Living and Working in Austria - Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich

AustriA
General
Land area: 83,858 km 2
Population: 8,404,252
Population in gainful employment:
Agriculture: 5%
Industry: 23%
Services Sector: 72%
Languages: German
Slovenian
Croatian
Hungarian
Living and Working
in Austria
reSidential regiStration & reSidence
residential registration: you have to register with the
responsible residence registration authorities within 3 days
(district municipal administrative authorities (Magistrat) or
municipality office (Gemeideamt)).
residence:
• Up to three months: Swiss citizens or EU/EEA citizens
require neither a visa to enter the country nor a residence
permit.
• Over three months: You are to submit an application
for a residence permit at the district municipal office
(Magistrat) (in cities) respectively at the regional district
administration office (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) (in
municipalities) competent for your place of residence.
Additional information is available at:
http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/
118/Seite.1180000.html (registration and de-registration)
http://www.help.gv.at/Content.Node/12/Seite.120810.html
(registration certificate)
Seeking emPloyment
European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA)
citizens and Swiss citizens as well as their family members
(EU/EEA citizens or Swiss citizens) have in principle free
access to the labour market; they can be assisted by the
Austrian Employment Service (AMS) offices.
The transitional provisions are deemed generally
applicable to citizens of Romania and Bulgaria. For more
details visit the EURES website at http://eures.europa.eu,
section “Freedom of movement in Austria (Freizügigkeit
Österreich)” and the Public Employment Service Austria
(AMS) website.
Information on job vacancies as well as living and
working in Austria can be found on the EURES website at
http://eures.europa.eu; if you require personal assistance
please contact EURES advisers at your place of residence
at http://eures.europa.eu and in Austria at
http://www.ams.at/sfa/14252.html.
Vacant positions at the Austrian Employment Service
(AMS): http://www.ams.at
Other AMS services include amongst others: assistance
in drafting an application (interactive Application
Portal (Bewerbungsportal)), eJob Room (your own
advertisements, searching for vacant positions on the
Internet, etc.), career details, offers for entrepreneurs,
information on aliens’ employment, unemployment, etc.
Private employment agencies can be found under Internet
Addresses.
Job vacancies published in daily newspapers:
• Der Kurier • Salzburger Nachrichten
• Die Presse • Oberösterreichische Nachrichten
• Der Standard • Wiener Zeitung
• Kronenzeitung • Neue Kärntner Tageszeitung
• Kleine Zeitung • Tiroler Tageszeitung
Saturday and weekend issues are of particular interest.
Professional associations advise on working
conditions and labour law:
• trade unions (for instance, the Austrian Trade Union
Federation (ÖGB))
• chambers of labour (Arbeiterkammern/AK)
• chambers of commerce and Austrian economic
chambers
Social Security
When living and working in Austria you are entitled to
social security benefits. Social security is mandatory, i.e.
as a rule, nearly all occupational groups are obliged to pay
social security contributions and are thus entitled to social
security benefits.
Social security contributions are paid by both employers
and employees. Employees’ contributions are deducted at
source from gross wages/salaries.
There are various social security institutions; the competent
insurance institution is determined by both the place of
residence and occupation. Every person is assigned a
social security number and a social security card (e-card)
upon registration with the responsible social security
institution. Your electronic health insurance card will be
sent to you by the respective health insurance institution.
Health insurance: when insured you are entitled to costfree
treatment in state hospitals. A daily rate is charged
during hospital stays. Free treatment is also provided by
general practitioners, specialists and dentists who have a
valid contract with the health insurance institution as well
as by out-patients clinics. Certain dental services (such as
implants) are charged separately. Your e-card (electronic
health insurance card) must be presented when consulting
your doctor.
When entering Austria as a job-seeker or tourist, please be
sure to bring your European health insurance card.
unemployment insurance: after a certain insurance
period in Austria (insurance period details available from
the Austrian Employment Service) you are entitled to
unemployment benefits.

Register with the responsible Austrian Employment Market
office at the latest on the first day of unemployment.
If you arrive in Austria with a PD U2/E 303 form, it may
be possible to carry over your unemployment benefits
for a maximum of three months. Please contact the
unemployment service in your home country in good time
before departure.
Pension insurance: Pursuant to Austrian law you are
entitled to pension benefits if you have been self-employed
or employed for over one year and paid pension insurance
contributions. Insurance periods below one year will be
added to the pension insurance periods obtained in your
home country.
taxeS
The tax year corresponds to the calendar year.
employed persons: the income tax is deducted at source
from the gross wages/salaries and transferred to the
responsible fiscal office.
Self-employed persons: are obliged to make tax
prepayments themselves in advance in the course of the
taxable year based on the income realised in the preceding
year.
taxation rate: Taxes between 0% and 50% are levied on
income from employment and self-employment. Numerous
tax allowances are applicable.
Additional information on taxes and duties is available
from the responsible fiscal office and the Austrian Federal
Ministry of Finance (Bundesministerium für Finanzen) at
https://www.bmf.gv.at/.
HouSing
In towns and built-up areas there are large numbers of
rented, housing association and freehold flats; detached
and semi-detached houses predominate in rural areas.
Assistance in finding accommodation is available from
• local/regional newspapers (evening editions)
• real estate agents
• various Internet forums, e.g. Immobilienbazar
• at banking institutions, at the municipal offices
(Gemeindeamt)
Rental contracts are concluded either for a limited period
(e.g. three years), longer periods or unlimited term. Notice
periods are dependent on the respective rental contract
and valid tenancy law.
Tenants associations or the chamber of labour in your
province are available for assistance in case of problems.
Rental contracts are to be concluded in writing.
education
kindergartens: generally fee-paying in most provinces.
compulsory schools: public schooling is free. You have
to pay a contribution for schoolbooks. Pupils needing to
use public transport to school receive reduced rate passes.
compulsory education: between 6 and 15
recognition of diPlomaS
Diploma recognition must be applied for with the competent
Austrian authorities. When required these authorities will
perform examinations in individual cases.
Additional information is available at:
ENIC (European Network of Information Centres):
http://www.enic-naric.net/
http://www.anabin.de/
For more information, please consult the institution you
graduated from (university, college, etc.) and the competent
federal ministry.
internet addreSSeS
EURES website: http://eures.europa.eu
European Employment Service (EURES) Advisers
in Austria: http://www.ams.at/sfa/14252.html
European Employment Service (EURES) Advisers
in Europe: http://eures.europa.eu
Arbeitsmarktservice Österreich
(Austrian Employment Service): http://www.ams.at
Bewerbungscoach (Application Coach):
http://www.ams.at/bewerbungsportal/
Berufskompass (“Careers Compass”):
http://www.berufskompass.at/berufskp3/
Berufsinformationssystem (“Career Information System”):
http://www.ams.at/bis
Berufslexikon (“Careers Lexicon”):
http://www.ams.at/berufslexikon
Austria: http://www.austria.gv.at
Info Server: http://www.help.gv.at
Overview of Living & Working in Austria:
http://www.ams.at/sfa/14253_2779.html
Statistik Österreich (Statistics Austria):
http://www.statistik.at/
Overview of private employment agencies:
http://www.ams.at/sfa/14800.html
Private employment agencies: http://www.monster.at
http://www.jobpilot.at
http://jobs.stepstone.at/
Press: http://www.kurier.at/
http://diepresse.com
http://derstandard.at/Karriere
http://www.kleinezeitung.at
http://www.tt.com/tt/Nachrichten/index.csp
http://www.nachrichten.at
http://www.salzburg.com/
http://www.wienerzeitung.at
http://www.krone.at/
http://www.ktz.at/wm_frameset.php
Arbeiterkammer Österreich (Austrian Chamber of Labour):
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at
Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund (Austrian Trade
Union Federation, ÖGB): http://www.oegb.at
Bundeswirtschaftskammer (Federal Chamber
of Commerce): http://portal.wko.at/
Sozialversicherung (Social Security):
http://www.sozialversicherung.at
Arbeitslosigkeit (Unemployment): http://www.ams.at
Pensionsversicherung (Pension Insurance):
http://www.pensionsversicherung.at
Steuern (Taxes):
https://www.bmf.gv.at/, http://www.help.gv.at
https://www.bmf.gv.at/Publikationen/Downloads/
BroschrenundRatgeber/_start.htm (in German)
Wohnen (Housing): http://www.immobilien.at
http://www.bazar.at/?ren=i_bz
Österreichischer Verband der Immobilientreuhänder
(Austrian Association of Real Estate Trustees):
http://www.ovi.at/de/verband/index.php
Landlord and Tenant Law related issues:
http://www.arbeiterkammer.at/beratung.htm
https://www.mietervereinigung.at/default.aspx
Schools: http://www.help.gv.at
http://www.bmukk.gv.at/
Educational systems in Europe: http://eacea.ec.europa.
eu/education/eurydice/index_en.php
Further education: http://www.wifi.at
http://www.bfi.at
http://www.vhs.or.at/
Recognition of diplomas: http://www.enic-naric.net/
http://www.anabin.de
Yellow Pages/Commerce Directory: http://www.herold.at/
This publication has been co-financed with European Commission
subsidies.
Layout & Print, editorial office; AMS Austria, Treustraße 35–43,
1220 Vienna; valid as of May 2011