You got the job – here's what comes next
The season is just around the corner and your bags are almost packed. Whether it's a mountain hut in Tyrol, a spa hotel in Salzburg or an après-ski bar in Vorarlberg, a season in Austria is the best time of the year for many people – great teams, mountains on your doorstep and, thanks to tips, often a healthy boost to your savings. Still deciding where to go? Our overview of the best places for hospitality jobs can help.
To make your start as smooth as possible, we've summarised the key points: entry and registration, your contract, pay and insurance – and what to know if you're bringing your own car.
1. Entry, residence and registration
EU, EEA and Switzerland: With citizenship from one of these countries you need neither a visa nor a separate work permit. A valid passport or ID card is enough.
Non-EU countries: If you come from elsewhere, you need a suitable visa or residence permit and an employment permit before you start – there are dedicated quotas for seasonal workers. For skilled workers, the Red-White-Red Card may also be the right route. The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) and the Chamber of Labour can give you binding information.
Register your address: Whether you live in staff accommodation, a shared flat or your own apartment, you must register with the local registration office within three days of moving in. You'll receive a registration certificate (Meldebestätigung), which banks and authorities often ask for. And don't forget to deregister at the end of the season.
2. Your employment contract
Never sign anything you haven't read carefully. Everything you agreed verbally – working hours, days off, accommodation, meals – belongs in the written contract. Ask for a copy and keep it somewhere safe.
Fixed-term contracts are standard for seasonal work. They end automatically on the agreed date without notice. Conversely, a fixed-term contract generally can't be terminated early – unless an early termination option was explicitly agreed in the contract. If there is a one-month probation period, either side may end the employment at any time during it, and a mutual agreement to end it is always possible.
3. Pay, tax and social insurance
In Austria, salaries are always agreed gross. In a year-round job you're paid 14 times a year – the 13th and 14th payments are holiday and Christmas bonuses. As a seasonal worker you receive both pro rata for the length of your employment, and the same applies to your paid leave.
Your employer deducts income tax and social security contributions directly from your gross pay. To see what you'll take home, use the Ministry of Finance's gross-to-net calculator. Also check early on whether board and lodging are free or whether part of it is deducted from your wages.
Your employer registers you with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK). In a full-time job this means you're covered for health, accident, pension and unemployment insurance – even on a fixed-term contract. Shortly afterwards your e-card arrives by post; you'll need it to see a doctor in Austria.
Good to know: Tips that guests give you voluntarily and directly are exempt from income tax in Austria.
4. Bringing your own car
If your main residence stays abroad, you can usually drive in Austria on your foreign plates for up to one year. If you move your main residence to Austria, you generally have to register the vehicle here within one month. When in doubt, ask the vehicle registration office or a motoring club.
Your season-start checklist
- Pack your passport or ID card (non-EU citizens: visa and permit)
- Register your address within three days
- Read and sign your contract before your first working day
- Keep a copy of the contract for your records
- Clarify board and lodging: free or partly deducted?
- Work out your net pay with the gross-to-net calculator
- Keep your e-card safe once it arrives
- Open an Austrian bank account if needed
- Check whether your car needs Austrian registration
- Deregister at the end of the season
Still looking for the right seasonal job? Browse current openings in hotels and restaurants – many with accommodation included.
Note: This article is a general overview and does not replace individual legal advice.
