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Tips for Newcomers to Vienna, Austria 
PRIOR TO ARRIVAL
- Request and refer to the
ISPO
Guidebook and other material from ISPO.
- The Vienna Expat Center offers a useful
Resource Fact Sheet
for reference. The Expat Center can be contacted at the following:
Schmerlingplatz 3, 1010 Vienna, Austria, T +43 14000-86949, F-86188,
info@expatcenter.at and
www.expatcenter.at
- Familiarize yourself with useful German phrases.
- Learn as much about Vienna and Austria beforehand.
- Read a book on Living Abroad and Culture Change to prepare for the
transition.
- Enroll children in one of the schools as soon as possible. There is
usually a waiting list. Some recommended schools are the
AIS, VIS,
Danube, and the
International Christian School.
- A suggestion for the spouse/partner for employment is to try to seek a job
with a U.S. company that will transfer you to Vienna, Austria. Please
view the list of U.S. subsidiaries in Austria from the
American
Chamber of Commerce.
- Refer to the
UNWG-Career Guide Book regarding helpful information to aid the
spouse with the Austrian job market, conditions for employment, job
search tools, guidance, development options and networking.
- If possible, applying for dual citizenship within the European
Union, will make it easier to seek employment in Vienna.
- Gather written references for employment, if seeking employment.
- Pets require up to date vaccinations, documentation and an international
chip.
- Register with the U.S. Embassy in Austria for travel warnings and
residence information.
- Ask ISPO about contact with a Host Family in Vienna.
- Update contact information with family and friends.
- Keep in touch with family via a VoIP program such as
SKYPE.
- Ask your cell phone provider about international calling capability.
- As soon as known, notify creditors, etc. of address change and charges overseas.
- Marriage licenses, birth certificates and immunization/medical records
will be needed.
- Ship comfortable walking shoes.
- Consider purchasing a GPS Portable Navigation system for Europe.
- If planning to attend a Ball, purchase of a tuxedo or gown should be considered.
- Do not ship small appliances. Not all appliances work properly
on adaptors. Please check prior to packing.
UPON ARRIVAL
- Seek housing with the
IAEA Housing
Office. They will assist with the lease.
- Visit this site for getting around in the
Vienna International Centre.
- You will need your legitimization card in order to set up your
in-home cable/phone services.
- Open a bank
account.
- Obtain a new cell phone at the NOMIK
Lounge in the E-Bldg in Room E1115 of the VIC.
- Get a discount grocery card from one of the local supermarkets such
as; Billa, Merkur or Spar.
- If using public transportation, purchase the
annual card.
(Erdbergstrasse 202 1030 Vienna)
Phone: + 43 1 7909-100 E-mail:
kundendienst@wienerlinien.co.at
- Ask the
Vienna Service Office
for assistance about getting around in Vienna. They are located in the
rotunda of the Vienna
International Centre.
- Attend Orientation with the IAEA.
AFTER ARRIVAL
- Shipment arrival to the apartment: Usually the shipment is delivered by
native Austrians
that do not speak much English. It would be beneficial to have someone
available that can
speak German to translate for you.
- Join a support group such as; AWA,
WCN,
UNWG, etc.
- Get maps of the public
transportation system.
- Register with the
U.S. Embassy Vienna,
Austria for U.S. citizen services and STEP program.
- Register with the
City of Vienna to receive a Welcome to Vienna packet.
- For a list of English speaking doctors in Vienna, Austria, please
use the following search tool
or visit the U.S.
Embassy website.
- Televisions must be registered in Austria. This can be done
online.
Last Modified: March 13, 2012
Please forward all questions about this site to:
Laura Macarthur
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U.S. Vienna