Hello. I work as a freelance translator and will shortly be moving to Vienna. Can anyone tell me what the procedure is for registering as self-employed in Austria? I've heard it's quite complicated and expensive. True?

Thanks in advance.

Everything is complicated and expensive here whenever it has to do with the government. I haven't heard anything about this, but I can tell you what you have heard is probably true.

But what you will need to do is visit the AMS (Arbeitsmarkt/employment office) and find out your information there. Just go to the nearest one and find out which specific AMS you need to go to so you can get the forms. HOWEVER, if you will require the working visa that I think you do, then the AMS only gives out so many working visas per year for this category (I forgot the name, though). You'd have to apply at the beginning of the year because by now they are all gone. A friend of mine has been working on getting his alongside his student visa for the past two years.

Contrary to the ever positive Nismo's guess, registering as a freelance translator is not difficult or expensive. Peruse these websites www.wko.at and www.wien.gv.at/index/b...ndung.htm, all the information should be there. I did it myself a few years ago, and I know there are several translators on this forum. Best of luck! Also, what are your languages and areas of expertise (you never know, I may pass stuff along!) PM me your info! And welcome!

Welcome, Brigadoon (cracking nickname, BTW)!
Just to echo SG's comments, there are several professional translators on the Forum who can give you advice since they have been through this process.

Good luck!

Sorry CapnStabbin, I think you've got it all wrong here... I'd go along with Macrogue and SarahGwynne on this one. It didn't strike me as overly complicated when I did it all those years ago.

Brigadoon: Drop me a pm or an e-mail if you are needing an introduction for agencies - I've left the agency scene now but have contacts that might be useful if you don't have a settled customer base.

OK then. I guess if you're doing it on your own it's different. My friend did something similar (not translating) and tried to do it on his own as a freelance and he ran into a beach head of problems. Guess it falls into a different business category???

Good on you guys for catching my mistakes, though. Thanks! :)

Thanks to everyone for your warm welcome, advice and tips! I lived in Germany for a few years, so am familiar to some extent with the kind of forms you have to fill out, but had heard that the bureaucracy in Austria was even worse.

I translate from German and Italian into English, and have been at it for a few years now, initially in Germany and currently in the UK. I've always fancied the idea of living in Vienna, so I think I might give it a go for a couple of months, and if I like it there, find a flat and fill out the forms. Hopefully flathunting in Vienna isn't the nightmare it used to be in Munich and still is in Zurich.

@sarahgwynne & morgenhund: Thanks very much for your offers of help! I'll PM you with my info as I currently have no clients there.

Viel Spaß: web2.immobilien.net/Default.aspx