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- How to find a job
- Working in Austria
FAQs - "I would like to work during my studies”
06. February 2023Are you a student from an EU member state or a third country (i.e., not an EU member state, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland) and studying at a university in Austria? Would you like to receive more information about working in Austria during your studies and/or after graduation? Do you find it difficult to find reliable information about what you need to do to stay and work in Austria? Then just click through the questions and see if you can find the answer here in our FAQs.
- 01
What do I have to consider if I am an international student from an EU/EEA country?
EU/EEA nationals have unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market and can also work alongside their studies without a work permit. However, studies are the top priority and you should have at least 16 ECTS credits per year to prove your success. EU/EEA nationals must note that they must obtain residence registration confirmation (“Meldebestätigung”) from the municipal department (“Magistrat”) or the district administrative authority (“Bezirkshauptmannschaft”) within six months after their arrival in Austria in order to study or work in Austria.
- 02
Which residence permits are available for students from a third country?
There is a special residence permit for third-country nationals, the so-called Residence Permit – Student. However, if your personal situation differs from that of other students, e.g., if you are married to an EU/EEA/Swiss national living in Austria or if you have already been living in Austria for several years and therefore already hold another residence permit, you do not necessarily have to apply for the Residence Permit – Student.. It all depends on your individual situation!
- 03
As a third-country national, how often can I extend the Residence Permit – Student
If you meet the requirements for the Residence Permit – Student, you can extend it as long as you study in Austria and even for one year after graduation. However, please note that the requirements encompass many different factors, e.g., at least 16 ECTS credits per year, sufficient financial means, housing, health insurance, etc.
- 04
I hold an Austrian Residence Permit - Student. Can I work more than 20 hours?
Yes, you can. But it depends on your situation!
If you have to complete a compulsory internship as part of your degree programme, your employer must notify the AMS of the internship at least 3 weeks before you start work. The employer should send the notification and the documents from your university/university of applied sciences stating that a compulsory internship is required. The AMS will issue a so-called ‘notification confirmation’, on the basis of which you can complete your internship.
If you are looking for a job alongside your studies, you can apply for any full-time or part-time job. Please note, however, that your student residence permit is linked to your successful completion of your studies and the acquisition of at least 16 ECTS credits per year. If the job involves 20 hours/week or less, your employer must apply for an employment permit for you, which the AMS usually issues after approx. 4-6 weeks. If you are employed for more than 20 hours/week, your employer must also apply for an employment permit for you, but unlike for jobs of up to 20 hours/week, the AMS can carry out a labour market check to see whether an equally qualified person registered as a jobseeker can be placed instead of you. Please note that this can take several weeks and may lead to a negative decision on the employment permit.
- 05
As a third-country national with a Residence Permit – Student, can I be marginally employed while studying and what must I do for this?
As with any other type of employment, your employer must apply for and receive an employment permit (“Beschäftigungsbewilligung”) for you before you can start working. This also applies to marginal employment!
- 06
As a third-country national, when do I have to contact the authorities about the extension of my Residence Permit – Student?
For all residence permits in Austria, the same rules apply to the extension of the Residence Permit – Student. You must submit your application for extension during the three-month period BEFORE your current residence permit expires. The competent authority is the Immigration Authority whose jurisdiction depends on your place of residence in Austria.
Are you about to complete your studies or have you already completed your studies but have not yet found a job? Does your Residence Permit – Student expire during the next three months? No need to worry! You have the possibility to extend your residence permit for another year in order to find a job in Austria.
Have you completed your studies and found a job? Or does your current employer want to hire you full-time after you graduate? In these cases, you and your employer can apply for the so-called Red-White-Red Card for Graduates. Just send us an e-mail! We can help you and your employer to hire you, e.g., by telling you what documents are required, what the timetable looks like, etc.: immigration@aba.gv.at.
- 07
As a third-country national, am I allowed to start looking for a job even if I know that my Residence Permit – Student will expire in a few months and/or I will soon finish my studies?
If you have finished your studies and have not yet found a job, you can extend your Residence Permit – Student for another year to find a job. During this year, you can work on the basis of your residence permit, similar to what you did during your studies, and you can apply for a full-time job. When you have found a job and the company wants to hire you, you can contact us. We will help you and the company to get a Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates for you: immigration@aba.gv.at.
- 08
As a third-country national, is it possible to do an Erasmus+ internship or a semester abroad with the Residence Permit – Student?
This depends on your university in Austria as well as on the country in which you would like to complete the Erasmus+ internship. Please clarify all relevant details with the international office of your Austrian university and the company where you would like to work. For more information, please visit the website of the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD).
- 09
As a third-country national, what do I have to consider if I complete a mandatory internship of up to six months as part of my studies while I have the Residence Permit – Student?
Your employer must report this internship to the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) The AMS will issue a confirmation of notification (“Anzeigebestätigung") within two weeks.
- 10
As a third-country national, what kind of visa or work permit do I need if I have received an offer to do a part-time/full-time internship/traineeship in Austria for up to one year and I am a regularly enrolled student in Austria?
Your employer can apply for a work permit for you: if you want to complete a part-time internship/traineeship (up to 20 hours per week) and have a Residence Permit – Student, the AMS is not allowed to conduct a labour market test (“Ersatzkraftverfahren”) to determine if other skilled workers are already registered for this position. However, if you want to do a full-time internship/traineeship, the AMS may conduct such a labour market test and your employer will only receive a work permit for you.
If the internship/traineeship is part of your studies and your university issues a confirmation that the internship/traineeship is study-related and necessary to finish your studies, the employer may receive a "confirmation of notification" that entitles you to employment.
If you have already completed your studies and have an offer for a one-year full-time internship/traineeship, it may be possible to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates.
Please contact ABA Immigration and Residence Services for more information on which option is best for you and your employer.
If you have any questions,
please do not hesitate to contact us!
Because we act on behalf of the state, our services are free of charge for companies, professionals and their families.
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