According to the provisions of the (Austrian) Forest Act of 1975 (" Forstgesetz") the pursuit of the profession of a forester is tied to certain qualification in Austria. The profession is thus considered to be a regulated profession in Austria. Citizens of EU/ EEA member states and Switzerland as well as persons holding a residence permit with unlimited right of establishment can get their foreign certificates of competence and qualification for that same profession learned in the state of origin recognised by the competent authority, which gives them the permission to take up and practise the profession of a forester in Austria. The recognition is granted upon application and, if necessary, is subject to the provision of adaptation measures (aptitude test or adaptation period). Partial access to the profession of forester may be granted under certain conditions.

• Nationality EU, EEA, Switzerland or persons holding a residence permit with unlimited right of establishment as provided for in the (Austrian) Law Regulating Establishment and Residence (" Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz")
• Education and training required:
  • Successful completion of a five-year vocational college for forestry ("foresters' school") or
  • six-term bachelor study course in "Forest Sciences" and
  • at least two years relevant practical activity following completion of the above-mentioned education and training and
  • state examination for the forest service

In the event that

• the matters covered by the education and training in the state of origin differ substantially from those in Austria regarding their duration or content, or that
• in the state of origin the regulated profession does not include professional activities which are part of the above-mentioned profession,
• a recognition can be granted on the condition that the applicant provides prescribed suitable adaptation measures (adaptation period/aptitude test).

When applying for partial access, the applicant must be qualified for the activity applied for in the country of origin, this activity must be independently practicable in the country of origin and the difference to the profession of forester must be so great that the entire training to become a forester would have to be completed.

There are no specific time limits.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management
Directorate III/2
Marxergasse 2
1030 Vienna

Phone: +43 1 71100 / 0
Fax: +43 1 71100 607399
E-Mail: service@bml.gv.at

Homepage: https://www.bml.gv.at/

• The application for the permission to take up and practise the profession of a forester with simultaneous recognition of the professional qualifications obtained for the same profession in the state of origin has to be submitted to the competent authority in writing. The documents evidencing fulfilment of the required personal and technical conditions have to be attached to the application.
• Within one month the competent authority acknowledges receipt of the applicant's documents or requests him/her to fix any errors in the application.
• The decision on the application has to be taken by official notice not later than four months after presentation of all the documents. The competent authority can either decide to grant the permission to take up and practise the profession of a forester, if necessary subject to the provision of adaptation measures (aptitude test or adaptation period), or deny the permission. The applicant has the right to choose between an adaptation period and an aptitude test.
• The applicant has the right to submit a complaint against the decision to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management within four weeks after delivery of the decision. Decisions on such complaints are taken by the competent Provincial Administrative Court (" Landesverwaltungsgericht").

The following documents have to be attached to the application, in the form of originals or certified copies, if necessary with a German translation:

• Proof of the citizenship (certificate of citizenship, passport or identity card) or of the unlimited right of establishment
• If the profession is regulated in the state of origin:
  • Certificate of qualification or evidence of the completed education and training, issued by the competent authority of the state of origin including information on the total duration and the structure of the education and training completed, on the contents/matters of education and training and the professional qualifications thus gained
  • If necessary, evidence of the professional experience made
• If the profession is not regulated in the state of origin, in addition:
  • Evidence that the profession was practised for at least two years during the ten years preceding the application and presentation of one or more certificates of qualification or of education and training, issued by the competent authority of the state of origin
  • Evidence that the applicant has been prepared for the pursuit of the profession concerned
• In the case of partial recognition: certificate of competence or training, issued by the competent authority of the country of origin, attesting to the qualification for the activity applied for.

The following costs are prescribed with the official notice closing the procedure:

• 14.30 Euro entry fee for the application and
• 3.90 Euro attachment fee for each attachment that has to be added to the application

sections 109, 109a of the Forstgesetz 1975 (ForstG) ^{German text}

I have noted that the data provided by me, as well as any data received by the administration over the course of the preliminary investigation, will be automatically processed as per article 6, para. 1 lit. c and e of the General Data Protection Regulation in accordance with the underlying material laws of the legal process. Furthermore, I am aware that this is for the purpose of executing the legal procedure initiated by me, the granting of regulatory approval and also for the purpose of review. I have read the general information regarding: 

• the right to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, withdrawal and objection, as well as on data portability
• the right to lodge a complaint with the Austrian data protection authority
• the responsibilities of the process controller and the data protection officer as per https://datenschutz.stmk.gv.at.

Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management

1 January 2025