Recruit workers from the Philippines to Austria

Why Austria works for Filipino recruitment

Two things make Austria unusual. The 2026 shortage list is dominated by exactly the trades the Philippines exports — welders, CNC millers and turners, electricians, pipefitters, mechanics, roofers, carpenters, concrete workers, construction fitters, industrial painters, chefs, nurses. And since the 2023 Austria–Philippines agreement, the BMWET Pre-Check register pre-assesses Philippine vocational qualifications, so the slowest step of the card — comparing the foreign training to an Austrian apprenticeship — can be skipped for listed qualifications. 912 Rot-Weiß-Rot cards have gone to Filipinos since the agreement.

The route, end to end

• Brief — occupation, Land, headcount, start date; we confirm the occupation on the nationwide or regional list and the collective agreement.
• Sourcing and tests — Prime Search screens candidates against the Pre-Check register (NC III and above, technical diplomas) and trade-tests them in Makati; you interview live from Austria.
• Points and file — qualification, experience, language and age points estimated per candidate; the complete application file prepared.
• Application — filed by you at the residence authority in Austria with the worker's consent, or by the worker at the Austrian representation in Manila; AMS confirmation; decision within eight weeks.
• German preparation on request, in parallel; MWO accreditation, DMW job order, contract verification, OEC.
• Arrival — Visa D for entry, card collected in Austria; two years, then Rot-Weiß-Rot plus.

If the role is not a shortage occupation

The Other Key Worker card exists — 55 points, a statutory minimum of €3,465 gross a month in 2026 plus special payments, and an AMS labour-market test — but it is assessed case by case and slower. We say at feasibility which card applies.

The Philippine side

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 Philippine ban on direct hiring applies; 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.

Frequently asked questions

• Do we need to prove there is no Austrian candidate?

  Not for the shortage-occupation card; the AMS labour-market test applies only to the Other Key Worker route.

• Which Filipino qualification levels work?

  TESDA NC III and above and technical diplomas, where the training is on the Pre-Check register or passes the AMS assessment; NC II from a short course usually does not.

• Who is the employer?

  Your company. We recruit in Manila and prepare the Austrian file; the card names you as the employer.