Welcome to Austria. Please consider yourself safe here. We are here to help you and get you accustomed to some basic rules and principles for employment here.

Please be aware that the information we provide here are of general nature. We don’t take responsibility and liability for the information provided nor for the content of the links provided here.

If you are around the Capital of Vienna, here you can find basic information in Ukrainian language. Lots of the information provided on this page, like access to health services also apply to the rest of Austria.

Additional information about lots of services can be found here (Ukrainian)

The Ministry of the interior provides an information point for all residence-related information.

You can access it here.

Information about the residence permit in Ukrainian can be found here.

If you have a biometric passport, in principle, you do not need a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. If you do not have a biometric passport or are planning a longer stay or employment, a visa is usually required.

Your residence permit will give you access to the labour market, accommodation services, health services, and education.

The Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services provides care, counseling, and support to foreigners in need of assistance and protection in Austria.

If you do not have the financial means to organize accommodation, they provide shelters.

If you are in urgent need of support, please call their hotline: +43 1 2676 870 9460

If you show your Ukrainian ID, tickets for the Austrian Railways (ÖBB) and WESTBAHN are free. At this time it is possible to use public transport for free in the capital of Vienna as well. Please inform free transport services in your local area.

The Ministry of the interior provides an information point for all residence-related information.

You can access it here.

Information about the residence permit in Ukrainian can be found here.

If you have a biometric passport, in principle, you do not need a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within 180 days. If you do not have a biometric passport or are planning a longer stay or employment, a visa is usually required.

Your residence permit will give you access to the labor market, accommodation services, health services, and education.

The Federal Agency for Reception and Support Services provides care, counseling, and support to foreigners in need of assistance and protection in Austria.

If you do not have the financial means to organize accommodation, they provide shelters.

If you are in urgent need of support, please call their hotline: +43 1 2676 870 9460

The Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS), the Austrian Public Employment Service, will gladly support you in finding a job. They will advise and guide you regarding the labour market in Austria. They can also inform you about job opportunities, help you with German lessons and other qualifications that you might need.

Additional information from AMS for working here in Austria can be found here: Labour Market in Austria for Ukrainian Refugees.

It is absolutely necessary to get registered with the AMS. They will record data like your education, your professional experiences and skills as well as other personal facts. If possible, please come to one of their agencies with a person that could translate for you. It is necessary to bring your blue residence card („Ausweis für Vertriebene“). 

All of the AMS addresses may be found here. If you’re not able to go there directly, please contact your potential employer, or people you trust. They can help you.

After receipt of your blue residence care („Ausweis für Vertriebene“) it is possible to take up a job, but an employment permit must be issued by the AMS. If you already have a job lined up, then the future employer can make the application.

Please note: Registration and employment are not possible without the residence card mentioned above.

AMS created an email-address for first general information concerning the labour market in Austria. Your questions will be answered in Ukrainian or Russian: ukraine@ams.at

Download information in Ukrainian (pdf)

You can use this site as a starting point for job applications. For the most part, you will need to have sufficient English and/or German language skills to apply for a job.

Employers are aware that you will probably not have all your official documents (like school or university diplomas) at hand. If you can provide any job references or recommendations this will help as well.

Language courses are being offered everywhere.

Standard working contracts

The conventional contract of employment in a permanent employment relationship with all its rights (leave entitlement, protection against dismissal, social insurance, etc.) and obligations continues to be the most common form.

Part-time employees are subject to the same labour legislation rules as full-time employees and have (except cases of marginal employment) the same insurance protection (sickness, accident, unemployment and pension insurance).

The same applies to fixed-term employment contracts, although there are no periods of notice since the employment relationship ceases at the end of the contract.

You can access full information about labour regulations here.

Independent Contractors

Independent (freelance) contractors (e.g. language instructors) enjoy limited protection under labour legislation, but almost full social insurance. Since 1 January 2008, they have also been subject to unemployment insurance.

Minimally employed

Minimally employed workers (Geringfügig Beschäftigte) (monthly income not exceeding € 475,86) are covered by accident insurance. The employer must register this part-time employment with the health insurance provider. Voluntary health and pension insurance is available, to be paid for by the minimally employed worker. Under labour legislation (protection against dismissal, severance pay, etc.) minimally employed workers are treated equally as employees in employment for which the remuneration exceeds the marginal employment limit. Such contracts are getting increasingly popular in some sectors (e.g. trade).

New self employed workers

The category ‘new self-employed workers’ comprises all commercial activities for which a trade licence (Gewerbeschein) is not required (e.g. writers, consultants, translators, lecturers, psychotherapists). The new self-employed have to report their activity to the Social Insurance Institution for Trade and Industry. They are covered by sickness, pension and accident insurance.

Apprenticeship / Trainees

Apprentices (trainees) in all sectors must conclude their contracts of apprenticeship in writing for under-age apprentices, their legal representatives have to agree as well.Apprentices enjoy full insurance protection (sickness, accident, unemployment and pension insurance) and have special protection against dismissal.

Seasonal workers

Seasonal workers in the hotel and catering trade are subject to special collective treaty provisions regarding their working time; there is full social insurance protection.

Employees receive remuneration for the services specified in their contract of employment.

The amount of remuneration is governed by collective agreements and/or internal works agreements; it also depends on individual factors such as age, qualifications, working hours, assignment to duties (position), etc.

• Church St. Barbara
• Storinka
• Embassy of Ukraine in Austria