Austria: Frontier Worker Permit Forthcoming

Effective December 1, 2025, a new permit for foreign nationals living in a country adjacent to Austria but working in Austria (known in Austria as ‘frontier workers’) will be implemented. Eligibility conditions include: 

• The foreign national has a permanent right of residence, and is in fact resident, in a country adjacent to Austria, with unrestricted access to the labor market in that country; 

• The Austrian work site is in an Austrian political district directly bordering the permit holder’s country of residence; 

• The permit applicant enters Austria regularly for employment purposes; and 

• Austria’s Public Employment Service, the official government agency responsible for labor market services, must issue an expert opinion that no suitable replacement worker can be found for the position to be filled. 

Family members of frontier worker permit holders are not eligible for residence rights and must obtain their own residence permit to reside in Austria. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].