New working opportunities for international students in Austria
August 18, 2011
The new labour market regulations that went into effect on July 1st, 2011 offer great opportunities for international students and graduates of Austrian universities. This is particularily good news for MODUL University Vienna, as over half our diverse student body originates from outside of Austria.
The residence permits for students at schools and universities in Austria do not exclude employment, provided it does not impair education as the main purpose for residence.
STUDENTS
Students from the EU-8 member states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary) enjoy free movement of labour since the 1st of May 2011 and may take up any employment in Austria without a permit.
Students from third countries (non-EU countries) and Romania and Bulgaria are subject to the Act on the Employment of foreigners (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz, AuslBG) and need an employment permit if they want to take up an occupation (including marginal employment). The employment permit must be applied for by the intended employer with the Labour Market Service (AMS).
Employment permits for an employment of
- up to ten hours per week for Bachelor students, respectively
- up to 20 hours per week after successfully completing their Bachelor’s degree when continuing their studies
can be granted without labour market test.
An employment of more than 10, respectively 20 hours per week is not excluded, but can only be permitted if no equally qualified unemployed person registered with the Austrian Federal Employment Service (AMS) can be recruited by the potential employer (mandatory labour market test).
After graduation, it is possible to switch to a RWR Card (Rot Weiss Rot Card). After the expiry of their residence permit, graduates may reside for a further six months in Austria for the purpose of searching for employment, provided they hold a confirmation by the competent residence authority (MA 35).
Students from Romania and Bulgaria are entitled to unlimited labour market access after a period of 12 months of continued lawful employment with a work permit, which is to be confirmed by the Labour Market Service (AMS).
It is also to be noted, that students from third countries are allowed to do a paid internship (if it constitutes an integral part of their studies) in Austria. The employer has to inform AMS at least 2 weeks prior to the beginning of the internship. This has been confirmed to MODUL Career by the legal department of the Labour Market Service (AMS).
UNIVERSITY GRADUATES
Graduates from the EU-8 member states enjoy free movement of labour since the 1ST of May 2011 and may take up any employment in Austria without needing a permit.
Graduates from Romania and Bulgaria enjoy freedom of settlement, but are not entitled to unlimited labour market access. They can apply for an employment permit without labour market test instead of a RWR Card, if they fulfill the admission criteria for a RWR Card. After one year of continued lawful employment with a work permit, they are entitled to unlimited labour market access, which is to be confirmed by the Labour Market Service (AMS).
Third country graduates who have successfully completed their Master’s degree studies at a university, college of higher education or accredited private university in Austria may after the expiry of their residence permit reside for a further six months in Austria for the purpose of searching for employment, if they hold a confirmation by the competent residence authority (MA 35). This confirmation must be applied for before the expiry of the residence permit.
They can apply for a RWR Card without labour market test, if they find an employment matching their qualification based on a valid work contract and if they prove a salary equivalent to the locally customary salary of national graduates (junior employees), at least 45% of the maximum assessment base under the Austrian General Social Security Act (2011: 1.890 € minimum monthly gross salary, plus special payments). The RWR Card entitles them to be employed with this employer only.
There is no criteria examination according to the point system.
Graduates holding a RWR Card may after a period of 12 months apply for a RWR Card plus which entitles them to unlimited labour market access, if they have been continually employed according to their qualification during the previous 10 months (at least).
The regulation does not apply for graduates who have only completed a Bachelor’s degree in Austria.
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