Building a new life, one step at a time
Moving to Austria wasn't a spontaneous decision for Emina-Ferzana Uzunovic. Over several years, she got to know the country through university projects, summer visits and the people she met along the way. What started as a growing curiosity gradually turned into a clear goal. Today, she works as a Software Engineer at Hitachi Rail in Vienna – a city that has become much more than just the next step in her career.
The essentials – Emina's insights & experiences
Austria wasn't on Emina's radar overnight. Student jobs connected her with projects at TU Graz and TU Wien, while repeated visits to Vienna allowed her to experience everyday life beyond tourism. These experiences gave her the confidence that Austria could become a place to build both a career and a future.
Having already lived and worked in Slovenia and Germany, Emina knew that every move abroad comes with its own challenges. This experience taught her that good preparation makes all the difference. Understanding immigration procedures, researching practical matters and receiving professional guidance helped turn a complex relocation into a well-structured process.
Today, Emina works as a Software Engineer at Hitachi Rail while building a life that extends far beyond her career. She enjoys attending workshops and networking events, plays tennis and loves exploring the nature around Vienna. Together with her involvement in the Business Women of BiH network, these experiences have helped transform Vienna from a career destination into a place she truly calls home.
Today, Emina sees Austria as much more than the next step in her career. Having already lived and worked in different countries, she has found the professional opportunities and personal stability she was looking for. For now, all signs point to staying.
Why Austria – where preparation meets opportunity
For Emina, Austria combined everything she had been looking for: exciting career opportunities, a reliable infrastructure and a high quality of life. Having already experienced the country through university collaborations and private visits, moving to Vienna felt like a well-informed decision rather than a leap into the unknown.
What stood out most to Emina after moving to Austria:
Reliable public services and infrastructure
Excellent international career opportunities
A welcoming international community
High quality of life with countless leisure activities
A work culture built on trust
One of the biggest surprises for Emina was the supportive working environment she experienced in Austria. Flexible working hours made it easier to manage appointments during her first months, while a dedicated buddy and welcoming colleagues helped her settle in quickly. Beyond her own team, internal networks created opportunities to meet new people and build connections across the company. Small gestures, such as being invited to a Bosnian restaurant only a few weeks after joining, made her feel genuinely welcomed from day one.
Support that made all the difference
Although Emina already had experience moving abroad, navigating the Austrian immigration process as a non-EU citizen still raised many questions. Through WORK in AUSTRIA, she received step-by-step guidance throughout the application process for her Red-White-Red Card.
One piece of advice alone saved her both valuable time and unnecessary costs: thanks to updated information on recognized language certificates, she was able to choose a different exam provider, complete the process much faster and shorten her relocation timeline by several weeks. At the same time, her employer gained planning certainty for her start date.
WORK in AUSTRIA supports international talents by:
Providing guidance throughout the immigration process
Explaining residence and work permit requirements
Supporting both employers and international professionals
Making relocation to Austria easier and more predictable
Emina's advice to future talents
Start preparing early – good planning makes every step easier.
Learn German before you move; it helps both professionally and personally.
Build connections beyond your workplace and become part of local communities.
Stay patient and resilient – relocating abroad takes time, but it is worth it.
Reach out to WORK in AUSTRIA early to make the immigration process smoother.