Austria’s tourism and hospitality industry offers employment opportunities for international workers, particularly in hotels, restaurants, resorts, and tourism destinations. For workers from outside the EU/EEA, however, getting a job is only one part of the process. You also need to meet Austria’s immigration and work-permit requirements.
In 2026, Austria’s official shortage-occupation lists include restaurant chefs nationwide, while certain hotel and restaurant professions are listed as regional shortage occupations in provinces including Salzburg and Tyrol.
Hospitality Jobs You Can Look For
International applicants may find opportunities in positions such as:
- Chef and sous chef
- Restaurant chef
- Commis chef
- Pastry chef
- Hotel receptionist
- Hotel assistant
- Reservations staff
- Housekeeping supervisor
- Hotel and restaurant specialist
- Guest services
- Tourism and travel positions
- Kitchen staff
- Restaurant service roles
The availability of visa sponsorship depends on the position, employer, your qualifications, and the immigration route available to you.
Austria’s Red-White-Red Card
For qualified workers from outside the EU/EEA, Austria uses the Red-White-Red Card system for several categories of workers. The card combines residence and employment authorization and is generally issued for 24 months, with employment tied to the employer specified in the application.
For shortage occupations, applicants generally need:
- Completed training in the relevant shortage occupation.
- A binding job offer from an Austrian employer.
- Appropriate remuneration according to Austrian requirements.
- At least 55 points under the applicable points system.
Points can be awarded for qualifications, relevant work experience, age, and language skills.
Hospitality Shortage Occupations in 2026
One particularly relevant category is restaurant chefs, which Austria lists among its nationwide shortage occupations for 2026. The list includes roles such as chef de partie, sous chef, pastry chef, restaurant chef, breakfast chef, commis de cuisine, and other culinary positions.
Austria also lists various hotel and restaurant professionals as regional shortage occupations in Salzburg and Tyrol, including receptionists, hotel assistants, reservations staff, guest services, hotel and restaurant specialists, and related positions.
This means applicants should pay attention to both the job title and the Austrian province where the job is located.
Another Route for Tourism Workers
Austria has a specific immigration category for regular workers in tourism, agriculture, and forestry.
For tourism workers, this route requires, among other conditions, at least seven months of employment during the previous two years as a registered regular seasonal worker in the same industry, German-language skills at A1 level, and a binding offer of permanent employment from the relevant employer.
Therefore, this particular route isn’t simply a general visa-sponsorship option for someone who has never worked in Austria.
What Employers May Look For
Requirements vary by position, but hospitality employers commonly look for:
- Relevant hospitality experience
- Culinary or hotel-management qualifications where appropriate
- Customer-service experience
- Good communication skills
- German-language ability for many customer-facing positions
- English-language ability in international hotels
- Flexibility to work weekends and shifts
- References or employment records
For regulated professions, formal recognition may be required. Austria notes that for most occupations, formal recognition is not necessary, although regulated professions are an exception.
How to Search for Sponsoring Employers
When searching online, use specific terms rather than simply searching for “jobs in Austria.”
Useful searches include:
- Austria hotel jobs visa sponsorship
- Austria chef jobs Red-White-Red Card
- Austria restaurant jobs international workers
- Salzburg hotel jobs international applicants
- Tyrol hospitality jobs visa sponsorship
- Austria chef shortage occupation 2026
- Austria hotel receptionist jobs foreign workers
Check the employer’s requirements carefully and look for information about whether the company is willing to employ workers who require Austrian work authorization.
Documents You May Need
Depending on your immigration route and circumstances, you may need documents such as:
- Valid passport
- Employment contract or binding job offer
- CV
- Educational or vocational certificates
- Evidence of professional experience
- Language certificates where applicable
- Employer declaration
- Health insurance documentation
- Proof of accommodation or other required documents
- Other documents requested by the Austrian authorities
Applications can generally be submitted through the relevant Austrian representation abroad, while in certain circumstances the prospective employer can submit the application to the appropriate Austrian authority in Austria.
Beware of Fake Visa-Sponsorship Jobs
International job seekers should be particularly careful with advertisements promising guaranteed Austrian visas in exchange for large upfront payments.
A legitimate employer should be able to provide verifiable company information, a genuine employment offer, job duties, salary information, and details about the applicable immigration process.
Never assume that a job advertisement saying “visa sponsorship available” automatically means you qualify for a work permit.
Final Thoughts
Austria has genuine opportunities in hospitality, with restaurant chefs included on the 2026 nationwide shortage-occupation list and several hotel and tourism-related positions appearing on regional shortage lists.
For applicants outside the EU/EEA, the most important step is finding a genuine employer and determining which Austrian immigration category applies to the specific job. Your qualifications, experience, language skills, salary, job location, and employment history can all affect eligibility.
For current requirements, always verify the position and immigration route through Austria’s official immigration information before paying an agent or accepting an employment offer.
