Working in Austria from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

Reality check: Moving from Brazil to Austria for trade work

Austria is a wealthy, stable country in Central Europe with strong worker protections and high wages. However, moving there from Brazil as a manual or skilled trade worker requires navigating a strict legal system. Austria does not offer open work visas for general job seekers from outside the European Union. If you want to work legally in Austria, you must secure a job offer before you move, and your profession must usually fill a recognized local labor shortage.

For Brazilian nationals without European citizenship, getting a work permit in Austria is challenging compared to countries like Portugal or Poland, which have simpler migration routes or dedicated bilateral agreements. Austria strictly protects its domestic labor market. Every work permit application undergoes a review by the Austrian Labour Market Service, known locally as the Arbeitsmarktservice or AMS. If you do not have a trade listed on Austria's official shortage list or an employer willing to sponsor you through a seasonal quota, finding a legal path takes patience and preparation.

Visa and permit routes for Brazilian workers

To work legally in Austria, Brazilian citizens must obtain a combined residence and work permit. The specific route depends on your trade, experience, and job offer structure.

• Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiss-Rot - Karte) for Shortage Occupations: This is the primary route for skilled trade workers like welders, electricians, or specialized technicians. To qualify, your specific job must be listed on the annual national or regional shortage list (Mangelberufe). You must score points based on your qualifications, work experience, age, and language skills in German or English.
• Red-White-Red Card for Other Key Workers: If your trade is not on the official shortage list, an employer can still sponsor you through this route. However, the Austrian employer must prove to the AMS that no qualified worker from Austria or the EU could be found to fill the open position.
• Seasonal Worker Permit (Saisonarbeitskraft): This permit covers short-term labor in agriculture and tourism, particularly for winter resort operations in regions like Tyrol or Salzburg. These permits are granted under strict annual quotas and allow work for a specific duration, usually up to six months.
• EU Blue Card: This option exists in Austria, but it is aimed at university-educated professionals with high-salary contracts. For skilled trades, driver roles, or manual work, the Red-White-Red Card or seasonal quota is the standard option.

The application process usually begins in Austria. Your prospective employer submits the application directly to the regional office of the AMS or the local district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrate). Alternatively, you can submit your visa application at an official Austrian diplomatic mission in Brazil after your employer provides you with a binding job offer (Einstellungszusage).

Where to apply and required documents in Brazil

If you submit your application from Brazil, you must visit an official Austrian diplomatic mission. Brazil hosts the Embassy of Austria in Brasilia and the Consulate General of Austria in Sao Paulo. You must schedule an appointment in advance once you have all your documents ready.

The documentation process requires meticulous attention. Austrian authorities enforce strict rules regarding official paperwork coming from non-EU nations.

• Valid Passport: Your Brazilian passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned stay in Austria and have at least two blank pages.
• Binding Job Offer or Contract: An official job offer (Einstellungszusage) or employment contract signed by the Austrian employer, stating your salary, working hours, and job duties.
• Proof of Qualifications: Vocational training diplomas, trade certificates, or former employment letters proving your work experience.
• Police Clearance Certificate: A clean background check (Certidao de Antecedentes Criminais) issued online by the Federal Police of Brazil (Policia Federal).
• Proof of Accommodation: A rental contract, lease agreement, or declaration of accommodation provided by your employer in Austria.
• Health Insurance: Travel health insurance covering your initial travel and entry into Austria until your employer registers you in the public health system.
• Language Proficiency: While not mandatory for every single trade, basic German language skills (level A1 or A2) significantly increase your points on the Red-White-Red Card scale and are mandatory for trades like healthcare.

Because Brazil is a member of the Hague Convention, all official public documents issued in Brazil (such as police records and trade diplomas) must carry an Apostille attached by an authorized Brazilian notary public (cartorio). Furthermore, documents must be translated into German by a certified sworn translator (tradutor juramentado). English translations are sometimes accepted for technical trade documents, but official Austrian government offices generally require certified German translations.

Official fees and real costs on the Brazil side

Planning your move requires understanding both the official administrative fees charged by Austria and the preparation expenses you will pay in Brazil.

The official application fees set by Austria are as follows:

• Initial Permit Application Fee: Approximately 120 euros payable upon submitting your application.
• Permit Grant and Card Issuance Fee: Approximately 20 euros to 40 euros when your physical card is issued in Austria.
• Processing Time: Official processing by the AMS and Austrian authorities generally takes approximately 7 to 8 weeks after all completed documents are submitted.

On the Brazil side, you are responsible for preparing your documentation and organizing your travel. These costs fluctuate based on current exchange rates between the Brazilian Real (BRL) and the Euro (EUR):

• Police Clearance: Free of charge from the Policia Federal online portal.
• Apostille per Document: Approximately 40 BRL to 120 BRL (8 EUR to 20 EUR) per document at a Brazilian cartorio.
• Sworn Translations into German: Approximately 150 BRL to 350 BRL (25 EUR to 60 EUR) per page, depending on technical complexity.
• Medical Check or Fitness Certificates: Approximately 200 BRL to 500 BRL (35 EUR to 85 EUR) if required by your employer or trade sector.
• Flight from Brazil to Vienna: Approximately 3,500 BRL to 7,000 BRL (600 EUR to 1,200 EUR), depending on the season and city of departure.

Under Austrian labor laws and European Union guidelines, no employer, recruitment agency, or mediator may charge a job seeker a fee simply to obtain a job or secure a work contract. The recruitment fees are the legal responsibility of the employer. Be extremely cautious of fake recruiters or agencies in Brazil or online asking for cash transfers to guarantee a job, clear a visa approval, or pay arbitrary application fees. Real Austrian employers pay for their labor market submissions.

Trades Austria hires foreign workers for right now

Austria relies on international talent to address specific shortages in its industrial, care, and tourism sectors:

• Certified Caregivers and Nursing Assistants: Due to an aging population, Austrian care institutions actively recruit trained care workers who hold recognized diplomas and basic German communication skills.
• Welders and CNC Operators: Industrial manufacturing centers in Upper Austria and Styria frequently look for certified welders and machinery operators listed on regional shortage registries.
• Seasonal Hospitality Staff: Hotels, restaurants, and ski resorts in mountain regions hire seasonal kitchen staff, housekeepers, and service personnel under set annual quotas.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can fly to Vienna as a tourist and convert your stay into a work permit on the spot.
• Fact: While Brazilian citizens can visit the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days, you cannot legally start working or complete a regular work permit application while in Austria on a tourist status. You must await official approval before starting your job.
• Myth: Speaking German is not necessary if you work in manual labor or construction.
• Fact: Austrian workplace safety regulations and daily operations require basic German comprehension for technical trade positions, and higher levels for health or client-facing roles.
• Myth: You must pay a recruitment agency in Brazil money to guarantee your Austrian work permit.
• Fact: Legitimate recruitment costs are paid by the Austrian employer, and demanding job placement fees from workers is illegal across the European Union.
• Myth: An Austrian Red-White-Red Card allows you to work for any employer anywhere in Europe.
• Fact: Your work permit is tied directly to your specific employer and position in Austria. Moving to another company or another EU country requires a new permit application.

Before you sign

Before accepting a job offer or traveling from Brazil to Austria, review this safety checklist:

• Check the Contract Details: Verify that your written employment contract states your job title, net or gross salary, weekly work hours (standard full-time is 38.5 to 40 hours), and precise work location in Austria.
• Confirm AMS Verification: Ensure your employer has officially filed the job request with the Austrian Labour Market Service (AMS) and provided you with an official job offer document (Einstellungszusage).
• Verify Document Legalization: Confirm that all required Brazilian documents carry a valid Hague Apostille from a cartorio and are translated by an official sworn translator into German.
• Clarify Accommodation Arrangements: Check whether your Austrian employer provides temporary housing, deducts rent from your salary, or helps you find a place to live upon arrival.
• Never Pay for a Job Offer: Refuse any request to transfer money for job placement, work permits, or interview bookings. Legitimate Austrian employers cover their legal recruitment obligations.

How to build your Workuro profile for Austrian employers

To attract legitimate employers in Austria, keep your Workuro profile realistic and complete. List your exact job trade, your practical hand-on experience, and any formal certifications or vocational diplomas you hold in Brazil. State your exact level of German language skill, even if it is basic beginner level, as well as your English ability. Clear details help Austrian employers determine if you fit their open positions and shortage criteria.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.