Refugees' Work Rights In Austria: What You Need To Know

Refugees in Austria have access to work, education, social welfare, and medical care. However, their ability to work depends on several factors, including their legal status, the type of work, and competition from Austrian citizens and other EU citizens.

Austria has experienced a large influx of refugees since 2014, particularly from Syria and Afghanistan. The process of integration is challenging, and gainful employment plays a crucial role in promoting social contacts, language acquisition, and financial independence. While refugees have the right to work, their access to the labour market is restricted by various regulations and practical challenges.

In this context, the question of whether refugees can work in Austria is complex and multifaceted, involving legal, social, and economic considerations.

Refugees' right to work in Austria

Austria is home to around 146,000 refugees and subsidiary protection holders and over 18,000 asylum seekers. The country grants refugee status to those who have had to leave their homes due to a justified fear of persecution for ethnic, religious, or political reasons, or due to their nationality or membership of a certain social group.

Asylum seekers in Austria have very limited work rights. They need a work permit for paid employment, which is usually only granted for seasonal work in agriculture and tourism, and only when the role cannot be filled by an Austrian citizen, an EU citizen, or a third-country national with access to the labour market. Asylum seekers must wait three months after submitting their application before they can apply for a work permit, and they cannot work at all during these initial three months.

Asylum seekers can also carry out non-profit work and receive a small remuneration for their contributions. This includes administrative and office assistance, translation services, support for parks and sports facilities, and assistance in schools and nurseries.

If asylum is granted, refugees in Austria have the right to work, education, social welfare, and medical care. They will receive a residence permit that is initially valid for three years and will be automatically renewed unless the asylum authorities state otherwise. Refugees can apply for a long-term residency permit after five years or Austrian citizenship after ten years (or six years if exceptionally well-integrated).

Gaining employment in Austria as an asylum seeker

As an asylum seeker in Austria, you may only do very limited work, and during the first three months, you may not work at all. You will need a work permit for gainful employment, which is usually only granted for seasonal work in agriculture and tourism and only when no other Austrian or non-Austrian with a work permit is available for the job in question.

Applying for a work permit

An employer can obtain an employment permit for an asylum seeker three months after the asylum application is admitted to the regular procedure, provided that no final decision in the asylum procedure has been made before that date. Applications for an employment permit must be submitted by the employer to the regional Labour Market Service (AMS) office in the area of the district where the envisaged place of employment is located. Decisions are taken by the competent regional AMS office.

Labour Market Test

Access to the labour market is restricted by a labour market test (Ersatzkraftverfahren), which requires proof that the respective vacancy cannot be filled by an Austrian citizen, a citizen of the EU, or a legally residing third-country national with access to the labour market.

Non-profit work, voluntary work, and internships

Asylum seekers can carry out non-profit activities and receive an acknowledgment of their contributions. These non-profit jobs include administrative and/or office assistance, translation services, support for parks and sports facilities, playgrounds, elderly care, assistance in nursery schools, school attendance services, assistance in animal shelters, or support for minor resettlements in the municipality. Asylum seekers are also allowed to complete practical experience and internships within the framework of their training in vocational schools or secondary schools.

Vocational training

Since 2018, asylum seekers admitted to the regular procedure for three months or more can also be employed through service vouchers in private households (e.g. for gardening, cleaning, or childcare). However, in practice, the necessary registration is complicated, and this possibility is not very well known nor used. The Ministry of Social Affairs decided in 2018 that asylum seekers no longer have access to vocational training.

Refugees' access to vocational training

In Austria, recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection have the right to work, education, and social welfare. However, their access to vocational training has been limited in recent years.

Employment Rights for Refugees in Austria

Refugees in Austria have the right to work and access to the labour market. The Aliens Employment Act (AuslBG) states that an asylum seeker can obtain an employment permit three months after their asylum application is admitted to the regular procedure, provided no final decision has been made. However, this access is restricted by a labour market test, which requires proof that the position cannot be filled by an Austrian citizen, an EU citizen, or a legally residing third-country national.

Vocational Training for Refugees

While refugees have the right to education in Austria, their access to vocational training has been restricted. Since 2018, asylum seekers have no longer had access to vocational training provided or financed by the Public Employment Service. This is because asylum seekers are not registered at the Public Employment Service as unemployed persons, which means they must take the initiative to seek job opportunities.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the labour market integration of refugees in Austria, particularly women and those with higher levels of education. During the pandemic, female refugees were more likely to become inactive in the labour market and less likely to move into employment. Refugees with high levels of education experienced a loss of occupational status and were less likely to move into atypical employment.

Integration of Young Refugees

The integration of young refugees (aged 15-24) into the labour market is closely linked to their educational careers. Obtaining or catching up on Austrian school-leaving and training qualifications offers better conditions for entering the labour market. Young refugees' ability to acquire German language skills through daily contact with native speakers also facilitates their integration. However, dropping out of school or training is a common problem, with financial reasons and the pressure to find paid work cited as contributing factors.

Factors Affecting Labour Market Integration

The labour market integration of young refugees is influenced by various factors. The probability of employment increases with age and residence duration in Austria, and German language skills are positively associated with employment. On the other hand, the probability of employment is lower for women, refugees with children, and those living in Vienna, indicating structural problems in the Viennese labour market.

Refugees' employment rights

Refugees in Austria have the right to work, education, social welfare and medical care. However, there are several factors that affect their ability to find employment.

Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers may only do limited work and are not allowed to work at all during the first three months of their asylum application. They need a work permit for paid employment, which is usually only granted for seasonal work in agriculture, tourism or forestry. This is because they must pass a labour market test, which requires proof that the vacancy cannot be filled by an Austrian citizen, an EU citizen, or a legally resident third-country national.

Asylum seekers are not registered at the Public Employment Service as unemployed persons, so they are not entitled to vocational training provided or financed by the service. Their access to the labour market is largely dependent on their own initiative and pro-activity in job hunting.

Refugees

Refugees are more integrated into the labour market than asylum seekers, but their employment rights are still restricted. They must obtain a residence permit, which is valid for three years and will be renewed automatically if the asylum authorities do not notify them otherwise. After five years, they can apply for a long-term residency permit, and after ten years, they can apply for Austrian citizenship.

Barriers to Employment

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the labour market integration of refugees, particularly women and those with higher levels of education. Refugees with strong social networks of migrants from third countries were more vulnerable in the labour market, experiencing more frequent movements from employment to unemployment.

Young refugees (aged 15-24) face barriers to employment due to their simultaneous pursuit of education and training. Almost three out of ten young refugees drop out of school or training due to financial reasons and the pressure to find paid work.

Factors that Increase Probability of Employment

The probability of employment for refugees increases with age (within the age group of up to 24 years) and with every year of residence in Austria. Language skills are also positively associated with employment, as those who can speak German are more likely to find work.

Refugees' work permit requirements

Refugees Work Permit Requirements in Austria

Austria has a large number of refugees and subsidiary protection holders, with around 146,000 refugees and over 18,000 asylum seekers. The country grants refugee status, subsidiary protection status, and humanitarian rights to remain. Refugees are given a residence permit for three years, which is automatically renewed and becomes unlimited if not notified otherwise. They also have access to work, education, social welfare, and medical care.

During the asylum process, asylum seekers can only do limited work and are not allowed to work in the first three months. They need a work permit for paid employment, which is usually only granted for seasonal work in agriculture, tourism, and forestry. This is because they must pass a labour market test, which requires proof that the position cannot be filled by an Austrian citizen, an EU citizen, or a legally residing third-country national.

Asylum seekers can also do non-profit work, voluntary work, and internships. They can receive up to €110 per month for non-profit jobs, which include administrative tasks, translation services, support for parks and sports facilities, elderly care, assistance in schools and nurseries, and animal shelters. They are also allowed to do unpaid voluntary work for companies for up to three months in a one-year period.

Since April 2018, asylum seekers who have been in the regular procedure for at least three months can also be employed through service vouchers in private households for tasks like gardening, cleaning, or childcare. However, this option is not widely known or used due to complicated registration.

Labour Market Integration of Refugees

The integration of refugees into the labour market is a key aspect of their overall integration into Austrian society. Gainful employment promotes social contacts, language acquisition, and financial independence. The ability to quickly find employment was especially important for the large influx of refugees from 2014 to 2016, as they were the first significant group from outside Europe with different qualifications and backgrounds.

A study by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw) found that young people, women, and highly qualified refugees were strongly affected by the Corona crisis in the labour market. The crisis made it more difficult for highly educated refugees to find 'skill-adequate' employment. Social networks with other migrants played a central role in their labour market outcomes, with larger networks leading to both positive and negative effects.

Overall, refugees in Austria have access to work but face several restrictions and challenges in finding employment, especially regarding their qualifications and background.

Frequently asked questions