In order to work in a specific profession in Austria, appropriate proof of education, training or qualification is required. For a smooth application and residence procedure, it is important to check at an early stage whether a qualification obtained abroad is recognised in Austria.
In some professions, official recognition of foreign education or training may be required. This process is often referred to as nostrification and applies in particular to regulated professions, for example in the fields of healthcare, education, engineering or nursing.
It is therefore advisable to check before applying whether recognition or nostrification is required for the respective profession. This helps avoid delays in the procedure and allows professional opportunities in Austria to be assessed more accurately.
For many shortage occupations in Austria, completed vocational training must be proven. This should be comparable to a multi-year Austrian apprenticeship. Depending on the profession, higher education, a school-leaving qualification granting university entrance, or a completed university degree may also be required.
However, formal recognition or equivalence of the qualification is not necessary in all cases. It is mainly required for so-called regulated professions. These include, among others, healthcare professions, teaching professions at public schools and pedagogical activities in the kindergarten sector.
For most professions, no formal recognition and no equivalence with an Austrian apprenticeship final examination is required. When applying for the Red-White-Red Card, the qualification is assessed as part of the application review on the basis of the submitted educational and professional documents.
Note: Special regulations may apply to certain professions, for example in public transport, as profession-specific qualifications or examinations may sometimes have to be obtained or completed directly in Austria.
Internationally recognised language certificates based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) may also be submitted as proof of language skills, for example for French, Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian.
For further information or individual consultation, please feel free to contact us.
