Working as a 24-hour caregiver in Austria: becoming self-employed step by step

Many people work as 24-hour caregivers in Austria as self-employed individuals. This guide explains the steps required to start in 2026, who can register the trade and which documents are needed.

Quick overview

• As an independent caregiver, you must register the free trade known as Personenbetreuung.
• You must be at least 18 years old and must not be subject to an exclusion ground.
• The trade registration procedure is free of fees and administrative charges.
• If all requirements are met and all documents are available, the registration takes effect immediately and you may start working that day.
• After registering the trade, you must register with the Finanzamt and the social insurance institution for business owners, SVS, and then conclude a contract.

What steps are involved?

Becoming a self-employed caregiver involves four steps, in this order:

1. Trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung)
2. Registration with the tax office (Finanzamt)
3. Registration with the social insurance institution for business owners (SVS)
4. Concluding a business contract (Werkvertrag), also called a care contract (Personenbetreuungs-Vertrag)

This article focuses primarily on the first step: registering the trade.

What must you arrange before registering?

As a foreign national, you must arrange certain matters before registering the trade. EU citizens must complete the following:

• address registration with the registration authority (Meldebehörde)
• a registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung), no later than three months after settling in Austria

Third-country nationals need a residence entitlement (Aufenthaltsberechtigung) and address registration.

Who can register Personenbetreuung?

Personenbetreuung is a free trade (freies Gewerbe), so you do not need to prove a specific qualification. There are two basic requirements:

• you must be at least 18 years old
• there must be no exclusion ground (Gewerbeausschlussgrund), such as a financial criminal offence or court conviction

Under certain conditions, you may apply for an exemption from an exclusion ground (Nachsicht).

Where do you register the trade?

The competent trade authority is the authority responsible for the area where your business location (Gewerbestandort) is situated.

• Generally: District authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft)
• In statutory cities (Statutarstadt): Magistrat
• In Vienna: Depending on the trade, the district office (Magistratisches Bezirksamt) or MA 63

You can submit the registration in person, in writing or partly electronically, either informally or using a form. An informal registration must include the exact name of the trade (“Personenbetreuung”), the exact business location and your personal details: full name, address, date and place of birth, nationality and social insurance number.

Which documents are required?

You must provide the following:

• birth certificate and proof of nationality, or passport
• proof of address registration (Bestätigung der Meldung)
• declaration concerning exclusion grounds (section 13 of GewO 1994)
• where applicable, a document confirming an academic degree
• if your name has changed: marriage certificate or official decision concerning the change of name
• if you live abroad, or if you have had an Austrian residence for less than five years: a certificate of good conduct (Strafregisterbescheinigung) from your home country, issued no more than three months ago
• for a first trade registration: a declaration of new establishment (Erklärung der Neugründung), certified by the competent economic chamber (Wirtschaftskammer)

The required information may also be obtained from official registers. As a result, you may not need to submit your birth certificate, proof of nationality or passport, or proof of address. Upon request, the address certificate can also be obtained from the Central Register of Residents (ZMR).

Documents in a foreign language

All documents must be submitted as originals or certified copies. Foreign-language documents require an officially certified translation in Austria alongside the original. The translation can generally only be prepared by a sworn, court-certified translator; translators from other EU and EEA member states may also be accepted. An Apostille may also be required for the documents to be recognised.

How much does it cost, and when can you start?

The trade procedure and extracts requested from the Austrian Business Information System (GISA) are exempt from fees and administrative charges.

The registration takes effect immediately if all requirements are met and all required documents are attached to the application. You may practise the trade from the day of registration.

The economic chamber’s start-up service (Gründerservice) offers a one-stop service (One-Stop-Shop) for people starting out as self-employed caregivers.

Self-employed or employed?

24-hour care can also be carried out as employment. In this case, you conclude an employment contract with the family, and the employer registers you with the Austrian health insurance fund (ÖGK) before you start work. This is governed by the Domestic Care Act (Hausbetreuungsgesetz): a working period of no more than 14 days must be followed by an equally long period of free time.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a professional qualification for Personenbetreuung?

Personenbetreuung is a free trade. The requirements are that you are at least 18 years old and that no exclusion grounds apply.

Do you have to pay to register the trade?

No. The trade procedure is free of fees and administrative charges.

When can you start working?

If all requirements and documents are in order, you can start on the day of registration.

What happens after trade registration?

You must register with the Finanzamt, register with SVS and finally conclude a care contract.

Practical steps

1. Arrange your address registration with the Meldebehörde.
2. If applicable, obtain your Anmeldebescheinigung within three months of settling in Austria.
3. Check that you are at least 18 years old and that no Gewerbeausschlussgrund applies.
4. Collect the required identity, address, criminal-record and other documents.
5. Arrange certified translations and, where necessary, an Apostille for foreign-language documents.
6. Contact the competent Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Magistrat, Magistratisches Bezirksamt or MA 63.
7. Register the free trade Personenbetreuung.
8. Complete the registrations with the Finanzamt and SVS, then conclude the Personenbetreuungs-Vertrag.

This information is based on sources available online and does not constitute advice. Use it at your own risk. For professional advice, contact a lawyer, legal professional, healthcare professional, employment-law or labour-market specialist, or another relevant professional.

Source: oesterreich.gv.at