Yes, you can work in Austria without speaking German in some situations, but not in all of them, and rarely for long without consequences. Austrian immigration law does not set a general German requirement for the Red-White-Red Card: German earns points, and so does English. Many regulated professions, however, require proven German before you may practise; family residence titles often require basic German before arrival, and the integration agreement, long-term residence, and citizenship all depend on German certificates. On top of the legal rules sit employer preferences and practical workplace needs, such as safety instructions you must actually understand. This guide separates those three layers so you can judge whether you can realistically work in Austria without German.

The short answer on working in Austria without German

Think of language in Austria as three separate tests that are often confused.

• Legal requirements. Rules in immigration law, professional law,w and public service law. If you do not meet them, a permit, a registration or an appointment can be refused, whatever the employer wants.
• Employer preferences. What a company asks for in a vacancy. An employer may hire an English speaker for a role where the law asks for no German, or insist on fluent German for a role where the law asks for none.
• Workplace needs. What you need to work safely and claim your rights: understanding safety instructions, your contract, your pay slip,p and the collective agreement that sets your minimum pay.

You can pass the legal test and still fail the employer test, or be hired and then struggle with daily work. Outside clearly international employers, assume German will be needed sooner or later, and that staying more than a few years will require formal German certificates. For job search and permit basics, see our guide on finding a job in Austria as a foreigner.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens compared with other nationals

Citizens of EU and EEA countries and Switzerland do not need a work permit in Austria, and the immigration language rules described below do not apply to them. The integration agreement, for example, applies only to third-country nationals, meaning people without EU, EEA or Swiss citizenship, according to the official page on the integration agreement.

That does not mean EU citizens are free of language requirements. EU free movement law forbids discrimination by nationality, but it allows employers and authorities to require language skills that the nature of the post genuinely demands. A hospital can therefore require German from a nurse from any EU country, and professional bodies apply German requirements to EU doctors as well. For EU, EEA and Swiss citizens, the question is mainly about professional rules and employers, not about residence permits.

For everyone else, language affects three things at once: the points you score for a Red-White-Red Card, whether family members can join you, and whether you can stay permanently.

German language requirements for the Red-White-Red Card

The Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) is Austria's main route for skilled workers from outside the EU. Most of its categories use a points system. Language skills earn points, but no category examined here makes German a condition in itself. You can reach the minimum score without any German if your qualification, experience, age and other criteria are strong enough. Our separate guide on the Red-White-Red Card points system explains the full tables; this section covers only language.

Skilled workers in shortage occupations and other key workers

For skilled workers in shortage occupations, the Migration Platform page for shortage occupations sets a maximum of 25 points for language skills, out of 90 possible points, with a required minimum of 55. The language rows are:

• German at A1: 5 points
• German at A2: 10 points
• German at B1: 15 points
• English at A2: 5 points
• English at B1: 10 points
• French, Spanish, or Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian at B1: 5 points each

The same page lists 5 additional points for English skills when English is the predominant language of the company. The Migration Platform page for other key workers uses the same language rows, the same 25-point maximum, and the same minimum of 55 points.

What this means in practice: German at B1 is worth more points than English at B1, so German is rewarded more heavily. But a candidate with a relevant qualification, solid experience and a younger age bracket can reach 55 points with English alone. Points only make you eligible to apply; a job offer, a salary at or above the statutory minimum for the category and, for key workers, a labour market test still apply.

Very highly qualified workers

For very highly qualified workers, who can also apply for a job seeker visa, the Migration Platform page for very highly qualified workers caps language skills at 10 points out of 100, with a minimum of 70 points. German or English at A1 earns 5 points, and German or English at A2 earns 10. French, Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian,n or Serbian at B1 earns 5 points each. In this category, English and German are treated equally.

Because language counts for so little here, the decision rests mostly on degree level, research, professional experience, and income. This is the category where working in Austria without German is most clearly built into the rules.

How language points are evidenced

Points for language are only awarded if you prove them with a certificate. The Migration Platform states that German language diplomas and certificates may in particular be obtained from ÖSD (the Austrian German Language Diploma), the Goethe-Institut, telc and the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). For English, it names the Cambridge Certificate, telc, IELTS, TOEIC and TOEFL. Certificates should generally be no older than five years, and documents not in German or English must be translated into one of those languages.

Attendance letters and placement tests are not exam certificates. If you want points, book a recognised exam.

The Red-White-Red Card counts as Module 1

One detail is often missed. Under the integration rules, holding a Red-White-Red Card under the relevant sections of the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG) is treated by law as fulfilling Module 1 of the integration agreement. The official integration agreement page states that Module 1 "is deemed to have been fulfilled by operation of law" for these card holders. In other words, the main worker card does not force you into a German exam within your first two years. Family members are a different matter, as the next section shows.

Family members and German before immigration

A worker can sometimes arrive with no German, while the spouse cannot. For certain residence titles, Austria requires basic German at A1 level before the first title is issued. The official page on German before immigration lists first applications for:

• the Red-White-Red Card plus, the title that family members of many Red-White-Red Card holders receive
• most types of settlement permit (with listed exceptions, such as gainful employment, relative and artist)
• the family member title

Who is exempt

The same page lists exemptions, including:

• children under 14 at the time of application
• people who cannot reasonably be expected to provide proof for health reasons, shown by a medical report from a public health officer or a doctor designated by the embassy
• family members of holders of a Red-White-Red Card in the highly qualified category, an EU Blue Card or a researcher residence permit, and in some cases of holders of a long-term resident title who first held one of those
• certain family members of people entitled to asylum or subsidiary protection applying for a Red-White-Red Card plus

The authority can also waive the requirement on a reasoned request in limited cases, for example for unaccompanied minors or to protect private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The request must be made before the decision is issued.

Which A1 certificates are accepted

According to the official page and the Ministry of the Interior page on proof of German, A1 is proven with a generally recognised language diploma from one of four institutions: ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut, telc, or the Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF). The diploma must not be more than one year old when submitted. Fulfilling Module 1 or Module 2 of the integration agreement, or holding certain school leaving certificates, also counts.

If your partner will apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus and is not exempt, build the A1 exam into the timeline from the start, as a certificate taken too early may expire.

The integration agreement and its German modules

The integration agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung) applies to third-country nationals who receive certain residence titles for the first time. It is set out in the Integration Act and the NAG, and it has two modules.

Module 1 at A2 level

Module 1 requires German at A2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, plus knowledge of the fundamental values of Austrian law and society. It must be fulfilled within two years of the first residence title. The official integration agreement page lists holders of titles such as the Red-White-Red Card plus, the residence permit, the family member title, and others as covered. Completing Module 1 within two years is a condition for extending certain titles.

Module 1 can be fulfilled by:

• an integration exam certificate (Zeugnis zur Integrationsprüfung) from the ÖIF at A2 level or above
• a school leaving certificate giving access to university, or one equivalent to a vocational middle school leaving certificate
• holding a Red-White-Red Card in the relevant categories, as explained above
• certain artistic activities while holding an artist title
• fulfilling Module 2

The ÖIF information sheet for exam providers explains that the integration exam for Module 1 is run by the ÖIF or by institutions the ÖIF has certified, and that the ÖIF decides on the equivalence of other exams. Certificates submitted for a renewal must have been issued within two years of the application. The authority can still find that your German is insufficient even when you submit evidence, so the certificate should reflect real ability.

Exemptions and postponement

Exemptions from Module 1 include minors who will still be minors when the deadline expires, people with health reasons supported by a medical certificate, and people who declare in writing that they will not stay beyond the period set in the rules. That declaration is treated as an irrevocable waiver of further extensions after the first one, so it suits only genuinely short stays. You can also apply to postpone the deadline for up to 12 months because of personal circumstances. Family members may receive federal support covering half of the cost of an integration course, up to a capped amount, if they attend most of the lessons and pass the exam within the set period. The voucher comes from the residence authority.

Module 2 at B1 level

Module 2 requires German at B1, the level of independent use, plus deeper knowledge of Austrian values. The official page states that there is no general requirement for residence title holders to complete Module 2. It becomes essential once you want to stay permanently.

Module 2 can be fulfilled with an ÖIF integration exam certificate at B1, through certain periods of schooling in Austria or German instruction abroad with a positive German grade, a completed apprenticeship final exam (Lehrabschlussprüfung) or skilled worker exam, or two years of study in a German-taught subject at a higher education institution with the required credits. Completing Module 2 automatically counts as completing Module 1.

German for permanent residence and citizenship

This is where working in Austria without German stops being a long-term plan. According to the official integration agreement page, you can only apply for the long-term resident EU title (Daueraufenthalt EU) if you have fulfilled Module 2 before submitting the application. The page also states that Module 2 is required before you can apply for Austrian citizenship. The Migration Platform page on integration and citizenship describes the same link between Module 2 and the long-term resident title.

Citizenship has many other conditions, such as years of lawful residence and income, which are outside this guide. The language point is simple: a worker who never reaches B1 German may keep renewing temporary titles but cannot move to either permanent status.

Regulated professions that require proven German

The Migration Platform states that formal recognition of a qualification is only required for regulated professions. In those professions, German is frequently part of the right to practise, and the Red-White-Red Card points do not replace it. Recognition of foreign qualifications is a separate procedure handled by professional authorities, and you can find the right contact point through the official recognition portal at berufsanerkennung .at.

Doctors and the B2 requirement

Doctors are one of the clearest cases. The Austrian Medical Chamber information sheet on taking up medical activities explains that German is proven by passing a language examination, which must be taken with the Austrian Academy of Physicians. To register for that exam, applicants submit a certificate confirming German at B2 level. The sheet lists exemptions, such as three years of professional work in a German-speaking health system, a German school leaving exam, studies completed in German, or medical training completed in a German-speaking country.

The Business Service Portal page on recognition for doctors confirms that sufficient knowledge of German is a general prerequisite for medical practice and that applications for entry in the list of doctors go through the provincial medical chambers. The information sheet states that medical degrees from outside the EEA and Switzerland that do not qualify for recognition under EU rules must generally be recognised as equivalent (nostrification) by an Austrian medical university before registration. These German rules apply to EU and non-EU doctors alike; the professional recognition route differs by where you trained.

Nurses and care assistants

Nursing is another profession where English alone will not get you registered. Practising requires entry in the health professions register (Gesundheitsberuferegister). The Tyrolean single point of contact page on recognition for nurses notes that working without registration, or employing someone who is not registered, is an administrative offence punishable by a fine.

The register information sheet for people with foreign qualifications sets the German levels required for registration:

• care assistants (Pflegeassistenz) and specialist care assistants (Pflegefachassistenz): B1
• general nurses in the higher grade of health and nursing care, operating theatre assistants and most medical technical professions: B2
• speech therapy: C1

Proof must be a recognised certificate from completed language exams. The sheet names certificates from ÖSD, the ÖIF, the Goethe-Institut, telc, TestDaF and the Language Centre of the University of Vienna (course plus passed exam), and states that placement tests, self-tests and attendance confirmations are not sufficient. Exceptions apply, for example for native German speakers or people trained in a German-speaking country, but the authority can still ask for a certificate if it has doubts.

For qualifications from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, the Ministry of Social Affairs' general information on nostrification explains that nostrification for general nurses is decided by a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), while for care assistants and specialist care assistants the provincial governor is responsible. Plan the German exam alongside the recognition procedure, not after it.

Teachers

Teaching in Austrian schools is regulated and, in public schools, is part of public employment. Foreign teacher training from the EU, EEA or Switzerland goes through a recognition procedure with the competent ministry, while third-country qualifications require nostrification at a university. The agriculture ministry page on recognising teacher training for its agricultural and forestry schools, for example, asks applicants to submit proof of the German skills needed to teach in Austria where available. Outside language teaching, international schools and some bilingual programmes, teaching posts generally require a high level of German. Confirm the level with the school authority (Bildungsdirektion) of the province before investing in recognition.

Public service

Federal civil service and contract staff law has long treated command of German in speech and writing as part of professional suitability for appointment, with a lower standard allowed where a post genuinely needs less German. Certain posts that involve exercising state authority are reserved for Austrian citizens, while many others are open to EU and EEA citizens. Provincial and municipal services have their own laws with similar rules. For third-country nationals without German, public sector employment is therefore rarely a realistic route. Check each vacancy notice for its specific language and nationality conditions.

Employer preferences for English-speaking jobs in Austria

Once the legal rules are clear, the decisive factor for most jobseekers is the employer. Austrian law generally does not force private employers to hire German speakers, and it does not stop them from asking for German. In EU law, language requirements are lawful where the nature of the post requires them, and employers routinely set German levels in vacancies.

Where English is more likely to be accepted

English as a working language is most common in international companies, research institutions, universities, start-ups, software development and international organisations based in Vienna. Even there, adverts often list German as an advantage, and dealings with authorities, landlords and doctors still happen in German.

Where German is usually expected

German is typically expected in roles involving customers, patients, pupils, care recipients or the public: retail, most healthcare, elder care, social work, office administration, sales, call centres for the Austrian market, and much of public transport. Skilled trades on building sites, in factories and in workshops often operate in German, sometimes with local dialect, even where a few colleagues speak your language. Driving jobs involve German documents, instructions and authorities; our separate guides on foreign truck and bus drivers cover those professions.

Seasonal tourism is often cited as a field where English is enough, but kitchen, housekeeping and service teams frequently work in German. Our separate guide on seasonal work permits covers the permit side.

Reading a vacancy correctly

Austrian vacancies often state language needs in shorthand: "Deutsch in Wort und Schrift" (German, spoken and written), "sehr gute Deutschkenntnisse" (very good German), "fließend" (fluent) or a CEFR level such as B2. "Englisch von Vorteil" means English is an advantage, not a substitute for German. If an advert is written in German and says nothing about language, assume German is expected. If you apply with no German, say so clearly and state what level you are working towards and by when.

Workplace needs that do not depend on your employer

Even when the law and the employer accept no German, some workplace needs remain. These protect you as much as the employer.

Health and safety instruction must be understood.

Austrian worker protection law requires employers to instruct employees on safety and health at work. The instruction must be given in an understandable form, and workers who do not sufficiently understand German must be instructed in their native language or another language they understand. A Central Labour Inspectorate circular on workplace instruction addressed to all labour inspectorates sets out what inspectors look for:

• instruction in the native language or another understandable language, with written instructions in such a language where necessary
• the employer must make sure the instruction was understood, for example through targeted questions or test questions
• where necessary, suitable experts such as interpreters should be involved
• records of instruction must show who was instructed, when and on what content

Instruction is due before you start work, after a change of duties or equipment, after accidents or near misses where relevant, and at regular intervals. If you are asked to sign a form confirming instruction you did not understand, ask for it to be repeated in a language you understand. The Labour Inspectorate (Arbeitsinspektion) is the authority that enforces these duties.

Your contract, payslip and collective agreement

Most employment contracts, payslips, collective agreements and company rules in Austria are written in German. Minimum pay in most sectors is set by collective agreements rather than by a single statutory minimum wage, and those agreements are published in German. Pay is normally agreed and shown as gross monthly pay, with tax and social insurance deducted to give net pay. If you cannot read these documents, ask for an explanation in a language you understand before signing, and keep copies. Workers' chambers and trade unions advise employees on their rights; they are statutory or representative bodies, not employers.

Residence authorities, the tax office, social insurance, the Public Employment Service (AMS) and municipal offices mainly work in German. Some forms exist in English, but decisions and letters are usually in German, so budget for translation help in your first months.

Which German certificates count in Austria

Different purposes accept different evidence, so check which one you need before booking an exam.

• Red-White-Red Card language points. German certificates from ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut, telc,c or the ÖIF are named as typical sources; English certificates such as Cambridge, telc, IELTS, TOEIC, and TOEFL. Generally no older than five years.
• German before immigration at A1. A diploma from ÖSD, the Goethe-Institut, telc or the ÖIF, no more than one year old, or fulfilment of Module 1 or 2.
• Integration agreement Module 1 and Module 2. The ÖIF integration exam (or an exam at an ÖIF-certified institution) at A2 or B1, which combines language and values, or the school, apprenticeship and study routes listed on the official page.
• Long-term residence and citizenship. Module 2 fulfilled.
• Health professions and doctors. The certificates and levels set by the register or the Medical Chamber, as described above.

Note the main trap: a general language certificate that earns Red-White-Red Card points or proves A1 before immigration is not automatically accepted for the integration agreement, which relies on the ÖIF integration exam with its values component. If you plan to stay long term, aim directly for the ÖIF integration exam at B1, which fulfils both modules.

Building a realistic German plan

For most third-country workers, the useful question is not whether German is needed but when. A practical sequence looks like this:

1. Check the legal layer first. Identify your permit category and, if your profession is regulated, the recognition body and its German level. A doctor or nurse should treat the German exam as a core part of the application.
2. Use language points if they help. If you are close to the Red-White-Red Card minimum, an A1 or A2 German certificate may lift you over it, and B1 earns the most in the shortage and key worker categories.
3. Plan for your family. If your partner needs A1 before immigration, schedule the exam so the certificate is less than one year old when the application is filed.
4. Diarise the two-year deadline. If you or family members hold a title covered by Module 1 and you are not exempt by law, aim to pass the A2 integration exam well before the deadline.
5. Aim for B1 if you want to stay. Module 2 is the gateway to long-term residence and citizenship.

Registered jobseekers may be able to obtain German courses through the AMS as part of an agreed support plan, and the ÖIF and provincial integration offices list official course options.

Risks of relying on English only

Working in Austria in English is possible in the right job, but the risks of relying on it entirely are real and should be weighed honestly.

• Fewer options if the job ends. If you lose an English-language job, the pool of replacement vacancies without German is much smaller. Our separate guides on changing employers and on job loss explain the permit consequences.
• No route to permanent status. Without Module 2 at B1, the long-term resident title and citizenship stay out of reach.
• Family obstacles. Unless an exemption applies, family members may need A1 before arrival and A2 within two years.
• Safety and rights. Misunderstood instructions, contracts, or deadlines can cause accidents or lost entitlements.

Be wary of anyone who offers a "guaranteed" job in Austria for people with no German in exchange for a fee, especially in care or construction. Legitimate employers do not charge applicants for a job offer, and no intermediary can guarantee a permit, which only the competent Austrian authority can grant.

Where to confirm the rules for your case

Language rules differ by nationality, residence title, profession and province, and they change. Before you act, confirm the position with the body that decides:

That means the residence authority or the Austrian embassy for permits and the integration agreement, the ÖIF for the integration exam, the AMS for labour market procedures, the professional authority for regulated professions, and the Labour Inspectorate for safety instruction.

The bottom line: you can start working in Austria without German in a limited range of jobs, especially in highly qualified and international roles, and the Red-White-Red Card does not demand it. Staying, bringing family, entering regulated professions,s and building a secure future in Austria all depend on German, so the earlier you start, the more doors stay open.

Sources and References

• Skilled workers in shortage occupations, Migration Platform of the Austrian Federal Government
• Other key workers, Migration Platform of the Austrian Federal Government
• Very highly qualified workers, Migration Platform of the Austrian Federal Government
• Integration and citizenship, Migration Platform of the Austrian Federal Government
• The integration agreement, oesterreich.gv.at
• Proof of knowledge of German before immigration, oesterreich.gv.at
• Proof of German language skills, Federal Ministry of the Interior
• Information sheet for integration exam providers, Austrian Integration Fund
• Information on taking up medical activities in Austria, Austrian Medical Chamber
• Medical doctors, qualifications and recognition, Business Service Portal
• Registration with a foreign qualification, Health Professions Register, Gesundheit Österreich
• General information on nostrification of health professions, Federal Ministry of Social Affairs
• Nurses responsible for general care, recognition, Single Point of Contact Tyrol
• Recognition of teacher training, Federal Ministry of Agriculture
• Circular on workplace instruction, Central Labour Inspectorate (published by AUVA)