The Best Long-Term Travel Insurance for Austria: “Care Austria” (Visa & Residence Permit Compliant)

If you’re planning a mid- to long-term stay in Austria, selecting the right travel insurance is absolutely crucial. This is especially true if you’re applying for a student visa, a working holiday visa, or any other residence permit. In some cases, the type of insurance you choose can actually determine whether your visa is approved or not.

In this article, we’ll dive into a popular long-term travel insurance plan called Care Austria—specifically designed for people staying in Austria. We’ll cover the real costs, key features, and some important things to watch out for.

🔍 Why Insurance Becomes Tricky for Long-Term Stays

For short-term trips, there are plenty of options—like Japanese insurance companies or credit card travel insurance. But once your stay extends beyond 3 months (especially 6 months to a year or more), things get more complicated.

Here’s why many standard Japanese insurance plans fall short:

Annual premiums with Japanese providers can exceed $4,000–$5,500 USD
Most don’t meet the specific Austrian residence permit requirements
Policy documents are often only in Japanese, not English or German

As a result, many people sign up for a Japanese insurance policy assuming it’s enough—only to find their residence permit denied because the policy doesn’t meet local standards.

✅ Our Recommendation: “Care Austria”

Care Austria is a long-term travel insurance plan offered by the German company Care Concept, tailored for German-speaking countries—including Austria. It’s specifically designed to meet local legal and visa requirements, which makes it widely accepted by Austrian immigration authorities.

Key Features:

Item	Details
Coverage Area	Austria (and other German-speaking regions)
Languages	Policy documents available in English and German
Coverage	Medical treatment, hospital visits, emergency transport—meets residence permit requirements
Flexibility	You can extend or shorten the contract as needed
Price	€51/month (~$54) for ages 12–35 / €95/month (~$100) for others

💰 Cost: A Fraction of Japanese Insurance

While long-term international insurance from Japanese companies can easily cost $4,000–$5,500 USD per year, Care Austria offers a much more affordable pricing:

Ages 12–35: €51/month (~$54 USD)
Ages 36 and up: €95/month (~$100 USD)

For a 1-year stay, that’s just around $650–$1,200 USD total—a fraction of the cost of Japanese insurance plans, with the added bonus of being tailored to Austrian visa requirements.

📝 How to Apply + Things to Keep in Mind

Application Process:

Fill out your personal details via the official application form on the website
You’ll receive a confirmation email with payment instructions within a few days
Send payment via bank transfer
After your payment is confirmed, you’ll receive the insurance certificate, and your coverage will be active

⚠ Important Notes:

Allow up to 2 weeks for your insurance to become active—apply early!
Bank transfers can involve high fees. We recommend using Wise (formerly TransferWise) to save on transfer costs.
→ Check out our article on sending money abroad efficiently.
If your stay is shorter than 2 months, this plan might be relatively expensive due to transfer fees
You can extend or shorten the contract even after applying

✈️ Final Thoughts: Care Austria is a Top Pick for Long-Term Visitors

If you’re planning to stay in Austria for several months or more, Care Austria is an excellent insurance option that’s both affordable and approved by local authorities.

Rather than relying solely on expensive Japanese insurance plans, having a policy like Care Austria—tailored for Austrian regulations—can give you peace of mind and make the visa process smoother.