Austria – Trainee

Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to carry out a traineeship in Austria? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.

You can apply to carry out a traineeship in Austria if you have a higher education degree for no longer than 2 years or if you are pursuing a higher education degree in a non-EU country. You must have a training agreement with a host entity/company in Austria.

If you fulfil the conditions, you will be issued a long stay visa.

Where and how to apply

The employer has to notify the Austrian Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice – AMS) of the traineeship at least three weeks before the beginning. The AMS will then issue a ‘confirmation of notification’.

Once the ‘confirmation of notification’ has been issued, you have to submit your application for a long stay visa (Visa D) at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate abroad or in case you are already present in Austria on the basis of a valid residence permit or visa D, issued by Austria, at the competent Provincial Police Directorate (Landespolizeidirektion – LPD).

The decision on the visa application usually does not take more than 15 days.

A visa fee of 150 EUR applies.

The trainee visas only cover stays between 91 days and a maximum of 6 months.

Documents required

Your documents must prove that you meet the general conditions for obtaining a long stay visa for trainees (i.a. visa fees, valid travel document, proof of sufficient means of subsistence, full medical insurance, adequate accommodation, ‘confirmation of notification’ issued by the AMS).

Duration of validity of permits/visas

Trainee visas are valid for up to six months.

Conditions for renewal

The renewal of a trainee visa is not foreseen.

Appeals

The decision on and the grounds for the refusal of a visa are notified to the visa applicant in writing.

Appeals against decisions of the visa authorities can be filed at the Federal Administrative Court within 4 weeks after the decision has been taken.

Change of status

No special provisions are foreseen.

Family members

No special provisions are foreseen.

Long-term residence

Trainees cannot obtain permanent residence status.

No information available at the moment.