AN AMERICAN in Austria
Support and information in English for U.S. Americans living in Styria, Austria
I am providing this series of blog articles to share knowledge and tips* that I have acquired during my 20 years of living as a U.S. American expat in the city of Graz, located in the province of Styria in Austria. I love to help people and support social networking! Three organizations that have been very helpful for me during these years are the International Women’s Association of Graz, the Austro-American Society for Styria, and the Graz Internations expat community platform.
I am also the administrator of the US Americans in Graz and Styria Facebook group and warmly welcome US citizens who are living in Graz or other parts of Styria to join my group!
* Because information about bureaucratic processes, official regulations, and other formal issues related to living in Austria as an expat is continually changing, I encourage people seeking this kind of information to visit the website of the U.S. Embassy in Vienna.
The US Americans in Graz and Styria Facebook group
In March 2020, I decided to start a Facebook group for US Americans who were living in Graz and other parts of Styria. As of January 2025, the US Americans in Graz and Styria Facebook group welcomes more than 200 members, more than 90% of whom are US citizens. Since...
Who are the US Americans in Styria?
In 2021, I created a post that described the (registered) US American population in Styria at the time. Back then, 643 U.S. Americans called Styria their home, and 475 of these listed their main residence as Graz (as of 1.1.2021)? Now it is mid-January 2025, and I...
How the SVS calculates your contributions
The SVA distinguishes among different groups of contributors. Each of these groups is assigned its own contribution base. The amount of the contribution is derived from this contribution base. As a general rule, self-employed persons are required to invest about 27% of their annual profit into pension and health insurance. However, the SVS needs to receive your income tax assessment (from the tax authority / Finanzamt) to calculate the exact amount.
Self Employment in Austria – How to Begin?
Today, I’d like to tell you about a website I recently found that provides helpful information for people who are considering self-employment in Austria: The Berufsanerkennung in Österreich website from the Austrian Integration Fund. Professional...
Remembering 9/11 – 20 Years later
I believe that most US Americans who were alive at the time remember where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. Here in Graz, two articles were issued in local newspapers that featured the thoughts and memories of US Americans living in the...