When planning to work in Austria, a crucial visa step is document verification. This process may vary depending on the country of origin of the document.
Below, we detail the options available for translating and verifying documents, as well as a special case related to the criminal record certificate.
Document Translation and Verification:
- No Verification or Certification :
- This option is applicable for documents issued in EU member states or in countries with which Austria has a bilateral agreement on document recognition.
- Handout :
- The apostille is a type of certification available only to countries that are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. Generally, you request the apostille from the public authorities that issued the document in question or from a higher authority. For example, a criminal record certificate is issued by the police or the Ministry of the Interior.
- Diplomatic Legalization :
- For documents from countries that do not issue apostilles, diplomatic or consular certification is required for them to be recognized in Austria. After national pre-certification (e.g. in the case of ministries), the document must be certified by the responsible Austrian representative authority (embassy, ​​consulate).
Document checklist by country can be consulted for initial guidance, although it does not contain all exceptions.
Criminal Record Certificate
The criminal record certificate is a crucial document, especially for foreigners already residing in Europe. Below are the specific rules related to this document:
- Third-country nationals living in their home country for more than six months :
- For example, a Canadian living in Canada only needs to present a criminal record certificate from that country.
- For example, a Canadian living in Canada only needs to present a criminal record certificate from that country.
- Third-country nationals living in a third country for more than six months :
- For example, a Brazilian living in Turkey will generally have to present criminal record certificates from both countries.
- For example, a Brazilian living in Turkey will generally have to present criminal record certificates from both countries.
- Third country nationals living in an EEA or EU member state for more than six months :
- For example, an Albanian living in Sweden only needs to present the criminal record certificate from the EEA or EU member state.
The criminal record certificate is a requirement for third-country nationals aged 14 or over at the time of application and must not be more than three months old at the time of delivery to the Austrian authorities.
These rules are vital to ensure a smooth transition during the immigration process to Austria. Be well prepared and informed to avoid delays and complications on your path to an exciting career in Austria.
This post aims to elucidate document verification procedures for prospective work immigrants in Austria. For more information and personalized assistance, contact us directly.
