Working in Austria
Work Permits
Nationals of the EU, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are treated like
Austrians and therefore do not require work or residence permits, however
you must register your stay (Meldezettel) with the local authorities within
three days of your arrival.
If you are from a country outside the European Union, obtaining a work
permit for Austria can be problematic and slow. Work permits are issued on
an individual basis only and do not cover any other dependant family
members. All other family members must apply individually if they wish to
work.
Applications
Make sure to apply as soon as you know you are heading for Austria. The
application process can be time consuming and you may wait some time before
receiving a reply to your applications. There are many job search engines
and many newspapers have their "Career" sections online. An application pack
for an Austrian company is very different from the usual CV and Cover Letter
format found in English speaking countries. The following link provides a
helpful guide to job hunting in Austria!
German
A big plus in your search for a job will be your knowledge of German. Do not
assume that everyone here in Vienna speaks English, it just isn't true. You
will need to learn the language in order to facilitate your day to day life
and to find a job with the majority of companies. There are excellent online
resources for before you arrive and excellent language schools offering
intensive courses once you are here.
Finding a student job
Finding part time work is generally not difficult as the Austrian university
system is based on a flexible schedule. As a student you do not need a work
permit. However, the amount of money you are allowed to earn is strictly
limited. If you earn more you will be treated as working full time and are
subject to taxes and more expensive social security deductions. Ask your
employer: they will know.
Universities often help with organising appropriate internships (i.e.
magazine internships for media studies), esp. during the summer vacation.
Vacancies are promoted on newspaper websites, via student unions or directly
via the university.
Some language schools offer a combination of language course and internship!
Taxes and Social Insurance
Austria has a progressive tax system with 4 bands varying from 0%-50%.
Everyone in gainful employment in Austria will make compulsory contributions
to a social insurance fund which will cover medical treatment, pension
contributions etc. Top up insurance is available if you wish to receive more
preferential treatment (choosing a specific doctor, etc.). It may be
advisable for Expatriates to consider additional medical insurance in case
of the need for repatriation, etc
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