Background checks for Austria
Austrian hiring runs on a careful, evidence-led process. Zinc fits into that, with GDPR and DSG-compliant checks for Austria and every other country you hire in.
Checks and features
All your essential Austrian checks
Candidate-led criminal checks
In Austria, employers can't access a candidate's criminal record directly. Instead, the candidate retrieves their own Criminal Certificate (Strafregisterbescheinigung), either digitally through ID Austria or in person, and shares it as part of the process. Zinc's platform walks candidates through what to do, and reports the result in German and English, back to you.
Centralised, audit-ready dashboard
Zinc's dashboard keeps every check and result in one place, so you've got a clear record if anyone ever asks how a decision was reached.
Lightning-fast directorship checks
With Zinc, directorship checks are returned in less than a day, so you can hire for leadership roles quickly and confidently.
9.4
/10
8
days
Average criminal check completion
18
days
Average education check completion
Right to work, made simple
In Austria alone, Zinc accepts eleven different documents for right to work checks, so candidates aren't stuck digging through drawers for one specific form. Whatever they've got to hand, we can work with it, keeping the process quick and stress-free.
Support when you need it
Roles like childcare or security work may need a different kind of certificate, with written justification from the employer. Zinc's compliance team helps you understand what's needed for a specific role, so you can build checks packages that work for your team.
One global system
Your Austrian hiring doesn't need its own standalone process. Zinc keeps it in the same place as every other country you hire in, so your team isn't managing two different systems side by side. Plus, you can integrate your ATS or HRIS with Zinc at no extra cost, to keep all your hiring records in the same place.
“Zinc is brilliant! It takes a big burden off us by handling reference follow-ups and chasing. Plus, the integration with PinPoint works great! It’s simple and easy to use for new hires and employers alike, and the chat is really useful too. Being 100% compliant with our client’s background verification requirements gives me peace of mind and keeps us feeling on top of our game!”
Checks that work everywhere you do
Full visibility, transparent pricing, and adaptable checks for borderless hiring.
Industry-leading global turnaround times
Adaptive checks, not extra admin
Integrated with your HR tech stack
Truly transparent pricing
Pricing
Built for global teams
Whether you're a growing team or an enterprise hiring across borders, Zinc has a plan for you.
Under 20 hires annually
Pay As You Grow
Get started in minutes. Our Pay As You Grow plan is built for lower hiring volumes — a flat rate per check, with no hidden costs or setup fees.
Start checking in minutes, no setup needed
Flat rates per check, no hidden fees
Pay only for what you check, every month
20+ hires annually
Custom solutions
For larger volumes, our experts build a plan around your needs. Credit is flexible with your hiring and never expires, with integrations, setup, training, and support all included for free.
A custom plan built around your hiring
Credit pool that rolls over and never expires
Integrations, setup, and training included for free
“The automated downloading of Zinc reports into employees’ job profiles in our HR system means we don’t have to worry about missing information or gaps in our reporting.”
Can Austrian employers directly access a candidate's criminal record?
No. The Criminal Certificate (Strafregisterbescheinigung) is issued by the Department of the Ministry of Justice, and candidates retrieve it themselves, either in person or online. Employers can't access an individual's criminal record directly. They request the check via Zinc, and the candidate handles retrieval and submission.
Is Zinc's Austrian criminal certificate available in English?
Yes. It's issued bilingually in German and English, nationwide.
Can Zinc run credit checks in Austria?
Yes. The check draws on data from Bisnode Austria GmbH, covering direct marketing companies, debt collection agencies, registration registers, bankruptcy registers, and company registers. Coverage extends to roughly 93% of the Austrian population over 18 with regular residence there, plus lawfully resident foreigners. You’re required to collect the candidate's consent to submit the check.
Timeframes vary by record type:
- Closed negative financial records are retained three years after closure
- Ongoing negative records may remain longer
- Bankruptcy information is retained seven years
- Other financial judicial proceedings are retained for five years
The check leaves no footprint on the candidate's creditworthiness — only the requesting entity's industry appears on the report.
What law governs background checks in Austria?
GDPR and the Austrian Datenschutzgesetz (DSG). Sensitive positions, such as childcare or security-related roles, require specialised certificates with written justification from the employer.