In depth · Property
Buying property in Vienna: the steps for buyers
The official steps for buying a home in Vienna. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Updated October 2026
Approval for foreign buyers
The City of Vienna explains that foreign nationals generally need approval, or a negative confirmation, to acquire property, building rights or the use of a flat in Vienna; EU and EEA citizens and Swiss nationals are generally exempt. The application needs a signed, certified contract, not a draft (wien.gv.at).
The Land Register
Ownership is recorded in the Land Register (Grundbuch). Your lawyer or notary checks the entry before you sign and arranges the registration afterwards.
Taxes and fees
Buyers pay the real estate transfer tax and the Land Register registration fee. Confirm the current rates with the Federal Ministry of Finance or your lawyer before you budget.
Where people live
See our property guide for the Innere Stadt, the Altbau districts, Döbling, Hietzing and Leopoldstadt. We don’t publish prices or yields.
Questions and answers
Can a foreigner buy property in Vienna?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens generally can on the same terms as Austrians; buyers from other countries generally need approval from the City of Vienna (MA 35).
Where is ownership recorded?
In the Land Register (Grundbuch).
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Sources: wien.gv.at and oesterreich.gv.at (checked 25 October 2026). Confirm with a qualified lawyer or notary.