Welcome Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

1 Preface

The business net- so we aim to lay the foundation for an at- work witus always mosphere of productivity and harmonious places emphasis integration. You will discover that we have on what we sha- many things in common, such as your in- re in common. For terest in finding fulfilling employment and the project “getting our interest in finding the right person with ahead”, our focus the necessary expertise and motivation is supporting new for each job. Our common interests have employees on their arrival in the Bregen- common interfaces where we will often zerwald and in their subsequent steps. To meet and be able to interact. help specialist workers get ahead while looking for new employment and a new These things bind us together – you as a place to live, we would like to be proactive new resident and us as companies, mu- in our support. nicipalities and engaged people in the Bregenzerwald. With this welcome brochure we aim to sup- port you with all the necessary information A warm welcome! you will need when taking your first steps on this journey. Much will be unexplored Magdalena Steurer, territory for you and we want to accom- Managing Director of witus pany you on this journey with openness, respect and a willingness to help. By doing

3 Welcome - Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

1 Welcome to witus 5 2 Welcome to the Bregenzerwald 13 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald 17 Working 18 Job search Formal recognition of qualifications from abroad Visa and residence permit Public authorities Social security Finances Training and education Living 26 Childcare in the region Schools in the region Sports and leisure time Associations and clubs Shopping Learning German Housing 32 Housing search Compulsory registration Transport 4 Useful links 34

4 1 Welcome to witus

5 Welcome to witus

Entrepreneurs and businesses are insepa- contrast to some other valleys in the Alps, rably linked to a region, because without the Bregenzerwald is an attractive place to companies and entrepreneurial spirit a re- live and work even in the low season. gion would look bare. Many different insti- tutions and companies in the Bregenzer- The craft companies range from small fa- wald are strongly committed to retaining mily businesses to big enterprises which the unspoiled living environment and sha- operate internationally. Concerning hotel ping it in an attractive way for future gene- and restaurant businesses, all types are rations. Entrepreneurs can only survive in represented in the region from the traditio- a region if they have a sufficient number of nal restaurant to the 4-star-superior hotel. specialist workers and employees, for only The region is very proud of its agriculture in this way will they be able to cope with and its farmers’ products – the alpine dai- the challenges of the economy. ries and mountain huts, too, are always looking for employees. Trading compa- witus (Wirtschaft und Tourismus – eco- nies in the region raise awareness with the nomy and tourism) is a business network slogan „ich kauf im Wald“ (“I buy in the with about 150 members from the sec- Bregenzerwald”). Thanks to the favourable tors craft, agriculture, trade, services and commercial distribution structure “almost” tourism. The five municipalities , anything can be bought in the Bregenzer- , , and wald. The services sector includes many support the network and collaborate occupations – from the hairdresser to the intensively. tax consultant, the massage therapist to the beautician: the entire range is covered In the five municipalities, there is a wide in the Bregenzerwald. range of occupations including electrici- ans, carpenters, accountants, plasterers, The witus network includes 18 craft com- cooks, waiters, nurses, salespeople and panies, 47 tourism businesses, 10 farmers roofers – a large number of existing job and alpine dairies and more than 60 tra- profiles are covered. de and services enterprises among its members. A particular quality of the companies in the Bregenzerwald is that often they are run as family businesses. As such, personal con- tact and trustworthiness matters. And in

6 7 8 witus Members

Trade & Services Adeg Aktiv Markt Berlinger Gerücheküche (herbs) Raiffeisenbank (supermarket) Geschenk & Handwerk Bezau-Mellau-Bizau (bank) Adele Moden (fashion) (gifts and handycraft) rar.schönes (fashion) Alba‘s Magnetschmuck Getränkehandel Artur Egender Rosi´s Werkstättle (lace) (magnetic jewellery) (beverage shop) Schuh Fröwis (shoes) Ammann Irmtraud Kosmetik gschtrub grafikdesign (graphic SoxBox (socks) (cosmetics) design) Sparkasse Geschäftsstelle Bezau Ayurveda & Massage Beatrix Haarstudio Manuela (hair dresser) (bank) Gridling Hausarzt Dr. Fink Sport & Mode Natter Bäckerei Kleber (bakery) (general practitioner) (sports and fashion) belinda wohnen - blühen – Hawo (sanitary and heating) Sport Broger (sports) schenken (living, flowers, gifts) Heilmasseurin Heidi Meusburger Strubobuob - Gartenwerkstatt & Bergsport & Outdoor Leitner (massage) Tischkultur (mountain sports) Honda Meusburger (cars) (garden and tableware) Blumen-Fee (florist) Katharinen-Apotheke (pharmacy) Sutterlüty Ländlemarkt Coiffeur Lipburger (hairdresser) Kaufmann Mode (fashion) (supermarket) Deuring Jagd & Outdoor (hunting) Klunkar Fimo-Modeschmuck Tabak Trafik Haller (tobacconist) Dorfmetzge Strohmaier (butchery) (costume jewellery) UNIKUM Metallwerkstatt Druckhaus Gössler (printing shop) Konsum Bizau (supermarket) (metal workshop) ediths Konsum Mellau (supermarket) Übelher Steuerberatung (tax consultancy) Elektro Beer (electronics) Kulinarium Metzler Viten (gems, gem jewelry) Elektro Meusburger (electronics) (regional food and husky tours) Volksbank Mellau (bank) Erath & Partner Steuerberatung Moosbrugger Dirndlwerkstatt (tax consulting) (traditional dresses) Wolff Shop (underwear) evelyn SchönSein (beauty) Natter Wohnbau Wälderhaus Bezau (residential building) (construction market) Fischer Wolle (wool) Nigano IT Waelderspielzeug (toys) Friseur „Blütezeit“ (hair dresser) Padma Edelsteinschmuck & Mi- Wüstner Teppiche & Bettsysteme Friseur Kosmetik Patrizia Kleber neralien (gem jewelry & minerals) (carpets and bed systems) (hair dresser / cosmetic) Panto Outdoor (outdoor fashion)

Agriculture Alpe Wildmoos (alpine dairy) Sennerei Oberdorf (alpine dairy) Schafmilchbetrieb Gmeiner Christahof (chicken and cattle) Bergbauernhof Fegg (sheep‘s milk products) Sennerei Kriechere (alpine dairy) (mountain farm) Alpenkäse Bregenzerwald Rainer Bergbauer Sennerei (alpine dairy) (mountain farm) Hubert Kaufmann Bergsennerei Schnepfau (mountain farm) (alpine dairy) 9 witus Members

Tourism Aktivhotel Apartment Gridling Edeltraud Ski- und Snowboardschule Mellau Cafe-Restaurant Katrina Flugschule Bregenzerwald (ski and snowboard school) Hotel Kreuz (flight school) Apartment Sutterlüty Gertrud Aktiv-Zentrum Bregenzerwald Rössle appartements Gästehaus Graf (guesthouse) (outdoor activities) Apartments Irma Sonne Lifestyle Resort (hotel) Campingplatz Bezau (campsite) Gasthof Taube Bergbahnen Mellau Hotel Post (restaurant/guesthouse) (mountain railways) Alphof Rossstelle Seilbahn Bezau Gästehaus Meusburger (restaurant/guesthouse) (mountain railways) (guesthouse) Die Sonnigen (hotel/apartments) Apartments Isabella Wälderbähnle Bregenzerwald (touristic train) Hütte Fegg (mountain hut) Genießer- und Kuschelhotel Gams (hotel) Berghaus Kanisfluh Apartments Christine (mountain hotel) Erlebnisgästehaus Kanisfluh Seminar- und Gästehaus „Im (guesthouse) Kloster Bezau“ (seminar and Gästehaus Puchmayr Manuela guesthouse) (guesthouse) Kurt´s Dorfzügle (touristic train) Apartment Natter Petra Wanderführer Pius Feuerstein Apartment Greber Gesundhotel Bad Reuthe (hiking guide) Ferienhaus Sonnalp (wellness hotel) Biohotel Schwanen (holiday home) s‘Bärle (après-ski pub) Hotel Bären & Café Deli Panoramahütten Sonderdach (mountain huts) Apartment Monika Cafe Konditorei Natter Gästehaus Egender (guesthouse) (café and pastry shop) Hotel Engel

Craft casimo Holzhandwerk ewollution Filzgestaltung The synergy of working (woodworking) (felt products) Kunstschmiede Figer (metalwork) Meusburger Fliesen (tiles) together benefits the regi- Tischlerei Wolfgang Meusburger Zimmerei Oliver Beer (carpenter) (carpenter) on’s further development, Fink Martin Wasser-Wärme-Solar Dachdecker Robert Lang (roofer) (water, heating, solar) the maintaining of values Manser Verputz (plasterwork) Morscher Bau- & Projektmanage- Traumtischler Leo Metzler ment (construction and project and a constructive exch- (carpenter) management) ange between members; d´juppo & emlmachare (tailor Kaufmann Zimmerei und shop for traditional dresses) Tischlerei (carpentry) it is a form of giving and Mayr-Melnhof Holz Norbert Lukasik (carpenter) (wood industry) taking. Troy Raumausstattung (interior design) 10 11 2 Welcome to the Bregenzerwald

13 It is said of the people in the Bregenzerwald that they like doing things correctly and rigorously. At the end of the day, it should last for a long time. The distinctive character of the people reflects the landscape in which they live and work. Gentle hills contrast with rugged peaks in the high mountains, while picturesque villages combine traditional and at the same time innovative timber construction. They are thus witnesses to the past, to contemporary culture and to the future. Space has been made here for cultures in their diversity.

14 Welcome to the Bregenzerwald

Local people from the Bregenzerwald address foreigners with the “du”, the infor- mal form of “you”. Do you still feel foreign then? Though you may not always imme- diately understand their language, you will understand their hospitable nature, even without words. Their “du” sounds friendly.

Reaching out to other people is not easy when you are new to a place. Your limited language skills make you uncertain at the beginning and you need to develop an understanding of the local culture. We appreciate this and so we try, through our genuine pleasure at your arrival, to say to you: welcome to the Bregenzerwald!

A welcoming culture It is difficult to find for me is part of the good specialist workers corporate culture. but for our future it is indispensable. Ellen Nenning, Genießer- und Robert Lang Kuschelhotel Gams Dachdecker

I feel like a colleague The landscape and here, not an immigrant. the closeness to nature in the Bregenzerwald Johannes Strößenreuther inspire me again and NIGANO IT again.

Valentina Maretic, Hotel Post

15 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

17 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

Working The working environment in the Bregenzerwald is really special. It is characterized by a high commitment for work as well as collegial and uncomplicated interactions with fellow residents. As employers, the companies offer interesting and sometimes unexpected oppor- tunities. Here you can find practical information about employment.

Job search Formal recognition of qualifications from abroad Internet and newspapers The largest offer of vacancies in Before searching for a job, one must ascer- can be found on the online platform www. tain in advance whether the qualifications laendlejob.at. The regional daily newspa- in the home country are recognized in Aus- per Vorarlberger Nachrichten (VN) contains tria. For questions concerning the need for an extensive career section with job offers and the official recognition of qualifications on Wednesdays and Saturdays. acquired abroad, the „Contact point Tirol and Vorarlberg for persons with qualifica- Public Employment Service (AMS) tions acquired abroad” provides substan- Jobseekers in Austria have access to the tial support. services of the Public Employment Service Austria (Arbeitsmarktservice - AMS). AMS Feldkirch Contact point Tirol and Vorarlberg Reichsstraße 151, 6800 Feldkirch Tel.: +43 660 4369654 AMS Email: [email protected] Rheinstraße 33, 6901 Bregenz Further Information: www.berufsanerkennung.at Tel: +43 5574 691-0 Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information for foreign citizens » Working » Job Search

18 19 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald Working

Visa and residence permit Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden as well as the non-EU members Switzer- EU-citizens land, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Austria is a member of the European Union To apply for a tourist visa, the following (EU) – therefore, EU citizens do not need documents are required: a visa, a residence permit or a work per- mit. Within three days of arrival, registra- • Passport photo tion is required only with the municipality • Valid passport (at least six months) or the local residents‘ registration office. • Travel ticket or booking confirmation This rule also applies to citizens of non-EU • Confirmed hotel bookings or an invi- countries. If a stay of at least four months tation from your company is planned, an additional registration must • Proof of health insurance for your be made with the administration stay in Austria (Bezirkshauptmannschaft). • In addition, we recommend a „letter of recommendation“ from an Austrian None-EU-citizens company. Thus the visa application For non-EU citizens all formalities must be can be accelerated. completed before entering Austria. This means all permits must be applied for from D Visa: Residence visa the home country! For entry into Austria D visas entitle to a stay of between 91 days there are the following options: and six months. They are issued primarily for the purpose of courses which do not C Visa: Travel visa fall within the scope of residence permits This is the conventional tourist visa. It and for filling a gap until a residence per- can be issued for durations of stay up mit is granted. In this case, the issuance of to 90 days (in total) within a period of the residence permit must be certain at the 180 days and entitles the visa holder to date of the visa issue and the only barrier enter into and stay in the territory of the must be time. Schengen states. Schengen states are A (national) D visa that is issued by Aust- the following ones: Austria, Belgium, ria or another Schengen state in combina- Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fin- tion with a valid travel document entitles land, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the visa holder to move freely across the Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mal- other Schengen states‘ territory for up to ta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, 90 days per period of 180 days.

20 in Austria » Residence of Third-Country Nationals In general, D visas can only be issued by » General Information for Third-Country Nationals Austrian representation authorities. A for- eign authority in another Schengen sta- te that represents Austria can only issue Public authorities Schengen visas. If a D visa is required, the visa applicant may apply to an Austrian The necessary official steps after arriving representation authority in a neighbouring in Austria are linked to different public au- state. thorities. The following is a brief overview of the most important steps. Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information for foreign citizens » Living in Austria » Visa for Austria » Types of Visas Compulsory registration In Austria, registration is compulsory. That means that when somebody moves into Red-White-Red Card an area or changes his primary residence for permanent immigration within Austria, he has to register his new main Austria has introduced a flexible new im- place of residence at the registration office migration scheme: the Red-White-Red (Meldeamt), which is located in the offices Card. It aims to facilitate the immigration of the local/municipal authorities. Generally of qualified third-country workers and their a person has three working days from the families with a view to permanent settle- time he has moved to register the new pla- ment in Austria, based on personal and ce of residence. labour-market related criteria. The Red-White-Red Card is issued for a Competent authority: Municipal office at the place of residence period of twelve months and entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and em- ployment by a specified employer. The fol- Confirmation of registration lowing persons are eligible for a Red-Whi- Persons establishing their residence in te-Red Card: very highly qualified workers, Austria must register with the competent skilled workers in shortage occupations, registration authority. As a citizen of the other key workers, graduates of Austrian European Union (EU), the European Eco- universities and colleges of higher educa- nomic Area (EEA, including all EU member tion, self-employed key workers. states, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) or you are entitled to set up Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information residency in Austria under certain condi- for foreign citizens » Living in Austria » Residence 21 3 Leben und Arbeiten im Bregenzerwald Arbeiten

22 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald Working

tions. However you must apply to the re- Competent authority: District sponsible authorities for a confirmation of Commission (Bezirkshauptmannschaft Dornbirn) Klaudiastraße 2, A-6850 Dornbirn registration within four months after you Tel.: +43 5572 308 0 have entered Austria. The same is true e-mail: [email protected] for the members of your family insofar as Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information they are also citizens of the EU, the EEA or for foreign citizens » Documents and Identification Switzerland. Family members who are not » Driving Licence citizens of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland must apply for a residence permit, which is Social security issued for five years. The social security system in Austria co- vers the following: Prevention, sickness, Competent authority: incapacity for work/invalidity, maternity, Bregenz District Commission unemployment, old age, death of a person (Bezirkshauptmannschaft Bregenz) Bahnhofstraße 41, 6900 Bregenz liable to provide maintenance, survivors’ Tel.: +43 5574 49510 pensions, nursing care and social need. As e-mail: [email protected] an employee with an employment contract Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information one is automatically covered by social in- for foreign citizens » Living in Austria » Residence surance. The employer takes care of the in Austria » Residence of Third-Country Nationals » General Information for Third-Country Nationals registration with the insurance institutions. The insurance contributions to be paid by employees are deducted every month Conversion of a foreign driving licence from their gross salary/gross wages by European Union driving licences are reco- their employer. The employer applies for gnized in Austria, and may be converted a social security number of the employee at any time on a voluntary basis. Driving as well as for an e-card at the responsible license holders from non-EU countries social insurance institution. Children and with a residence in Austria, must have spouses can also be insured. their driving licence converted within six months to an Austrian driving license. Competent authority for Health insurance: Vorarlberger Gebietskrankenkasse - Servicestelle Egg, Bundesstraße 1039, ‎6863 Egg Competent authority: Tel.: +43 50 84 55-5421, e-mail: [email protected] Bregenz District Commission (Bezirkshauptmannschaft Bregenz) Further information: www.sozialversicherung.at or Bahnhofstraße 41, 6900 Bregenz http://www.migration.gv.at/en/living-and-working- in-austria/austria-at-a-glance/the-social-security- Tel.: +43 5574 49510 system e-mail: [email protected] 23 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald Working

Finances

Family allowance Bank account In Austria, families with children up to the The opening of a private account with an age of 24 are granted a monthly financial Austrian bank institution is recommen- allowance in the form of a family allowance. ded for the monthly transfer of salary. The opening of a bank account is possible wi- Competent authority: Finanzamt Bregenz thout difficulty, with a valid ID card, driving Brielgasse 19, 6900 Bregenz license or passport. The following banks Tel.: +43 5574 692 are at your disposal in the witus munici- Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information for foreign citizens » Family and Partnership » Birth palities. of a Child » Benefits and Financial Support for Raiffeisenbank Bezau Parents Platz 398, 6870 Bezau Tel: +43 5514 23 45 E-Mail: [email protected] Childcare allowance www.raiba-bmb.at In Austria, parents with entitlement to family allowance can also ask for a child-care Sparkasse Egg - Geschäftsstelle Bezau allowance. There is the possibility to choo- Bahnhof 740, 6870 Bezau Tel: +43 50100 75550 se from various forms of payment of this E-Mail: [email protected] financial support by the social insurance www.waelderbank.at institution. Raiffeisenbank Mellau Competent authority for Health insurance: Platz 58, 6881 Mellau Vorarlberger Gebietskrankenkasse - Servicestelle Tel: +43 5518 22 34 E-Mail: [email protected] Egg, Bundesstraße 1039, ‎6863 Egg www.raiba-bmb.at Tel.: +43 50 84 55-5421, e-mail: [email protected] Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information Volksbank Vorarlberg for foreign citizens » Family and Partnership » Birth of a Child » Benefits and Financial Support for Übermellen 78, 6881 Mellau Parents Tel: +43 50 882 3800 E-Mail: [email protected] www.volksbank-vorarlberg.at

Raiffeisenbank Bizau Kirchdorf 340, 6874 Bizau Tel: +43 5514 21 28 E-Mail: [email protected] www.raiba-bmb.at

24 Training and education

In Vorarlberg there are three major provi- BFI der AK Vorarlberg ders of vocational education and training Widnau 2-4, 6800 Feldkirch with a wide range of courses. Most cour- Tel: +43 5522 70200 ses take place in the cities of Dornbirn, Further information: www.bfi-vorarlberg.at Bregenz and Feldkirch. Volkshochschulen des Landes Vorarlberg Römerstraße 14, 6900 Bregenz WIFI Vorarlberg Tel: +43 5574 525240 Bahnhofstr. 24, 6850 Dornbirn Further information: www.vhs-vorarlberg.at Tel: +43 5572 3894-425 Further information: www.vlbg.wifi.at

25 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

Living

Childcare in the region Bizau Nursery Childcare centres in Austria differ accor- Age: 3 years ding to the age of children. Nurseries are Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7:30h to 11:30h child care facilities which are appropriate Kirchdorf 371, 6874 Bizau, Tel: +43 5514 2493 to the needs of babies and toddlers up to www.bizau.at/gemeinde/kindergarten the age of three. Kindergarten are facilities for children from three to six years. Regis- Bizau Kindergarten tration for the kindergarten is done via the Age: 4 to 6 years municipality. Attendance at a kindergarten Opening hours: is obligatory one year before school enrol- Monday to Friday from 7:30h to 12:00h, ment. Monday and Thursday from 13:30h to 16:00h Kirchdorf 371, 6874 Bizau, Tel: +43 5514 2493 Further information: www.help.gv.at www.bizau.at/gemeinde/kindergarten » Information for foreign citizens » Family and Partnership » Childcare Mellau Nursery and Kindergarten Bezau Nursery LaLeLu Age: 3 to 6 years Age: 1,5 to 4 years Opening hours: Group 1 for three year old chil- dren: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and from 7:30h to 12:30h; Thursday 7:30h to 17:00h, Friday 7:30h to 13:00h Groups 2+3 for four to six year old children: Pelzrain 610, 6870 Bezau, Tel: +43 664 884 331 65 Monday to Friday from 7:30h to 12:30h, www.sozialzentrum-bmr.at/kinderbetreuung.php Tuesday and Thursday from 13:30h to 16:00h Platz 285, A-6881 Mellau Bezau Kindergarten Tel: +43 5518 27 66 Age: 4 to 6 years http://gemeinde.mellau.at/gemeinde/infrastruktur/ kindergarten Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7:30h to 16:00h including child-ca- re over the lunch hour, Monday and Friday from Schnepfau Kindergarten 7:30h to 12:30h Age: 3 to 5 years Platz 375, 6870 Bezau, Tel: +43 5514 2213-15 Opening hours: [email protected] Monday to Friday from 7:45h to 12:15h www.kindergarten.bezau.at Kirchdorf 37, A-6882 Schnepfau Tel: +43 5518 28524 26 27 28 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald Living

Reuthe Kindergarten Bezau pre-vocational school Age: 3 to 6 years Platz 138, 6870 Bezau Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 07:30h Tel: +43 5514 35 10 to 12:30h, Tuesday and Thursday from 13:45h to http://pts-bezau.vobs.at 15:45h

Vorderreuthe 139, 6870 Reuthe Bezau commercial high school Tel: +43 5514 2459-13 Greben 178, 6870 Bezau [email protected] Tel: +43 5514 24 02 www.reuthe.at/bildung/kindergarten www.bws.ac.at

Schools in the region Mellau primary school Platz 285, 6881 Mellau For all children who live permanently in Tel: +43 5518 22 28 Austria compulsory education is from 6 to http://gemeinde.mellau.at/ 15 years of age. An overview of all school gemeinde/infrastruktur/volksschule facilities in Vorarlberg can be found at www.landesschulrat.at. Bizau primary school Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information Kirchdorf 72, 6874 Bizau for foreign citizens » Education » Compulsory Tel: +43 5514 3193 Schooling www.bizau.at/gemeinde/volksschule/

Bezau primary school Reuthe primary school Platz 45, 6870 Bezau Vorderreuthe 139, 6870 Reuthe Tel: +43 5514 23 79 Tel: +43 5514 3159 www.vs-bezau.vobs.at [email protected] www.reuthe.at/node/954 Bezau lower secondary school Platz 138, 6870 Bezau Schnepfau primary school Tel: +43 5514 23 77 HNr. 37, 6882 Schnepfau www.hs-bezau.vobs.at Tel: +43 5518 2852 www.schnepfau.at/volksschule.html

29 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald Living

Sports and leisure time Shopping

The Bregenzerwald offers you numerous In the witus municipalities there are many possibilities for recreational activities: be- small, modern shops that enrich the village sides a varied cultural offer (for example life. In the region almost everything can be Bezau Beatz www.bezaubeatz.at etc.) the- purchased locally. The offer ranges from re are countless possibilities to do sports, the grocery store through fashion and shoe to enjoy nature or to engage in voluntary shops to the specialist trade in constructi- work. on supplies.

Further information: Further information: www.bregenzerwald.at/s/en/sports-leisure-time www.bezau-bregenzerwald.com/sommer/ bezau-region/einkaufen-geniessen

Associations and clubs Learning German

In addition to sports clubs, many inhab- German is the national language of Aus- itants of the Bregenzerwald are members tria, but there are some peculiarities in of an association such as the volunteer terms of vocabulary and grammar in com- fire brigade, the music band or the scouts. parison to other German-speaking coun- Membership of an association is a good tries. Although English is widely spoken as way to find new friends. All clubs in the a foreign language in the Bregenzerwald, witus municipalities can be found on the it is very advantageous to acquire German homepages of the municipalities. language skills as soon as possible.

Further information: Further information: Bezau - www.bezau.at/Vereine.129.0.html Overview of Austrian course institutes and online Bizau - www.bizau.at/gemeinde/vereine language courses - www.sprachportal.at Mellau - http://gemeinde.mellau.at/gemeinde/vereine Overview of the course offer for German as a foreign language in Vorarlberg - www.pfiffikus.at Reuthe - www.reuthe.at/vereine/vereinsindex Potential funding opportunities for German Schnepfau - www.schnepfau.at/vereine.html courses - www.kursfoerderung.at Online language training tests - http://sprachportal.integrationsfonds.at/ pruefungen/online-uebungstest.html

30 31 3 Working and living in the Bregenzerwald

Housing

Housing search Estate agents The estate agent WÄLDERIMMO of- There are different possibilities for you and fers support when looking for housing your family to find accommodation in the (to rent or to buy) in the Bregenzerwald. Bregenzerwald: www.waelderimmo.at

Online platforms Rental costs A good way to find housing is the online The average rent for an apartment (up to search, for example on www.laendleimmo.at 65 m²) in a good location in the witus mu- or www.immoagent.at nicipalities is about 700 €, without running costs. Newspapers Housing offers are published in regional Compulsory registration newspapers such as WANN & WO or Vor- arlberger Nachrichten (VN). Anyone who rents an apartment in Austria is obliged to register with the registration Community bulletin office of the local municipality. The Bregenzer Gemeindeblatt (community bulletin) for the district of Bregenz appears Competent authority: Municipality weekly - approximately 11,350 copies are Further information: www.help.gv.at printed - and is the most popular sub- scription weekly in the district of Bregenz. It contains a section for rental offers and Transport rental requests. Bus Municipal office The Bregenzerwald has an excellent pu- The municipal office can provide information blic bus network. You can find departure about temporary and permanent housing times, maps and prices at www.vmobil.at. options in the respective municipality. For people that regularly take the bus it is worth buying a monthly or yearly ticket.

32 The price for adults for a yearly ticket Vehicles » Rules for Driving Motor Vehicles in covering all public transport in Vorarlberg Austria » Driving with Foreign Number Plates is around € 370. Bicycle Car The people of Vorarlberg are bike enthu- If you bring your own vehicle from abroad siasts and Vorarlberg is the most cycling- to Austria, you must register it within one friendly province of Austria. This is de- month after your arrival. monstrated by the well-developed cycle Competent authority: track network as well as by the over 1,500 Car insurance provider of your choice km of marked mountain bike trails. The Further information: www.help.gv.at » Information most beautiful bike tours can be found at for foreign citizens » Freetime and Mobility » Motor www.vorarlberg.travel/de/biketouren.

33 4 Useful links

34 General information on immigration in Austria www.migration.gv.at/en

Brochure „Welcome to Austria“ - www.integrationsfonds.at/ fileadmin/img/Kampagnen/Wien/Willkommen-in-Oesterreich-Englisch.pdf

Living and Working in Austria Information for persons eligible for asylum or subsidiary protection http://www.ams.at/_docs/ENGLISH_lebenundarbeiten_publ_16.pdf

International contacts in Vorarlberg www.globalvorarlberg.com

Information about working in Vorarlberg www.chancenland.at

Information about the Bregenzerwald www.bregenzerwald.at/s/en

Imprint: witus Wirtschaft & Tourismus Platz 39, A-6870 Bezau www.witus.at

Regionalentwicklung Vorarlberg eGen Hof 19, A-6861 www.regio-v.at

Edition: April 2017, All specifications without guarantee – subject to changes

Picture source witus and Bezau Tourismus: p1: summer action of witus at the crafts fair | p5: portraits of some witus companies | p7: casimo wood work | p8 top: team Sport & Mode Natter, middle: Geschenk & Handwerk, bottom: alpine dairy Gemeiner | p11 top: hiking and ski area Niedere, bottom: Meusburger carpentry | p13: mountain view Bregenzerwald (Hirschberg, Diedamskopf, Hoher Ifen) | p14: cable car Bezau summit station | p17: mountain biker in the Bregenzerwald | S19: alpine dairy Alpenkäse Bre- genzerwald | p22: Kaufmann carpentry | p25: participants of the language course vorankommen | p27: Kindergarten Bizau | p28: squash carving at the Gallomat (yearly fair in Bezau) | p31: top: hiking in the witus municipalities, bottom: ski school Mellau | p33: Morscher contruction and project management | p34: view of the Bregenzerwald with the Mittagsspitze 35 36