, it is easy to assume a decent policy will do.

Austrian residence permits require health insurance that provides benefits in Austria and covers all risks, with claims payable in Austria — a stricter standard than a Schengen travel policy.

Two parts of that sentence do the work. All risks is a scope test rather than a limit test: a named-perils policy covering emergencies and hospitalisation is narrower than the rule asks for, no matter how high its ceiling. Raising the limit does not help, because the limit was never the issue.

And claims payable in Austria catches international policies that cover you well but settle elsewhere. Check how your policy pays, not only what it covers. Why Austrian files get refused covers both failure modes.

The route shapes the rest of the file rather than the insurance standard, which stays the same. The Red-White-Red card covers skilled workers and self-employed applicants, while the settlement permit covers those establishing residence without employment. Students have their own path at Austria student visa insurance.

Whichever applies, the certificate has to state the requirement in writing rather than leaving it to the underlying policy document — see what your Austrian certificate must say.

NHS access is based on residency, not citizenship. A long-term move abroad ends routine NHS access, so your Austrian cover is not a supplement to something you keep at home — it is the whole of it.

For how Austrian healthcare works once you are resident, see the Austrian healthcare system and health insurance in Austria for UK citizens.

Covered Abroad is an introducer, not the insurer. A partner insurer underwrites the policy, and our team calls you to talk through the quote with no obligation to buy. Cover can start the same day, with no medical exam and a 14-day cooling-off period, and children 0 to 17 are priced at a flat rate.

Stated plainly rather than at claim time: pre-existing conditions are excluded, including ones you did not know about, and cover is worldwide but excludes treatment in the United States. Requirements can change and the decision is always the consulate's or the permit office's. See real prices by age, compare levels at pricing, or run a policy you already hold through the free policy check.