Pipe installers and fitters — plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and pipeline fitters — are nationwide shortage occupation #16 for 2026. Filipino installers from Gulf building-services and industrial piping are the supply; heat-pump and hydronics specifics are trained on arrival.
Austria's installers are one trade across plumbing, heating and air-conditioning; Filipino candidates usually hold one or two of the three, from Gulf building services and industrial piping. We map each candidate's certificates to the #16 entry, source at NC III level, and plan the heating-specific training with the employer.
Pipework installation and pressure test, brazing and refrigerant handling, drawing reading — at Prime Search's Makati workshop, watched live.
The route is the Rot-Weiß-Rot card for skilled workers in shortage occupations: completed vocational training in the occupation, a job offer, at least 55 of 90 points, pay at collective-agreement level — no separate minimum — and a decision within eight weeks. Where the candidate's Philippine qualification is in the BMWET Pre-Check register, the AMS individual assessment of the training can be waived.
German is not a legal condition of the card, but it earns points (A1, A2, B1) and decides how fast a worker becomes productive; we prepare candidates in Manila on request — A2 for workshop roles, B1 for customer-facing work.
Recruitment runs through our own DMW-licensed agency, Prime Search Manpower Agency Inc. in Makati (licence DMW-027-LB-11182024): your company is accredited at the Migrant Workers Office with jurisdiction for Austria, the job order is registered with the DMW, and every worker leaves Manila with a verified contract, medical clearance, pre-departure orientation and an Overseas Employment Certificate. The employer is always your company, directly.
Everything here is subject to the Fachkräfteverordnung in force, the AMS assessment and Austrian residence and labour law.
We recruit refrigeration- and plumbing-trained installers and plan heat-pump and hydronics training on arrival.
Rohrleger and Rohrschlosser are within #16 and #27/#35; screened for isometric reading and spool fabrication.
Two to four weeks to a tested shortlist; three to five months to arrival.
General information for employers, not legal or migration advice. Rules change; we re-verify before each hire.