Working in Austria

How do I find a job in Austria? How do I apply for a work permit and what is the Red-White-Red Card?

Working in Austria for
third-country nationals

How do I find a job?

You can find numerous jobs offers on the Internet and in newspapers. The AMS (Labour Market Service) can also help you find a job. Further information can also be found here: General information on the job search

Important: Documents such as certificates, diplomas, confirmations of employment and references should only ever be submitted as copies when applying. A translation of the documents may be required

Labour Market Service (AMS)

The AMS is an office for counselling, information and support in the labour market. Job search. The AMS also offers job application training and support with career guidance or re-entry. You can also receive funding from the AMS for a German course under certain conditions.

Online job boards

You can find more job portals here.

Note: Other job exchanges can be added here if required.

Self-employment in Austria

There are different types of self-employments in Austria. You can become self-employed as a tradesperson, as a new self-employed person and in liberal professions such as pharmacists, doctors, notaries or lawyers.
Here you will find a list of liberal professions.

At www.gruenderservice.at you will find everything you need to register a business.

You can get advice from the:

Chamber of Commerce (Kufstein)

You can also apply for funding from the Chamber of Commerce to set up a business. Detailed information is available here.

Working in Austria for third-country nationals

The Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals (AuslBG) regulates the employment of foreign nationals from third countries. This includes:

Normal employment relationship
Employment similar to that of an employee
Apprenticeship (= training relationship)
Expats (= foreign nationals posted abroad)
Leased workers (= leased labour)
Dependent employment
(= you are employed by an employer)

Detailed information available at: Foreign employees

Third-country nationals who hold any of the residence permits given below, have unrestricted access to the labour market:

Permanent residence EU
Permanent residence of family members
Red-White-Red Card plus
Residence permit plus

If you do not have these and want to work in Austria, you can do so as a:

Especially highly qualified
Skilled labour in shortage occupations
Other key personnel
Graduates and
Holder of the EU Blue Card

Red-White-Red - Map

To obtain a red-white-red card, you must achieve a certain minimum number of points
(e.g., for education, professional experience, age, language skills).

At www.migration.gv.at you will find a points calculator.

You get points for

Qualification
Professional experience in the field of your education
Language skills (German/English)
Age

Applying for a work permit for Austria

Where?

before entering Austria: Austrian embassy, consulate in your home country
or
after entry: At the residence authority in Austria

Kufstein district authority

Your future employer can help you with this. Feel free to ask! Frag gerne nach!

What do I need to bring with me?

Passport
Birth certificate
Photo, maximum 6 months old, 45 x 35 mm in size

If available:

Marriage certificate
Tenancy agreement / proof of ownership of the apartment
Proof of health insurance cover
Proof of secure livelihood (employment contract or payslip)

Detailed information on this is available here (Red-White -Red Card plus – Application)

Employment authorisation

If you are not automatically authorised to work in Austria with your residence permit or settlement permit but would like to work, you will need an employment permit (e.g., students, seasonal workers, harvest workers, asylum seekers). Your future employer in Austria will apply for this at the Foreigners’ Centre (AFZ) of the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

In general: If you want to apply for a work permit, please note the following:

The work permit is tied to the workplace.
The work permit is bound to the employer.
Only future employers can apply for an employment permit.
The work permit is valid for a maximum of 12 months.

Detailed information for this purpose is available here: Employment permit – Notification and obligations

The Public Employment Service, or AMS for short, places jobseekers and helps the unemployed by providing advice, information, qualification and, in some cases, financial support. The EU has an association agreement with Turkiye. Hence, employees from Turkiye have some special rights. Please ask for appropriate legal advice.

Coworking Spaces in der Region

ould you like to save costs or not work from home? There are a number of coworking spaces in the region. These offer you the opportunity to have a flexible workplace, while meeting new people at the same time and expanding your network. Detailed information and all locations are available here: