British in Austria welcomes members from UKCA’s mailing list to the site. UKCA will close its website and e-mail address at the end of 2023. We have enjoyed fruitful cooperation with the Board of UKCA, and will continue BiAthe Facebook groups Britishinaustria.net draws upon its two Facebook groups as a source of questions to address in FAQs or to refer to the authorities or to request clarification from government ministries or HM British Embassy. These groups can be found at: British in Austria: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BritishAustria British in Europe ~ Austria: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BritishinAustria ’s grassroots advocacy throughout Austria.
For UKCA members unaware of BiA’s activities through its website or its Facebook groups, we assist British citizens living in Austria, with a number of volunteers spread out across the country. We are a volunteer-powered organisation, and liaise closely with British in Europe, the British Embassy and directly with the Ministry of the InteriorBMI The Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) - Austria's Ministry for the Interior - is the competent ministry for issues related to residency and citizenship. on residence matters. We also help with a lot of day-to-day questions about living in Austria in the section of the website called The Guide.
Since 2021, we have ensured that many British citizens have received straightforward and efficient service from their local residence authorities in obtaining their new residence permits. We worked closely with the BMIBundesministerium für Inneres The Bundesministerium für Inneres (BMI) / Ministry for the Interior (UK counterparty: the Home Office) is competent for public security, policing, border control as well as residency and citizenships. It is also responsible for elections and direct democracy instruments as well as the civil service in the respective provinces, as well as municipal level where they are not covered by the Federal Chancellery. in ensuring that teething troubles were overcome, including providing German<>English interpretation in some particularly complex cases. We also obtain legal interpretation on pressing issues from ministries as the need arises.
We have also provided assistance and support to citizens in difficult situations as capacity has allowed. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide assistance to holders of Legitimationskarten. Employees of International Organisations should seek further assistance through their employer and staff welfare organisations.
To end on a positive note, we are pleased to see that the Votes for Life campaign is close to achieving its goal. Please see the latest information from December 2023 about what to do next.
The BiA Team, December 2023