This summary mainly describes the situation of EU/EEA citizens (and Swiss citizens), since they may work freely in Austria. If you are a citizen of a non-EU (third) country, most of the steps described here (such as the Anmeldebescheinigung or the Basiskonto) are based on EU rights and therefore do not apply to you, or not in the same way — you will typically need to arrange a valid residence and work permit already BEFORE you travel (for example at the Austrian embassy/consulate in Hungary, or, if you are already lawfully staying in an EU member state, at the local immigration authority). The exact procedure, fees and duration depend heavily on your citizenship and the position. Registration (Anmeldung), social insurance and taxation generally apply to you as well, but please check the exact, current requirements directly with the relevant Austrian authority (for example MA35/Bezirkshauptmannschaft, or the local Austrian diplomatic mission) — we are not able to provide legal advice on this.

Before you leave, make sure that your STAFFOREX profile is in a good state of approval and that you have agreed on all details with your employer (job title, start date, salary, accommodation). Keep the approval confirmation email and a copy of your employment contract or Dienstzettel with you – you may need these in the first few days.

Before leaving, collect and bring with you these items: • Valid ID card or passport • European Health Insurance Card (EU card) – see below • Moral certificate (if requested by the employer – it is not always mandatory in the catering industry, but it is worth getting it in advance) • Documents proving your qualifications, certificates (if any, and are required for the position) • A copy of your resume and your employment contract or offer • Some identification photos • Contact details and address of your accommodation and employer Important: it is advisable to take a photo or scan a copy of every document with you on the phone as well, in case the original gets lost.

Get your European Health Insurance Card (EU card) at home, through NEAK or your customer account – it temporarily covers medically necessary care in Austria until your Austrian health insurance (at ÖGK) starts. Since it may take a few days between the employer’s notification and the arrival of the Austrian e-card, it’s a good idea to keep your EU card with you for this temporary period – for more information, check with NEAK or directly with ÖGK.

Record in writing (by email or chat): the exact start date, whether there is guaranteed accommodation and how much it costs, who will pay or organize the trip, and who you can contact if anything goes wrong on the day of arrival. These arrangements can be very helpful later, in case of a dispute.

In Austria, it is a legal requirement to register your new place of residence within 3 days (Anmeldung) at the local Meldeamt/Gemeindeamt or in Vienna at the district magistrate’s office (Magistratisches Bezirksamt). This requires the completed registration form (in many accommodations, the landlord prepares it or helps you fill it out) and your identity document. Failure to meet the deadline may result in a fine. It is important to note that in the Meldezettel you must also indicate whether the address is your Hauptwohnsitz (main residence) or only a Nebenwohnsitz (secondary residence) – this is not the same as the registration itself (both must be reported within 3 days; the deadline does not differ). Hauptwohnsitz is where the „center of your life” is (your workplace, your daily routine) – this applies primarily to those who move out for longer periods of time to work and the center of their life remains in Austria. In the case of year-round work/seasonal work, when you only leave for a few months and your life center (e.g. your family, your permanent residence) remains in Austria, you typically do not need to report this, but you must report Nebenwohnsitz, as Austria considers this temporary secondary residence. The Hauptwohnsitz is linked to, among other things, the right to vote, the competent Finanzamt, and the right to certain social benefits; the Nebenwohnsitz does not provide these, and in some municipalities a separate so-called Zweitwohnsitzabgabe (secondary residence allowance) may also be levied afterwards. Since this may vary from case to case, if you are unsure, please ask at the registration directly at the Meldeamt/Gemeindeamt which is the correct choice in your specific situation (the length of your employment, where your life center will be).

As an EU citizen, if you stay in Austria for more than 3 months, you must also obtain a so-called Anmeldebescheinigung (residence certificate) (this is not the same as the above address registration). This registration must be submitted within 4 months of your arrival to the competent authority (MA35 in Vienna, in rural areas the Bezirkshauptmannschaft), and you must prove that you have a job/income. The procedure typically has a fee (approximately 44 euros – this can be confirmed with the authority, as it may vary), and a fine of approximately 50-250 euros can be imposed for failure to meet the deadline. Bring with you: passport/identity card, employment contract or employer’s certificate, and a copy of the Meldezettel.

In Austria, social security contributions are paid by the employer – you do not need to apply for anything for this reason, but the contribution must be paid BEFORE you start working (there is no waiting period; this is a legal requirement). Ask your employer whether the contribution has been paid. You will then receive the health insurance e-card by post (e-card), which also contains your social security number. It is important that you also have a Hungarian page: according to EU regulations, you can only be insured in one country at a time, so you must report the creation of your foreign work/insurance to the Hungarian health insurer within 15 days (on a form provided by the relevant government agency for health insurance) – without this, your Hungarian health insurance payment obligations would still exist in principle. Upon reporting, your TAJ card will be suspended for the duration of the foreign work: during this time you will not be able to use it for Hungarian healthcare services, but you will not have to pay any contributions afterwards. For the interim period (until the Austrian e-card arrives), you can use your EU card (see above), and for healthcare services in certain countries you can also obtain a so-called S1 form. You should always confirm the exact, current requirements at NEAK or the relevant government agency.

ID Austria (the successor to the former Handy-Signatur) is your digital Austrian identity card that you can use online to complete official procedures (e.g., tax return, FinanzOnline). Registration takes place in person at a notary office, district authority, or some post offices – it’s not mandatory to complete it immediately at the start, but it will greatly facilitate official procedures in the long run.

As an EU citizen, you are entitled to a basic bank account in Austria, even if you do not yet have a permanent address or a bad credit history – this is guaranteed by EU regulations. Typically, your identity document is sufficient for this purpose. Your employer will transfer your payment to this account, so it is worth arranging this as early as the first few days.

The Steuernummert (tax number) is typically automatically generated by the tax authority as soon as your employer registers you – you do not always have to apply separately, but it is worth asking your employer or the Finanzamt where you live how this works in your case. You will primarily need the tax number and your FinanzOnline account (which also requires ID Austria) at the end of the year if you want to submit a tax return (Arbeitnehmerveranlagung) – this often allows you to reclaim taxes as well.

As soon as your employer has registered with ÖGK (the social security agency), you are entitled to Austrian health care. The e-card will be sent to your registered address by post, so it is important that the registration/anmeldung takes place as soon as possible. Until the e-card arrives, find out from ÖGK or NEAK how you can register with a doctor (e.g. with your EU card, see above).

After every Austrian employment relationship, your employer pays approximately 1%.53% of your salary into a so-called Vorsorgekasse (the „Abfertigung Neu" system) – this is your money, regardless of whether you quit or were dismissed. You can withdraw the paid amount under certain conditions: one option is to have a total of at least 36 months of payments from employment relationships that have been paid; another option is to have not paid contributions for at least 3 years (36 months) (inactivity), or when you retire. The exact rules and the method of payment may differ from Vorsorgekasse to Vorsorgekasse, so it is worth asking directly at your own Vorsorgekasse or at the AK when and how you can access it.

If you have children and work in Austria, you are entitled to Austrian family benefits (Familienbeihilfe) under EU coordination rules (Regulation 883/2004), even if your child lives in Hungary. If you also receive family benefits at home, you will usually receive the difference between the support from the two countries in the form of a „special payment" (Differenzzahlung), since the Austrian family benefit is typically higher. To apply, you must submit a form for this to the Austrian Finanzamt (e.g. Beih 38); please check the exact current amounts and conditions on the official Austrian website for family benefits, as these change from time to time.

If you lose your job in Austria, you can apply for unemployment benefits (Arbeitslosengeld) as an unemployed person and receive unemployment benefits (AMS) – however, you must also meet a so-called waiting period (Anwartschaft): in principle, you must have worked for at least 24 months (approx. 1 year) in a secure employment relationship in the last 25 years (under 25 years, 26 weeks are sufficient in the last 12 months). If you have previously worked and paid social security contributions in Hungary (or in another EU member state), this period can be counted towards the Austrian waiting period under EU coordination rules, provided that your most recent employment relationship was in Austria – you will need a Portable Document U1 form (U1 Portable Document) that you can request from the Hungarian employment authority (NFSZ). Registration on the MeinAMS portal can be done online, by phone, or in person at the AMS office nearest your place of residence – for the exact terms and conditions and the necessary forms, please contact AMS directly.

Ask exactly when and how (by bank transfer) your first payment will arrive, and request a payment slip (Lohnzettel) every month – this proves that you are registered and that you have earned an income.

If the employer provides accommodation, ask in writing what is included in the rent or the deduction (rent, bedding, etc.), and what the termination conditions are if you might move out.

„Guten Tag” (good day), „Danke” (thank you), „Entschuldigung” (sorry), „Ich brauche Hilfe” (I need help), „Wo ist...?” (where is...?), „Rechnung, bitte” (the bill please) – these can be very helpful in everyday situations as you start to get the hang of the language.

Many Hungarian channels (e.g. news programs) are available via online streaming services or international IPTV packages – it is worth checking which provider offers this in Austria as well.

If you do not receive a written employment contract, your employer is required to provide you with a Dienstzettelt (a written document summarizing the most important terms) no later than the first workday. Before signing/accepting, please review it carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear, regarding these points: • Specific work tasks and responsibilities • Start date of employment, duration of probation • Amount of rent, frequency of payment and method of payment • Weekly working hours, work schedule (shifts) • Number of holidays and leave • Termination period and conditions • Details of accommodation and meals, if these are part of the rent Since March 2024, under a EU directive (Transparent Working Conditions), employers must in any case provide these data in writing; failure to do so will result in a fine (approx. 100-2000 euros). If you don’t understand something or didn’t receive it in writing, feel free to ask about it and keep your own copy.

In the hospitality industry (Hotel- und Gastgewerbe), the mandatory collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag) determines the minimum wages by classification – the wage cannot be lower than this, even if it might be mentioned as lower in your contract. The collective agreement is renegotiated every year (usually in the autumn), so you should always check the exact, current amounts on the website of the trade union (vida) or the Wirtschaftskammer, or ask at the AK. If your wage is below the minimum under the collective agreement, this is a violation of the law, and you can ask for help.

According to the Probezeit law, the trial period (Probezeit) can be no longer than 1 month (for apprentices/volunteers no longer than 3 months). During this period, either party may terminate the employment relationship with immediate effect without justification. Important: work performed during the trial period also entitles to pay – the free „trial day” or „training day” without payment is illegal.

The legal standard working hours are 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, but collective agreements may differ from this. The absolute upper limit can be 12 hours per day, 60 hours per week, and the weekly working time cannot exceed 48 hours in an average of 17 weeks. For overtime hours beyond the normal working hours, a minimum wage supplement of 50%% is paid (or time off for leisure, if you have agreed on this) – this must always be checked in writing or at least on the pay slip (Lohnzettel). If you regularly work more than the agreed-upon hours without this showing up in your pay or on your paperwork, it could be a sign of a problem.

Some signs that you should definitely pay attention to because they may indicate abuse: • You don’t register with ÖGK / you don’t have social security, they „blackmail” you – this also poses a serious legal and health risk for you. • You do not receive a payment slip (Lohnzettel) or written confirmation of your salary. • They pay in cash, without official paper or a check. • Excessive, unjustified deductions are applied for accommodation, uniforms or other items – always check the exact extent and justification of these with the AK or the VID. • They expect you to take unpaid „trial days” or „training” • They will take your passport or ID card and keep it. If you experience any of the signs, do not listen – turn to the STAFFOREX team with confidence, or directly to AK/vid.

If you have any labor law questions or problems, you can turn to two important, free-of-charge organizations in Austria: • Arbeiterkammer (AK): the legal representative of employees, most of whom are automatically members (through a fee deducted from their salary). It provides legal advice on labor matters (payroll calculation, termination of employment, working hours, etc.) – it is worth confirming directly with them that what counts as free in your case is exactly what you are entitled to. • Trade union (e.g., in the field of hospitality/tourism): provides information, support, and representation for its members in labor disputes. If you get stuck or are unsure whether you are being treated fairly, do not hesitate to contact these organizations or the STAFFOREX team – we are happy to help you get oriented.