Changing Your Name After Marriage in Austria: Where to Report It

If you take a new name after getting married, some Austrian authorities are informed automatically, while in other cases you must report the change yourself. The following overview explains who handles the notification, which deadlines apply and where fees may be charged. This information reflects the situation in 2026.

Quick overview

• If you are employed, your employer reports the name change to social insurance and a new e-card is sent automatically.
• If you receive unemployment benefits, you must notify the AMS immediately and no later than 1 week.
• If you receive a pension, you must inform the pension provider within 2 weeks. This is free of charge.
• If you are self-employed, you must notify the Finanzamt within 1 month and provide your tax number.
• If you own real estate, changing the land register entry involves an 85 euro filing fee.

Social insurance and the e-card

As a general rule, the registry office (Standesamt) informs social insurance about the name change. If this does not happen, you must contact the responsible health insurance provider. It will then forward the information to accident and pension insurance.

In practice, the reporting obligation mainly concerns self-employed people and agricultural entrepreneurs:

• Employees: the employer (Arbeitgeber) reports the change.
• People receiving unemployment benefits, such as Arbeitslosengeld, Notstandshilfe or Altersteilzeitgeld: the AMS reports the change to the health insurer.
• Self-employed people and farmers: must report the change themselves.

The responsible health insurer may be the ÖGK, BVAEB or SVS. You can report the change in writing, for example by email, or in person. You should provide proof such as a marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde). The notification is free of charge.

Once the change has been received, a new e-card with your new name is issued automatically. Your insurance coverage remains unchanged. Deadlines vary depending on the insurer and the type of insurance relationship.

Deadlines and costs

• AMS: required for people receiving unemployment benefits; immediately, and no later than 1 week; cost not specified.
• Pension insurance provider: required for pensioners; within 2 weeks; free of charge.
• Finanzamt: required for self-employed people; within 1 month; cost not specified.
• Trade authority (GISA): required for the owner of a trade business or a trade manager; within 4 weeks; cost not specified.
• Commercial Register (Firmenbuch): required for a person listed in the company register; immediately; cost not specified.
• Land register (Grundbuch): required for property owners; no deadline specified; 85 euro.
• Health insurer: required for self-employed people and farmers; varies by insurer; free of charge.

Employment, AMS and pensions

Most employment contracts (Dienstvertrag) require you to report changes to your personal details to your employer without delay. If you are self-employed, it is also advisable to inform your business partners.

At the AMS, report the change to your local office or caseworker. The AMS will forward the information to the health insurer.

If you receive a pension, notify the pension provider responsible for your payments: PV, SVS or BVAEB. The notification can be made informally in writing, in person, by email or by telephone. If you report the change by telephone, ask for the name of the staff member handling your case so that the notification can be documented later.

The pension insurance provider will check whether the name change or change in marital status affects your pension and will notify you individually.

Finanzamt and family benefits

For a name change that takes place domestically, the registry office records the change directly in the Central Register of Residents (Zentrales Melderegister), from which the financial administration also receives the information.

However, if you receive benefits from the Finanzamt, such as family allowance (Familienbeihilfe), it is advisable to report the name change immediately. Otherwise, you can usually provide the new name with your next employee tax assessment (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung). Keeping your details up to date is still advisable to avoid problems delivering official decisions.

An informal letter with your social insurance number is usually sufficient, although you may be asked for the marriage certificate. If you are self-employed, you must notify the Finanzamt responsible for your place of residence within 1 month and provide your tax number (Steuernummer).

Property, businesses and company records

• Land register: the responsible authority is the district court (Bezirksgericht) for the location of the property. The application must include the land register file number (Einlagezahl) and the cadastral municipality (Katastralgemeinde). You must also provide the original document proving the name change and an official photo ID. The filing fee is 85 euro. You may also appoint a notary or lawyer.
• Trade authority: report the change within 4 weeks. You can do so informally or using a form, in person, in writing or partly electronically.
• Commercial Register: a change must be reported immediately to the commercial court. Online filing with a digital signature is possible.
• Register of Associations (Vereinsregister): if you are a representative of an association, it is advisable to notify the association authority responsible for the association's registered office.

Education, children and other organisations

• University or college: students must report the change to the relevant academic office. If you receive a study grant (Studienbeihilfe), you must also notify the grant authority.
• Kindergarten, school or after-school care: parents should report their own name change and, where applicable, the child's name change informally.
• Social assistance: report the change to your personal caseworker at the social welfare office.
• Military or civilian service: conscripts must report the change without delay to their company; people performing civilian service must notify the Zivildienstserviceagentur.
• Banks, insurance and public transport passes: it is advisable to notify banks, supplementary and life insurers, and the transport company. Many organisations ask for a copy of the marriage certificate.
• ORF contribution: if you pay it for your primary residence, report the change to ORF-Beitrags Service GmbH.
• Fishing and hunting licences: changing a fishing licence requires an in-person appointment, at a location that varies by province. For a hunting licence, an informal letter to the issuing district authority is sufficient.

Frequently asked questions

Will I automatically receive a new e-card?

Yes. Once the name change reaches social insurance, a new e-card is issued automatically with your new name.

Do I have to pay for the notifications?

Notifications to the health insurer and pension insurance provider are free of charge. The filing fee for changing a land register entry is 85 euro.

What if I receive Kinderbetreuungsgeld or Familienbeihilfe?

If you receive Familienbeihilfe, report the name change to the Finanzamt immediately. For information about Kinderbetreuungsgeld, check the relevant guidance for Austrian childcare allowance.

Which documents are usually required?

The most commonly requested document is the marriage certificate or a copy of it. For the land register, the original is required.

Practical steps

1. Obtain your marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde) and an official photo ID.
2. Tell your employer about the new name if you are employed, or contact the ÖGK, BVAEB or SVS yourself if you are self-employed or a farmer.
3. Notify the AMS within 1 week if you receive unemployment benefits.
4. Notify your pension provider within 2 weeks if you receive a pension.
5. Contact the Finanzamt immediately if you receive Familienbeihilfe, or within 1 month if you are self-employed.
6. Update the GISA, Firmenbuch or Grundbuch entry if you own or manage a business or own property.
7. Notify your university, school, childcare provider, bank, insurers, transport company and other relevant organisations.
8. Keep copies of your notifications and ask for confirmation, especially when reporting by telephone.

Important: This article is based on information available online and does not constitute professional advice. Use it at your own risk. If you need specialist advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at