Work and travel in Austria: International Experience Canada

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

An official global travel advisory is in effect: Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.

Check the Pandemic COVID-19 travel health notice.

Check our Travel Advice and Advisories for more information.

If you need financial help to return to Canada, check COVID-19: Financial help for Canadians outside Canada.

Fun facts about Austria

Vienna is home to the world’s oldest zoo, the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, founded in 1752.
The Eisriesenwelt is the largest ice cave in the world.
The world’s largest emerald, measuring 2860 carats, is displayed in the Imperial Palace in Vienna.

What Austria offers

While most of Austria is mountainous, the landscape offers a lot of variety with snowy peaks, glaciers, many lakes and rivers, wide basins, vineyards and green hills and plains. Because of this, Austrians, like Canadians, embrace an outdoor lifestyle that includes hiking, mountain climbing and water sports and, of course, some of the best skiing in the world.

Austria is rich with tradition and culture. It’s common for many Austrians to wear traditional dress, such as a Dirndl (dress with apron) or Lederhosen (short leather pants), when the occasion is right. Food is a big part of Austrian culture. If you’re a fan of desserts, make sure to try a piece of Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel. Austria’s history in music is as impressive as any. Names like Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert are just a few famous composers connected to Austrian music.

Who can apply?

To work in Austria through a bilateral Youth Mobility program, you must:

be a Canadian citizen
be 18-30 years old (inclusive) for the Working Holiday Programme, or
be 18-35 years old (inclusive) for the Intra- and Partner-Company Training Program or the Young Workers Exchange Program, and
have a Canadian passport that’s valid for at least 3 months more than the length of your stay
- for example, if you’re staying in Austria for 6 months, your passport must be valid for at least 9 months

Other requirements may apply. Check Austria’s website for more details.

What type of work visa do I need?

If you’re staying:

between three to six months, you need to apply for an entry permit (Visa D)
more than six months, you need to apply for a residence permit

Eligible applicants can apply for one of three Youth Mobility programs:

Intra- and Partner-Company Training Program

Young professionals employed in Canada who want to travel to receive or provide training from a partner company in Austria.

Young Workers Exchange Program

Post-secondary graduates who want professional training in tourism, agriculture or forestry. Participants must have a degree or diploma in at least one of the three fields.

Working Holiday Programme

Canadian youth looking to travel to Austria and work temporarily to fund your trip.

Plan your trip

The best way to make sure your trip is the experience of a lifetime is to plan. Review our travel checklist to find out what you should know or do before travelling to and working in a foreign country.

Need help planning? One of IEC’s recognized organizations (ROs) might be able to help you find a job, transportation, and provide travel advice.

Most ROs charge a fee for their services.

More resources

Need more help planning? Contact a recognized organization.

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