Working in Austria, a small state in the center of Europe, opens up wide opportunities for CIS citizens. First, you can make good money here. Secondly, labor immigrants will be able to live and work comfortably in accordance with European standards. Thirdly, to discover new life prospects for yourself and your family. Let's take a closer look at how to find a job in Austria correctly, what is needed for this, what vacancies await citizens from the CIS and what local peculiarities should be taken into account.
What kind of work in Austria can CIS citizens expect?
The Austrian economy in 2021 was one of the most stable and prosperous not only in Europe, but also in the world. So, according to the Legatum Institute (London), in the "Prosperity Index" for 2021, Austria took 13th place among 167 countries of the world. At the same time, she was ahead of such developed countries as Canada, USA, France, Japan, Spain, Italy, Israel, etc.
It is not surprising that not only citizens of less developed EU countries (Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, etc.), but also such grandees as Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, actively apply for employment in Austria. Of the 730 thousand foreigners employed in Austria, 430 thousand are from the European Union.
The unemployment rate in the country for 2021 was only 3.5%.
Every year the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs, Health and Consumer Protection publishes a register of scarce occupations for which foreign workers can apply. In 2021, the country experienced an acute shortage of highly qualified workers and construction professionals, technical intelligentsia (metalworking, energy, telecommunications, electrical engineering, IT), business managers, accountants and medical workers of all directions.
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The focus is primarily on highly qualified specialists from the EU countries (Austria strictly adheres to the general rules of this organization), and if there are none, from third world countries (not included in the EU or the European Economic Area).
Citizens from the CIS with high qualifications and work experience of at least 3 years can try to participate in the government program RWR (Rot-Weiss-Rot Card) - "Red-White-Red Card".
With the beginning of the ski season, seasonal vacancies appear (no more than 6 months) for servicing tourists and vacationers in numerous resorts in Austria, in the hotel business. But foreign workers are hired in accordance with the allocated quotas: the number of employed foreigners should be no more than 9% of the total number of personnel.
Work in Austria without knowledge of the language, which also does not require special qualifications (for example, as an auxiliary worker in the construction industry, seasonal worker in the agricultural and forestry sector, etc.), attracts, first of all, people without special education and experience work.
It should be noted that although the Austrians themselves are in no hurry to apply for such low-paying jobs, the demand for it among labor migrants has increased sharply. This is due to the large influx of migrants from Albania, Turkey, refugees from Iraq, Syria to Austria, who readily take on any job.
For young people between the ages of 18 and 28, employment in Austria is available under the Au-pair program: living with Austrian families and providing assistance in taking care of children, household, etc. in the amount of 19 hours per week. The host family pays for accommodation, meals, German language training, and pays salaries. This program will allow you to work in the country for a year.
Foreign students studying full-time at Austrian universities, if they wish, can obtain a work permit for themselves - no more than 20 hours a week.
Basic requirements of employers for applicants from the CIS countries
The main criteria of Austrian employers in the selection of employees are professionalism and competence. To qualify for a vacancy, a foreign worker must meet the Austrian qualifications and score at least on a point system:
- 70 points out of 100 maximum - for highly skilled workers
- 55 points out of 90 - for applicants for scarce specialties in Austria (
- 50 points out of 85 - for founders of a new business with an agreed business plan and a capital of at least 50 thousand euros.
Most of the enterprises in the country belong to the medium and small level, so it is not surprising that a purely subjective factor can play a decisive role in employment. The Austrian employer pays attention not only to educational documents, but also to the applicant's personal qualities (organization, discipline, etc.), to the state of his papers, as well as to who is applying - a man or a woman, what age, etc.
Much attention in Austria is always paid to knowledge of German (in extreme cases, English), and the requirements can vary from basic level (A1) to advanced (A2, B1), and sometimes B2.
Persons who are officially employed in Austria have the same rights and social protection as Austrian citizens. Including for the payment of sick leave with full payment of the "minimum" in the amount of 10 weeks, medical insurance, child benefits.
Austrian labor legislation is aimed at ensuring the protection of the life and health of workers. And strict control of its observance ensures favorable working conditions and high standards of safety in the workplace (the law on the protection of workers - Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für ArbeitnehmerInnenschutzgesetz, Fassung vom 10.21.2021).
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The working day in Austria, according to the Working Time Act (Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Arbeitszeitgesetz, Fassung vom 21.10.2021), is 8 hours, but not more than 40 hours per week.
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If overtime work is necessary, the employer must additionally pay the employee 50% for the work or compensate for every hour of overtime with an hour and a half of rest. The maximum working time, together with overtime, is limited to 13 hours per day and 60 hours per week (subject to agreement with the workforce).
The Work Rest Act (Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Arbeitsruhegesetz, Fassung vom 10.21.2021) stipulates that the weekly rest period must be at least 36 hours (starting from 13.00 on Saturday). Each employee can take a personal day off, if necessary, notifying the employer about this at least three months in advance. Paid vacation is at least 5 weeks per year.
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The minimum wage is stipulated in collective agreements concluded by trade unions and negotiated in the Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer). Cash rewards are paid on the 15th and last day of each month. In addition, employees receive 13th and 14th salaries - vacation and Christmas (if it is stipulated in the collective agreement).
As evidenced by the reviews of Russians employed in Austria, the issue of housing is solved in different ways. Austrian employers often provide foreign workers with housing - au-pair program participants, nannies, housekeepers, seasonal and temporary workers, etc. The cost of housing in such cases is symbolic or is deducted from the employee's salary.
In other cases, the foreign worker rents housing for himself and his family on his own. These questions can be included in the employment contract.
How to look for a job in Austria correctly
Considering the question of how to find a job in Austria, it should be noted that the most correct option would be to search on specialized German-speaking Austrian sites. You can also find a job to your liking on the official website of the Austrian Employment Fund - up to a million advertisements pass through it every month. The following sites are very popular:
- jobs.derstandard.at. The site is very easy to use: it allows you to use filters (field of activity, profession, salary, city, position, etc.), offers a variety of services: the ability to create a search agent who, according to the specified parameters, will select offers from employers and send them to the applicant; advice on negotiating salary, resume templates, etc. Considering that the ads indicate gross salary, a calculator will be useful to help you calculate the net salary by regions of the country.
- karriere.at. The portal offers the freshest vacancies in Austria from direct employers. The interface of this largest job search site in the country is clear and easy to use.
- meinjob.at. Has more than two million audience, offers to create a resume online, set the necessary filters, subscribe to the mailing of vacancies, etc. Every day 10-15 thousand new vacancies appear on the portal.
Good chances of finding a suitable vacancy are given by specialized job search sites:
- itstellen.at - daily offers more than 5 thousand offers for IT specialists, programmers, computer security engineers, etc .;
- absolventen.at - a convenient site for students and university graduates for full-time and part-time employment;
- jobsinvienna.com - Up to 1,500 vacancies per day for English-speaking job seekers seeking employment in the Austrian capital.
Interesting offers, including work in Austria for married couples, as well as for those who do not speak German well or do not have a scarce specialty, are often posted on the so-called message boards in the "Job" section: wena24.ru/ad-category/ job /, jobs.thelocal.com (vacancies with knowledge of English), alleskralle.com/jobs/at, dawai.at, etc.
You can also use job aggregators that concentrate job ads from other recruiting sites:
- monster.at,
- at.indeed.com,
- austria.xpatjobs.com.
Or you can flip through Austrian newspapers, for example, Der Kurier.
Searching for a job on social networks can also bring positive results, but there is a great danger of bumping into intermediary companies or scammers who want to get money for free services.
For beginners who independently search for work directly in Austria, it makes sense to contact one of the local recruiting agencies, for example, avm-personal.at, rantasa.at/.
How to find a job in Austria
When the search for a vacancy has been crowned with success, the applicant is faced with the question of how to get a job in Austria. The employment of foreign nationals from third countries is regulated by the Consolidated Law on Employment of Foreigners (Bundesrecht konsolidiert: Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz, Fassung vom 10.21.2021).
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The procedure for applying for a job is quite complicated and requires a number of mandatory rules to be followed. Third-country nationals to work in Austria need to obtain a work permit from the Austrian Employment Service (AMS), and only then issue a work visa to Austria.
A foreign highly qualified worker from the CIS will be able to use one of the options:
- get an EU Blue Card (EU Blue Card) with a salary that is 1.5 times the average salary in Austria for a period of 2 years;
- become a member of the RWR Card program.
Foreigners holding the EU Blue card and RWR Card have the opportunity, after having worked in Austria for 21 months, to apply for an RWR Card plus (12_Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte_Plus-Formular.pdf). Such a card gives the right to employment throughout the country without being tied to one employer.
The card is issued for 1 year with the right to renew for another 3 years. Family members of foreign workers are entitled to the RWR Card plus immediately upon arrival in the country.
All this will be possible only if there is an employer who is ready to accept a job applicant. If there is no such employer, the applicant has the opportunity to apply for The Jobseeker Visa - a residence permit in Austria for 6 months to find a suitable vacancy. If the search is unsuccessful, the applicant will have to leave the country and reapply no earlier than 12 months later.
Employment procedure: official papers
To get a job, you will have to prepare several packages of papers. So, to obtain a work permit, you will need: a foreign passport, insurance, proof of qualifications, for students - a copy of a student residence permit in Austria. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into German and certified by a notary.
To provide an employer, it is important to prepare a properly executed resume, a motivation letter, documents confirming professional skills - diplomas, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation.
To obtain a residence permit (RWR Karte or Blaue Karte EU), as well as an applicant's visa (Jobseeker Visa), you will need:
- Completed form or
- Employer statement
- Original and copy of the passport.
- Birth certificate.
- Photo (45x35 mm) not older than 6 months.
- Proof of the legal right to live in Austria (lease, sublease, purchase and sale agreement).
- Medical insurance with coverage of at least 30 thousand euros.
- An employment contract or an invitation to work in Austria.
- Receipt of payment of the fee. For an applicant's visa you need to pay 150 euros. Registration of RWR Karte or Blaue Karte EU will cost 100 euros (80 - consular fee and 20 - the price of a plastic card). An additional fee - 20 euros - is charged for personalization (photo and signature on the card).
- Police clearance certificate with apostille.
- Proof of funds to live in Austria. The minimum amount allowed from 01.01. 2021 - 933.06 euros per month for singles, 1,398.97 - for spouses, in the presence of children - an additional 143.97 for each child.
Work permit
Anyone wishing to work in Austria must obtain a work permit. A seasonal work permit (up to 6 months) or a primary work permit in Austria is issued at the request of the employer. Workers with work experience in this country can obtain short- and long-term work permits on their own. The permit must be issued within 6 weeks.
Types of work permits in Austria
| Name | Reason for registration | peculiarities | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| BeschäftigungsbewilligungSaisonarbeitskraft | Seasonal work | Received by the employer | 6 months |
| Beschäftigungsbewilligung | First registration | Received by the employer. An employee can only work in an approved position with his employer | 1 year |
| Arbeitserlaubnis | Re-registration by an employee with 52 weeks of experience in Austria | Received by the employee. May change employer and position within the federal state | 2 years |
| Beschäftigung | Long-term employment | Received by an employee who has worked for 5 or more years in Austria. Eligible to work throughout the country | 5 years |
Only invited university professors and academic researchers, participants of the Au-pair program, persons who came under an interstate agreement, diplomatic workers, persons with refugee status, clergymen, and journalists will be able to do without permission.
Procedure for obtaining a work visa
After the papers are prepared, you must submit an application to the Austrian embassy at your place of residence. Documents must be submitted in person. Before visiting, you need to register on the official website.
- On the new page - select the language and indicate "Residence permit" and "Next".
- Then you need to specify the number of persons. You won't be able to choose more than one person, so just click "Next". If several people leave, the registration procedure will have to be repeated for each separately.
- A reminder message will appear on the new page about the submission of documents, their translation into German or English and apostille. You need to read, click "Next" and go to the schedule of meetings to select the date and time of the visit.
- After selecting the date, you must enter the necessary information about the applicant.
Confirmation of the appointment will be sent to the specified e-mail.
After submitting the documents, you should wait for a response. If the decision is positive, the applicant will be informed that it is possible to proceed with the application of a national visa D to travel to Austria.
The procedure for opening a visa is standard: submit an application form, two photographs, a copy and original of a passport, insurance, pay visa fees (150 euros, for children under 6 years old - 75 euros).
Scoring: what to look out for
From 2021, job seekers in Austria must earn a certain amount of points in the topics "Qualifications", "Work experience", "Age", "Proficiency in foreign languages", "Education in Austria". Many Russians who did not study in Austrian universities, did not receive a salary of more than 50-70 thousand euros per year, or did not manage to defend their dissertations, should focus on those points that can bring them real points. It:
- Technical higher education. An engineering diploma obtained at a technical university in the Russian Federation, Ukraine or another state of the former USSR is still highly regarded in the world (which cannot be said about humanitarian education). This will allow you to get 30 points in the piggy bank at once. For holders of a Ph.D. degree - 40 points.
- Age and experience. Here are the options:
- After graduating from a university at the age of 23-24 (enrolling immediately after leaving school), you can get 20 points for age, 0 points - for work experience.
- After graduating from a university at the age of 23-24 and having worked for 10 years at the enterprise, you can get 20 points for age (less than 35 years) and 20 points for seniority. This option gives the highest score - 40.
- Subsequent options will bring a lower amount of points. Thus, an applicant aged 35 to 40 will receive 15 points for age and 20 points for seniority (35 points), from 40 to 45 years - for age 10 points and 20 points for seniority (30 points).
- Foreign language proficiency (German / English). For level B1 - 10 points, for A1, A2 - 5 points.
- Scientific publications, patents - 20 points.
Required documents
To accrue points, you will need a set of papers (in originals and copies), with which you can confirm:
- obtaining vocational education;
- admission to an Austrian university (for students);
- completion of studies at a European university (at least 3 years);
- completed higher education;
- professional skills (certificates and recommendations);
- proficiency in German (one of the certificates - Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF), Goethe-Institut, ÖSD, Telc GmbH) or English (one of the TELC, TOEFL, IELTS, TOEIC.
Features of employment in Austria for citizens from the CIS
The CIS countries are classified as "third countries", so their citizens can find employment in Austria in accordance with the requirements of the Consolidated Law on the Employment of Foreigners. No privileges or infringement of rights in relation to citizens of the CIS in comparison with citizens of other "third countries" have been recorded.
However, in recent years, the tendency has intensified, thanks to which work in Austria has become more accessible for Belarusians, Russians, and Ukrainians. This is due to the fact that in the conditions of the influx of Arab refugees, immigrants from the former USSR, as well as many Austrians, are more willing to hire Europeans and Christians.
After the introduction of visa-free entry to the Schengen countries, the task of applying for a residence permit for citizens of Moldova and for Ukrainians has been simplified. They can apply directly to the provincial governor or to the local administrative body, personally meet with the employer, find accommodation, etc. However, in order to obtain a national visa D for entry and stay, they will need to return to their homeland and contact the Austrian Embassy.
Work in Austria: where is it better to find a job
Employment in Austria largely depends on the city or region of the country. Higher incomes and more job vacancies can be found in major cities. These are primarily Vienna, Graz, Linz, etc. However, the total cost of living in such cities is also very high.
In areas with a developed tourism industry - Carinthia, Tyrol, Salzburg, Styria - you can count on seasonal work. Here, hospitality specialists, sports instructors, technicians, etc. are more in demand.
Agricultural areas - east and south-east of the country. There is a demand for domestic workers, nannies, educators for children in Russian-speaking families in all regions of the country.
What kind of earnings can you expect in Austria
The state does not control the minimum wage. Everything is decided at the level of trade unions and employers, and the decisions taken are enshrined in special agreements.
The size of the salary can be influenced by the qualifications of the specialist and the length of service. So, the minimum wages are:
- in the service sector - 1,300 euros;
- construction - 1,700;
- IT technologies - 1,650 euros.
Looking through the Austrian vacancies, you will notice that the salaries are suspiciously high. The fact is that here it is customary to indicate the gross salary, that is, before deducting all taxes from it. Therefore, the real picture may be somewhat different.
The tax system in Austria is proportional - the more you earn, the more you have to pay taxes. If the income is more than 60 thousand euros per year, you will have to give almost half of the earned:
| Annual income level (EUR) | Tax rate (%) |
|---|---|
| up to 11 thous. | 0 |
| 11 000 - 24 999 | 36.5 |
| 25 000 - 59 999 | 43.21 |
| over 60 thousand | 50 |
Some categories of payers pay a flat tax:
- 20% - athletes, artists, writers, etc .;
- 25% - income from real estate transactions
Thus, the average monthly salary of a computer scientist will be net not 4,081 euros, but 2,719 euros; Architectural Engineer - not € 3,400, but € 2,350.
It is more profitable to work as a doctor in Austria - the average net salary is 3,000 euros, with a constant demand for representatives of this profession in all regions of the country.
Internship opportunities in Austria
Feedback from participants in internships abroad indicates that favorable conditions have been created in Austria for holding such events for foreign specialists. Most internships are paid, unless they are under government patronage. The average cost depends on the venue, duration and ranges from 500 to 1000 euros.
The most popular internships are in the medical, humanitarian and tourism fields. Young specialists, senior students have the opportunity to receive grant support to participate in such events.
Internships last from several weeks to several months.
The basic package of papers required to participate in an internship and receive a grant includes:
- motivation letter from the applicant;
- international passport;
- support sheets from an educational / scientific institution, scientist, supervisor;
- financial guarantees of the availability of funds (obtaining a grant, a certificate from a bank, etc.).
Information on conducting summer schools and internships in the EU countries, including Austria, can be found on the websites:
- summerschoolsineurope.eu,
- ecml.at/Aboutus/Traineeship/tabid/1790/Default.aspx,
- ist.ac.at/en/education/internships/ etc.
What is the threat of illegal employment
The state has an extremely negative attitude towards illegal labor migration, severely punishing both workers and their employers. In addition to punishment for tax evasion, there is a real danger for illegal immigrants to fall into labor slavery, be deceived, etc.
The Austrian Financial Police conducts regular checks on the legality of the work of foreigners. Most often, such violations occur when hiring nannies, housekeepers, workers for temporary and seasonal work.
The first violation is followed by a warning, after which you must either legalize your status or leave the country. If the employer is at fault, he must compensate the employee for his losses associated with the costs of the return trip.
If the violation is repeated, illegal work can be punished with a fine, an order to leave the country or imprisonment. The most common punishment is deportation from Austria and a ban on entry into the country and the European Union as a whole.
Let's summarize
Employment in Austria is in great demand among citizens from the Russian Federation, Belarus and other CIS countries. Since 2021, the Austrian migration authorities have been using a system for recruiting points by applicants (for qualifications, experience, language proficiency, etc.). Thanks to this, young qualified specialists with knowledge of the German language are more likely to get a legal job.
The most demanded professions in Austria are medical workers, engineers, skilled workers. There is high competition for unskilled vacancies and seasonal work due to the establishment of quotas and the influx of refugees.
