In general, the work options at the duty station for partners are strongly determined by the country or the posting and its regulations. (EU, NON-EU country, Memorandum of Understanding with Austria in place or not and not to forget the issue of the residence permit as well as the taxation)

In principle there are 7 options, of which 6 for cross boarder remote work for partners of diplomats:

0) not work at all (relocate to the duty station with and be co-insured with the partner working for AW, attention: no pension insurance contributions, except if paid in individually/privately)

1) stay in Austria and continue physically to work in Austria, meaning not living at the duty station (no diplomatic status & passport, own social & health insurance, contributions to the national pension fund by employer)

2) temporary assignment by the current employer to an entity of the Austrian Employer at the duty station (no diplomatic status & passport, own social & health insurance (attention: Employer needs to provide the health insurance abroad!), contributions to the national pension fund by employer)

3) work as a freelancer (no diplomatic status nor co-insurance via AW, check social insurance, health insurance & pension.... case by case!)

4) Employer of Records (EOR): the employment and all the international part is handled by an employer of record, no diplomatic status or co-insurance via AW)
Here is some information to be found on the topic of EOR, but seen from the German perspective: https://www.acquisa.de/magazin/employer-of-record
Note that the involvement of an EOR is cost intense and hence makes only sense for full-time work contracts, no part time jobs.

5) Own company (be it an EPU or association..., social insurance, health insurance & pension is to be organised individually, no diplomatic status or insurance via AW)

6) "Geringfügigkeit" - this is an Austrian concept based on the assumption, that, if you earn less than € 551,10 p.m. in 2025 (https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/lexicon/G/Seite.990119) you cannot support yourself and are co-insured with the partner employed by AW. (Diplomatic status and co-insurance via AW, no pension contribution, this again as in 0) has to be organised privately). This Geringfügigkeit applies also if you work as a freelancer etc.

Make sure that, if home office regulations are needed or requested that you should be careful about the extent requested: remote only (100% home office) or eg 60% office/ 40% remote... There are many options, just make sure the chosen option is suitable for your needs.

Be aware that, in case you are relocating without diplomatic status, you need to organise your residence permit and Visa for the relevant country by yourself.

Furthermore, in many countries you might not be allowed to drive the family car without a special paper and/or approval except your kids or partner holding a diplomatic status are in the car.

There might occasionally be other problems arising due to the different visa/residence types, specific to the host country (eg health certificates requested etc...), so a thorough check beforehand is recommended.

For Non-EU Countries it is advisable to check if there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the country of the duty station and Austria concluded.

The list is growing over the time, and the contract text is individual for every country and depends on the local requirements. For example, whilst Austria would like to conclude an MoU relevant for all types of possible partnerships and status, diplomatic status included, the host country might not recognize an “eingetragene Partnerschaft” or might not allow partners of diplomats to work in the host country.

Note – the base for all relations between countries is the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, signed in Vienna on 18.4.1961 and entered into force in 1964. https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf