How to Hire Cleaners & Housekeeping Staff in Austria (2026)

7 min

1. The Reality of Cleaner and Housekeeping Shortages in Austria

Austria experiences persistent labor shortages across commercial cleaning services (Denkmal-, Fassaden- und Gebäudereinigung) and hospitality housekeeping (Hotel- und Gastgewerbe). In major metropolitan areas like Vienna, Linz, and Graz, commercial cleaning contractors struggle to recruit and retain night shift and early morning sanitation crews. In alpine tourism strongholds such as Tyrol, Salzburg, and Vorarlberg, seasonal hotels and resort operators face recurring shortfalls during winter and summer peak periods.

However, employers should evaluate non-EU recruitment realistically before committing time and budget. Hiring non-EU workers (Drittstaatsangehörige) directly into entry-level commercial cleaning roles in Austria is difficult. Austria's flagship skilled immigration system, the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte), requires candidates to qualify under specific points criteria or hold credentials in a trade officially listed on the national or regional Shortage Occupation List (Mangelberufsliste). General commercial cleaning is rarely included on national shortage lists.

As a result, direct non-EU recruitment for standard commercial cleaning is uncommon unless the candidate holds specialized technical qualifications or supervisory credentials. For hotel and resort housekeeping, employers rely heavily on temporary seasonal quotas (Saisonarbeitskräfte) administered under the Aliens Employment Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz or AuslBG). Where non-EU recruitment is not feasible, Austrian firms typically rely on EU freedom of movement or work with local labor leasing agencies (Arbeitskräfteüberlassung).

2. Legal Routes: AMS Approval, Permits, and Labor Market Tests

To legally employ a non-EU candidate in Austria, you must deal directly with the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice or AMS) and local immigration authorities (the Magistrat in cities like Vienna, or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft in regional districts).

Seasonal Worker Permits (Saisonarbeitskräfte): This is the primary non-EU pathway for hotel housekeeping in resort regions. The Austrian federal government sets annual quotas for seasonal workers in tourism. You submit an application to your local AMS branch. If approved, the candidate receives a temporary permit valid for up to 6 months (in specific cases extendable up to 9 months).
Red-White-Red Card for Shortage Occupations: If specialized housekeeping supervisory roles or industrial cleaning trades are listed on the annual national or regional shortage list, candidates with formal vocational diplomas can apply. This card grants a 24-month work and residence permit tied directly to your enterprise.
Labor Market Test (Ersatzkraftverfahren): Regardless of the permit path, the AMS conducts a compulsory labor market test. The AMS checks its registry to determine if any registered jobseekers in Austria or the EU can fill your vacancy. Only if no suitable local or EU applicant is found within two to four weeks will the AMS issue labor market clearance.

Regulations, regional shortage lists, and seasonal quotas change frequently. Always verify current administrative criteria directly with the AMS (ams.at) or the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy (mitp.gv.at) before submitting job offers.

3. Timeline: From Initial Offer to First Working Day

Processing non-EU employment applications in Austria requires structured planning. You should expect the entire process to take several months from the day you sign an employment agreement to the day the worker starts.

Step 1: Contract Issuance and Document Gathering (2 to 4 weeks): You issue a binding job offer or draft contract meeting Austrian statutory standards. The candidate gathers foreign educational certificates, police clearance records, and passport copies, and has them officially translated into German by a certified translator.
Step 2: AMS Application and Clearance (3 to 6 weeks): You submit the employment permit application to the local AMS office. AMS initiates the Ersatzkraftverfahren labor market test. Upon passing, AMS provides legal approval.
Step 3: Visa Application and Embassy Processing (4 to 8 weeks): The candidate books an appointment and presents the AMS clearance along with their application at the Austrian embassy or consulate in their home country to obtain an entry visa (Visa D or residence permit entry clearance).
Step 4: Arrival, Registration, and Start of Work (1 to 2 weeks): Upon arrival in Austria, the candidate registers their local address (Meldezettel) at the local municipal office (Meldeamt) and completes health insurance registration with the ÖGK (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse) before their first day on site.

For seasonal housekeeping roles, total processing ranges from 2.5 to 4 months. For Red-White-Red Card applicants, expect a timeline of 4 to 6 months.

4. Pay, Collective Agreements, and Mandatory Obligations

In Austria, minimum pay rates, working hours, and employment conditions are established by legally binding Collective Bargaining Agreements (Kollektivverträge or KV). You cannot pay less than the statutory rate designated by the relevant KV.

Commercial Cleaning KV (Denkmal-, Fassaden- und Gebäudereinigung): Gross full-time wages for basic cleaning staff typically range between €2,000 and €2,250 gross per month for 40 hours per week. Night shifts, Sunday work, and specialized industrial cleaning incur mandatory percentage surcharges.
Hotel Housekeeping KV (Hotel- und Gastgewerbe): Entry-level housekeeping staff earn approximately €1,950 to €2,300 gross per month depending on qualification level and geographic region.
13th and 14th Month Salaries: Under Austrian law and collective agreements, employers must pay 14 salaries per year. These consist of regular monthly pay plus a summer holiday bonus (Urlaubsgeld) and a Christmas bonus (Weihnachtsgeld). You must account for these extra payments in your financial calculations.
Accommodation Obligations: In regional tourism centers (such as Tyrol or Vorarlberg), seasonal hotel employers customarily provide free or low-cost worker housing (Personalzimmer). In urban commercial cleaning, accommodation is rarely provided by the employer, but assisting foreign staff in securing valid rental agreements is critical for visa processing.
Qualification Recognition: General entry-level cleaning does not require a formal Austrian trade license. However, supervisory cleaning roles or technical trade applications require credential recognition through the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy.

5. What Hiring from Abroad Costs You

When budgeting for non-EU recruitment, factor in administrative fees, document handling, travel, and onboarding expenses. Below is an overview of realistic initial cost ranges per worker:

AMS and Official Application Fees: €160 to €210 in government processing fees.
Document Translation and Legalization: €150 to €450 for certified German translations and apostilles.
Inbound Travel Expenses: €150 to €500 depending on transit mode and distance.
Initial Housing Allocation (where customary): €200 to €600 per month if providing staff lodgings in resort areas.
Total Estimated Cost Outlay: €500 to €1,800 in initial setup costs per worker (excluding standard gross wages and mandatory payroll social security contributions).

6. Recruitment Integrity and Employer Liability

Austrian employment legislation strictly forbids passing recruitment costs, agency commissions, or government filing fees onto job seekers. Legitimate employers bear all administrative and operational recruitment expenses.

Charging candidates for employment placement or deducting processing fees from their wages violates Austrian labor laws, leading to financial penalties, legal actions, and immediate disqualification from AMS permit approval programs. Candidates who are asked to pay third-party intermediaries for employment contracts are often victims of illegal recruitment schemes. Maintaining a direct, transparent recruitment model protects your organization from joint legal liability and ensures compliance with Austrian labor standards.

7. Finding Candidates on the Workuro Registry

If you determine that hiring candidates from outside the EU aligns with your operational plans, you can utilize the Workuro candidate registry to locate cleaning and housekeeping workers who have actively registered their desire to move to Austria.

Direct Contact: You search worker profiles directly and initiate contact with candidates without recruitment agency intermediaries.
Zero Per-Hire Fees: Workuro charges no placement fees, success commissions, or per-hire surcharges when you select a candidate.
Employer-Managed Hiring: You conduct your own internal screening, perform interviews, and handle visa paperwork directly with the local AMS office.

Our worker registry is young and growing. You will not find hundreds of thousands of candidate files, but you will find individual workers who have deliberately listed their availability for Austrian employment. You can filter candidates based on previous experience, language skills, and availability to fill seasonal hospitality gaps or permanent sanitation roles in your business.