Weekly Tip 14# LocationAustria: Ensure timely planning when hiring foreign employees

© ABA - Invest in Austria

If you plan to hire foreign employees when expanding to Austria, inform yourself early enough about the specific pre-requisites for individual countries and consider the "Employment of Foreign Nationals Act".

The Employment of Foreign Nationals Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungs-gesetz/AuslBG) does not apply to employees from the European Union or EEA due to the fact that they enjoy freedom of movement and the right to work in Austria within the context of the fundamental European freedoms. However, there are still restrictions to Croatian nationals in line with the transitional provisions governing its EU membership. 

Employees from countries outside of the EU and EEA basically require a residence permit and work permit. A businessperson in Austria is allowed to employ these persons when a work permit or posting permit is granted for the employee, or in cases where an EU posting confirmation or confirmation authorizing employment is issued, or when the foreign national is in possession of a valid work permit or exemption certificate for this employment.

The responsible authority in Austria is the regional administrative office of the Public Employment Service Austria (Arbeitsmarktservice - AMS).

For more tips also check:

• Weekly Tip 13: Construction laws are subject to regional legislation
• Weekly Tip 12: Take Advantage of E-Government Services
• Weekly Tip 11: National characteristics
• Weekly Tip 10: Successfully Networking in Austria
• Weekly Tip 9: Labor laws - Notice period
• Weekly Tip 8: Labor laws - Severance pay
• Weekly Tip 7: Commercial law in Austria
• Wekly Tip 6: Registering your car in Austria
• Weekly Tip 5: Consultants must know both sides
• Weekly Tip 4: Statutory manager - a must in Austria
• Weekly Tip 3: Negotiating salaries
• Weekly Tip 2: Comprehensive market overview
• Weekly Tip 1: Focus on strategy first