The Vienna of today is a modern, international metropolis in the heart of Central Europe, a city with a quality lifestyle and an embraceable joy for living.

Vienna caters to your needs in terms of education, social and health services and also offers a wide range of leisure and cultural activities.

As Mayor and Governor of Vienna I extend to you a heartfelt welcome to the Austrian Capital. We hope you will feel at home here.

Dr. Michael Häupl
Mayor and Governor of Vienna

the world's best living standards

For the fourth consecutive time, Vienna tops Mercer's Quality of Living ranking for international cities. 

Mercer's 2012 Quality of Living survey results conclude, the Austrian capital is currently ranked as the metropolis with the world's highest standard of living. The rankings are based on a point-scoring index, which sees Vienna on top, and Baghdad 1on the bottom. Cities are ranked against New York as the base city with an index score of 100. Mercer’s Quality of Living ranking covers 215 cities and is conducted to help governments and major companies place employees on international assignments.

Variety of Cultures

Vienna's International Community make up 22% percent of its population. (City statistics page). For many English may not be their native language but often it is their second language. For more information you can download Vienna in Figures

Just take a look at a menu in a Vienna restaurant or a local telephone book and you'll understand that this city is a colorful mix of cultures. Along with U.N. Headquarters and numerous International corporations, and let's not forget the Non-Austrian spouses and partners of Austrians (and there is a lot of us) we have many cultures from around the world making it an interesting salad bowl of people.

Good thing for some of us German-language-challenged individuals, we can at least communicate. What we all have in common is struggling through German classes, and finding our place in a culture other then our own.

One of the nicest perks of living here in not only learning about our host country, but also learning about other countries and developing friendships with people from around the world.

So whether you are here for a short or long-term assignment, or have made Vienna your permanent home, take the opportunity to meet and get to know each other, after all is that not what international living is all about?

Start coaching – getting a head start in Vienna

Start coaching is a service offered by Municipal Department 17 - Integration and Diversity (MA 17) for all new inhabitants of Vienna who receive their first-time permission to stay in Austria on or after 1 October 2008. Employees of MA 17 who speak your native language or another language you feel comfortable with assist you in finding your way around Vienna. At the start coaching appointment you will receive your Vienna education booklet. This is a booklet where all the language courses, information events, counselling services, and education and further training programmes that you attend are recorded. The education booklet contains vouchers from the City of Vienna for German Integration Courses worth € 300. It also allows you to attend information events on various useful topics.

At the start coaching you will 

• receive the Vienna education booklet and the Vienna language vouchers worth € 300

• get comprehensive information about the Integration Agreement

• discuss what your next steps should be

• get help with finding a suitable German Integration Course

• learn how the voucher system works and what the information modules are

• get recommendations for counselling centres (finding a job, getting your qualifications recognised, etc.)

• discuss basic questions (registering your child for school, compulsory schooling, etc.)

•  receive information on a variety of other relevant topics 

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Vienna Business Agency Expat Center

The staff at the Expat Center Vienna will also be happy to assist you in all matters concerning your life in Vienna. They invite you  to give them call, send them an e-mail or have a look round their website. Visit Web Site

City Information Center

The City Information Center is the central information center of the City Council. The staff members answer questions about competencies and services of the City Council and other local authorities, about federal facilities and everyday life, as well as enquiries about sites of cultural interest .