Austria Red-White-Red Card
Austria AUT
The Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte) is Austria's skilled-worker / points-based residence permit, established in 2011 and substantially expanded in 2022-2024. Eight track variants cover Very Highly Qualified Workers, Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations, Other Key Workers, Graduates of Austrian Universities, Self-Employed Key Workers, Start-up Founders, Regular Employees in Tourism / Agriculture (since 2022), and the Red-White-Red Card Plus for family members with full labour-market access. Austria simplified the points criteria and lowered salary thresholds in 2022-2023 to attract skilled workers from non-EU labour markets.
Program Details
- Category
- Skilled Worker
- Processing Time
- 3 months
- Application Fee
- $130
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Spouse + dependent children eligible for Red-White-Red Card Plus with full work right after admission
- Path to PR
- Yes — 5 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 10 years
- Physical Presence
- Continuous residence; absences over 6 months in any year can affect renewal and naturalisation clock.
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Tax Impact
- Austrian tax resident on worldwide income; progressive PIT up to 55%. Austria does not have a dedicated expat tax regime comparable to Italy or Portugal.
- Renewal Cost
- $100
Salary must match Austrian collective agreement for the role. For the 'Very Highly Qualified Worker' track, ~€2,800/month gross is the practical floor; for shortage-occupation track, €2,950/month gross; for skilled employees in shortage occupations, €3,005/month gross (2025 figures).
Application Timeline
Apply
3mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 5 years
Citizenship
After 10 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Qualifying under one of the 8 Red-White-Red Card tracks
- ✓Reach the points threshold for the chosen track (e.g. Very Highly Qualified Worker: 70 of 100 points; Skilled Worker in Shortage Occupation: 55 of 90)
- ✓Job offer matching the track requirements (or for Self-Employed: business plan)
- ✓Salary at or above the track-specific minimum
- ✓Recognised qualification or employment history
- ✓Health insurance valid in Austria
Am I eligible for Austria Red-White-Red Card?
Quick self-check based on the published criteria. Not legal advice. No data leaves your browser.
Nationality eligibility
Select your nationality to check.
Fill in the fields above to see a verdict.
This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Nationality Restrictions
This program restricts applications from nationals of: EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not require this permit
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Pre-screen via online points calculator
home countryUse migration.gv.at points calculator to confirm eligibility under chosen track. Austrian employer or applicant prepares supporting documentation.
Typical duration: 1-2 weekssource ↗
- 02
Submit application at Austrian representation
home countrySubmit to Austrian embassy / consulate in country of residence (or to AMS labour office for skilled-worker tracks if applicant is already in Austria with residence right).
Typical duration: 8-12 weekssource ↗
- 03
AMS labour-market check (where applicable)
destinationAMS (Public Employment Service) verifies points and (for some tracks) labour-market test. Decision communicated to applicant via consulate.
Typical duration: 4-8 weeks
- 04
Travel to Austria, register address
destinationEnter Austria within visa validity. Register at local Meldeamt (registration office) within 3 days. Receive Red-White-Red Card.
Typical duration: 2-4 weeks
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Employment contract or business plan | Employer / Applicant | No | de | 90 |
| Recognised qualification | Issuing institution | Yes | de | — |
| Criminal record certificate | Home country | Yes | de | 90 |
| Health insurance valid in Austria | Insurer | No | de | 365 |
| Accommodation proof in Austria | Landlord | No | de | 90 |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_high, translations, apostilles, health_insurance_first_year, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Most employer-sponsored applicants do not need a lawyer. Austrian statutory health insurance via ÖGK is the standard; cost is income-based via employer or via voluntary contribution if self-employed.
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 24 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 36 months
- Renewal fee
- $100
- Requirements
- Continued qualifying employment / business activity; valid lease; clean record.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 5
- Max days absent / year
- 180
- Language test
- ÖSD or Goethe-Zertifikat (B1)
- Integration test
- Required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 10
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- Yes
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse on Red-White-Red Card Plus has full Austrian labour-market access from admission
- Child school enrolment
- Children attend Austrian public schools free; international schools available in Vienna
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Austria does NOT permit dual citizenship for naturalisation applicants — citizenship requires renunciation of original nationality
- ⚠Points criteria differ materially by track; always run the points calculator before applying
- ⚠ÖGK statutory health insurance enrolment is mandatory and via employer for employees; self-employed must enrol voluntarily
- ⚠10-year naturalisation clock with B1 language requirement is among the longer European routes
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Switching tracks (e.g. from Skilled Worker to Self-Employed) without re-application
- ×Continued status after termination beyond a short grace period
Recent Legislative Changes
2024-01-01
Austria expanded shortage-occupation list further; reduced barriers for IT, healthcare, and engineering roles.source ↗
2022-10-01
Austria expanded the Red-White-Red Card with significant reforms: lowered salary thresholds, expanded shortage-occupation list, added regular-employee track for tourism/agriculture sectors, simplified points criteria.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Red-White-Red Card track should I apply under?+
Depends on profile: Very Highly Qualified Workers (PhD, exceptional achievement, salary €70k+) get a 6-month job-seeker visa to find Austrian employment. Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations is the most-used track for IT, healthcare, engineering. Other Key Workers covers roles outside the shortage list with higher salary thresholds. Graduates of Austrian Universities is for those completing degrees in Austria. Self-Employed Key Workers and Start-up Founders cover entrepreneur cases.
Can I keep my original citizenship after naturalising?+
No. Austria generally does not permit dual citizenship for naturalising applicants — you must renounce your original nationality. Limited exceptions exist (where renunciation is materially impossible due to home-country law) but the standard requirement is renunciation. This is a major decision factor for naturalisation candidates.
How does this compare to Germany's Blue Card?+
Germany's EU Blue Card has a higher salary threshold (~€45k for shortage occupations, ~€58k otherwise) but a faster naturalisation pathway (8 years standard, 5 with C1 German for Blue Card holders, 3 with exceptional integration after 2024 reforms). Germany permits dual citizenship since 2024; Austria does not. Austria's Red-White-Red Card has more diverse tracks (8 vs Germany's main Blue Card + Opportunity Card variants).
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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