Residence & Employment

The Red-White-Red – Card

Austria’s Red-White-Red – Card (“Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte”) offers a residence permit for third-country nationals who would like to work as skilled employees in Austria and want to stay in Austria on a permanent basis. There is not only one Red-White-Red – Card but a total of seven subcategories.

The Red-White-Red – Card at a glance

Combined residence and work permit
Designed for long-term employment in Austria
Prerequisite: binding job offer

Bound to one specific employer
Validity of up to 2 years
Family immigration possible

Family members (wife/husband, registered partner, children) can apply for a Red-White-Red – Card PlusRed-White-Red – Card Plus () enabling them to freely access the Austrian labour market.

Familie mit Kinderwagen — © Maskot / Westend61

Skilled workers from third countries who are the spouses, registered partners or parents of EU citizens do not have to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card or EU Blue Card. They can apply for a so-called Residence Card. This gives them free access to the Austrian labour market. They can therefore work both as employees or can be self-employed and are not bound to a specific employer.

Skilled workers from third countries who are the spouses or registered partners of Austrians also do not have to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card to work in Austria. They can apply for a Residence Permit – Family Members. This gives them free access to the Austrian labour market. They can therefore work both as employees or can be self-employed.

Attention

Before you or your future employer submit the application, you must have decided where you want to live in Austria. This is important because there are different branches of the Immigration Authority in Austria. Which of these branches is responsible for you depends on your future place of residence in Austria. Once you have decided on a place, a change is complicated and not recommended. Please also note that you have to declare your main residenc e after arriving in Austria and before picking up your residence permit. This means that you already have to look for suitable accommodation during your application procedure.

The Red-White-Red – Card is basically intended for long-term employment. For seasonal employment, employment permits must still be applied for at the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS).

Holders of a Red-White-Red – Card or an EU Blue Card valid in Austria are allowed to pursue a self-employed activity in addition to their employed activity, but only to a minor extent.

Immigration Guide Austria

The online platform offers tailor-made answers to all your questions about living and working, residence, family reunification and employment of foreigners in Austria.

Visit nowVisit now ()

Choose one category of the Red-White-Red – Card
and learn more about it

The Red-White-Red – Card for
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations

The Red-White-Red - Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations is aimed at third-country nationals who have a job offer and training in a shortage occupation.

Every year, the Federal Republic of Austria publishes a list of shortage occupations. This term refers to those occupations for which less than 1.5 job seekers per vacancy were available within a year. The Skilled Workers Ordinance, issued annually by the Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, lists 81 nationwide and 66 regional shortage occupations in 2025.

Skilled workers from these occupational groups can usually immigrate to Austria somewhat more quickly. This is mainly due to the fact that it is already established in advance that there is a demand for these skilled workers on the labour market and thus no labour market check is carried out.

In order to receive this Red-White-Red – Card, you have to attain a sufficient number of points in the legally stipulated points system.

There are several categories of criteria in which you can collect points:

Qualifications (training or education in a shortage occupation)

You will only receive points for your education or studies if they match the job offer in the shortage occupation. For example, if you have received a job offer as a software developer, a degree in philosophy will not be sufficiently relevant to the profession. The training you have completed must largely correspond to the Austrian level of training in terms of duration and scope.
Professional experience which you gained in your specialised area after your studies or training

Not only fully completed years of professional experience will count, but also periods of 6 months. Internships are generally not taken into account. Proof of professional experience must include, at a minimum, the starting date, the end date, and a description of the job position.
German language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. German certificates from the following institutions are accepted: ÖSD, Goethe-Institute, TELC, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
English language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. English certificates are accepted from the following institutions: Cambridge, The European Language Certificates (TELC), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). You will receive 5 additional points for demonstrable English proficiency if the company language is English.
French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. Certificates proving skills of these languages are also only accepted from recognized institutions (alternatively: proof of completed education in one of these languages or native language skills).
Age

You will obtain points for the age you are upon submission of the application.

Eligibility criteria for skilled workers	Points
Qualifications	Max points: 30
Completed vocational education/training in the shortage occupation	30
Work experience matching one's qualification	Max points: 20
Work experience (per half-year)	1
Work experience in Austria (per half-year)	2
Language skills	Max points: 25
German language skills (A1 level) German language skills (A2 level) German language skills (B1 level)	5 10 15
English language skills (A2 level) English language skills (B1 level)	5 10
French language skills (B1 level)	5
Spanish language skills (B1 level)	5
Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian language skills (B1 level)	5
Age	Max points: 15
Up to 30 years of age	15
Up to 40 years of age	10
Up to 50 years of age	5
Sum total of maximum allowable points:	90
Additional points for corporate language English	5
Required minimum:	55

You have to attain a score of at least 55 points.
Each category has a maximum number of points which you cannot exceed. For example, if you have more than ten years of relevant professional experience, you will still not receive more than 20 points for your professional experience.
It is not necessary to obtain points in every category. It suffices to achieve the minimum of 55 points!

Attention

If you have relevant education or training (e.g., university studies) in a specified shortage application but do not have a binding job offer in this shortage occupation, the Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations is not the best way forward. This is also the case if you have a job offer in a shortage occupation but no relevant training. Instead, you can find out whether the EU Blue Card, the Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers or the Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers more closely matches your situation.

Required documents

In any case, you will have to submit the following documents in order to receive a Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations:

Application form
Passport
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than six months)
Qualification-related documents:
- Updated curriculum vitae (optional)
- Proof of qualifications or education (university diploma, etc.)
- Proof of professional experience (recommendations/references, etc.)
- Language certificates if necessary
Employer documents:
- Employer’s Declaration (“ArbeitgebererklärungArbeitgebererklärung ()”)
- Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on the skilled worker’s classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than 3 months
Fees: 160 €

Please note the following:

There is no separate minimum salary for the Red-White-Red - Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations. However, your employer in Austria must at least pay you according to the applicable collective agreement.
The validity of your Red-White-Red – Card depends on the validity of your job offer/work contract as well as on your passport's validity. If both are valid for at least 2 years, your Red-White-Red – Card is also valid for a period of 2 years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can check which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () you will have to obtain.

Personal documents must be specially legalised so that these documents are officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary.
If personal documents were not issued in German or English, they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/ beeideter Übersetzer”).
If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee may actually be higher than € 160.

Red-White-Red – Card
for Other Key Workers

The Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers (“Sonstige Schlüsselkräfte”) targets third-country nationals who received a job offer in a company in Austria for a position that cannot be assigned to any shortage occupation, or third-country nationals who have gathered relevant job experience but do not dispose of the required education for a specific shortage occupation. This category of the Red-White-Red – Card comes with a gross minimum salary of € 3,225 per month (2025).

Note that the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) is entitled to carry out a labour market check upon any application for a Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers.

To be eligible for the application of this category of the Red-White-Red – Card, applicants need to attain a sufficient number of points within the legally stipulated points system. There are five categories of criteria in which you can collect points:

Qualifications (training or education)

You will receive points for your education or studies even if it does not directly match the job offer. In this case though, your job experience needs to be pertinent.
Professional experience which you gained in your specialised area after your studies or training

Half years of work experience are also counted. However, internships are generally not counted as work experience. Evidence of work experience must include at least the starting date, end date and a description of the position.
German language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red - Card. German certificates are accepted by the following institutions: ÖSD, Goethe-Institute, TELC, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
English language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red - Card. English certificates are accepted from the following institutions: Cambridge, TELC, IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL.

You will receive 5 additional points for demonstrable English proficiency if the company language is English.
French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Language certificates

must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red - Card. English certificates are accepted from the following institutions: Cambridge, The European Language Certificates (TELC), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

You will receive 5 additional points for demonstrable English proficiency if the company language is English.
Age

The age you have at the time of application applies.

You have to achieve a score of at least 55 points.
Each category has a maximum number of points which you cannot exceed. For example, if you have more than ten years of relevant professional experience, you will still not receive more than 20 points for your professional experience.
It is not necessary to obtain points in every category. It suffices to attain the minimum of 55 points!

Eligibility criteria for key workers	Points
Qualifications	Max. points: 30
Completed vocational education/training or special know-how or skills in the prospective occupation	20
General eligibility for university admission	25
Completion of a programme of studies with a minimum duration of three years at an institution of tertiary education	30
Work experience	Max. points: 20
Work experience (per half-year)	1
Work experience in Austria (per half-year)	2
Language skills	Max. points: 25
German language skills (A1 level) German language skills (A2 level) German language skills (B1 level)	5 10 15
English language skills (A2 level) English language skills (B1 level)	5 10
French language skills (B1 level)	5
Spanish language skills (B1 level)	5
Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian language skills (B1 level)	5
Age	Max. points: 15
Up to 30 years of age	15
Up to 40 years of age	10
Sum total of maximum allowable points:	90
Additional points for English language skills, when English is the predominant language of the respective company	5
Bonus points for professional athletes and professional sports coaches	20
Required minimum:	55

Attention

If you have a binding job offer and education in a so-called shortage occupation, the Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations could be an attractive alternative to you. Moreover, you can also find out whether the EU Blue Card or the Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers more closely matches your situation. If you completed your studies in Austria, the Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates could be a good option for you.

Required documents

In any case, you will have to submit the following documents in order to receive a Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers:

Application form
Passport
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than six months)
Qualification-related documents:
- Updated curriculum vitae (optional)
- Proof of qualifications or education (univesity diploma, etc.)
- Proof of professional experience (recommendations/references, etc.)
- Language certificates, if necessary
Employer documents:
- Employer’s Declaration (“ArbeitgebererklärungArbeitgebererklärung ()”)
- Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on the skilled worker’s classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than three months
Fees: 160 €

Please note the following:

The validity of your Red-White-Red – Card depends on the duration of your employment contract and validity of your passport. If both are valid for at least 2 years, your Red-White-Red – Card will also be valid for a period of 2 years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can check which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () you will have to obtain.
Personal documents must be specially legalised to be officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary.

If personal documents were not issued in German or English, they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/ beeideter Übersetzer”).
If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee may actually be higher than € 160.

Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates of Austrian Universities

The Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates of Austrian Universities (“StudienabsolventInnen”) targets third-country nationals who completed studies at an Austrian university or university of applied sciences and received a suitable offer of employment corresponding to the educational level of academics.

This category of the Red-White-Red – Card does not come with any point system nor minimum salary, nor does the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) carry out any labour market check.

You have to fulfil the following prerequisites to obtain this category of the Red-White-Red – Card:

You successfully completed university studies in Austria. Only diplomas from state-owned universities or universities of applied sciences or from accredited private universities are recognised.
You received a job offer from a company in Austria that corresponds to the educational level of academics. Your future employer must pay a salary according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement, additionally taking into account any overpayment which is customary locally and/or within the company (if applicable).

Wien Innenstadt junge Personen — Copyright: © Maskot / Westend61 (top) / © Westend61 (bottom)

Attention

If you have not successfully concluded your studies in Austria, the Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates will not be granted. Instead, you can find out whether the EU Blue Card, the Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers, the Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations or the Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers is a better fit for your situation.

Required documents

In any case, you will have to submit the following documents in order to receive a Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates:

Application form
Passport
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than 6 months)
Qualification-related documents:
- Updated curriculum vitae (optional)
- Proof of successfully concluded studies (university diploma, etc.)
Employer documents:
- Employer’s Declaration (“ArbeitgebererklärungArbeitgebererklärung ()”)
- Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on the skilled worker’s classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”) if you do not live in Austria anymore, not older than 3 months
Fees: 160 €

Please note the following:

The validity of your Red-White-Red – Card depends on the validity of your employment contract as well as on your passport's validity. If both are valid for at least 2 years, your Red-White-Red – Card is also valid for a period of 2 years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can check which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () you will have to obtain.
Personal documents must be specially legalised so that these documents are officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary.

If personal documents were not issued in German or English, they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/ beeideter Übersetzer”).
If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee may actually be higher than € 160.

Did you know that after completing your studies you can extend your “Residence Permit Student" (“Aufenthaltsbewilligung StudentAufenthaltsbewilligung Student ()”) for an additional 12 months? This extension allows you to search for a job in Austria. If you receive a job offer, you can apply for the Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates. However, you will only be granted the extended residence permit for students if you can show that you are able to financially support yourself and have health insurance. You are also allowed to work on the basis of your “Residence Permit Student", but only under certain conditions and with a work permit (“Beschäftigungsbewilligung”).

Red-White-Red – Card for
Very Highly Qualified Workers

The Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers (“Besonders Hochqualifizierte”) targets third-country nationals who have special qualifications. As a rule, these skilled employees can immigrate to Austria more quickly than other skilled workers. This is particularly attributable to the fact that no labour market check is carried out.

In order to receive this category of the Red-White-Red – Card, you have to attain a sufficient number of points in the legally stipulated points system. There are several categories of criteria in which you can collect points:

Qualifications and special skills
As a rule, you will only receive points for your education if it matches your job offer. For example, if you received a job offer as a software developer, studies in the field of philosophy will not be sufficiently relevant in this specific area and therefore disregarded.

If you worked in a senior management position in a publicly traded (or positively assessed) company, this can also earn you many points. The important thing is to obtain proof of your gross annual salary from a public authority (tax office, etc.).

Only those awards and prizes are recognised which are granted for special professional achievements and which are internationally known or are considered to be of major importance by experts.

Publications are generally recognised when they appear in and are registered in international specialist or trade publications

Patents have to be registered.

Professional experience which fits your education/training or senior management positions
Not only fully completed years of professional experience will count, but also periods of 6 months. Internships are generally not taken into account. Proof of professional experience must include, at a minimum, the starting date, the end date, and a description of the job position.
German language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. German certificates from the following institutions are accepted: ÖSD, Goethe-Institute, TELC, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
English language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. English certificates are accepted from the following institutions: Cambridge, The European Language Certificates (TELC), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). You will receive 5 additional points for demonstrable English proficiency if the company language is English.
French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. Certificates proving skills of these languages are also only accepted from recognized institutions (alternatively: proof of completed education in one of these languages or native language skills).
Age
As far as age is concerned, you will be granted points according to your age upon submission of the application.
Studies (or parts of your studies) in Austria

You have to achieve at least 70 points.
Each category has a maximum number of points which you cannot exceed. For example, if you have more than ten years of relevant professional experience, you will still not receive more than 20 points for your professional experience.
It is not necessary to obtain points in every category. It suffices to achieve the minimum of 70 points!
There is no specific minimum salary for the Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers. However, your employer in Austria is required to pay a salary at least according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

Eligibility criteria for very highly qualified persons	Points
Special qualifications and skills	Max. points: 40
Graduation from an institution of higher education, minimum duration of programme: four years	20
- in the subjects Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM subjects)	30
- Post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) or PhD	40
Gross salary of previous year earned in a senior management position with a company listed on the stock exchange or a company for which the Austrian foreign trade office in charge issued a positive report about its activities or business segment:
- €50,000 to 60,000	20
- €60,000 to 70,000	25
- More than €70,000	30
Research and innovation activities (Patent applications, publications)	20
Awards (recognised prizes)	20
Work experience (adequately reflecting applicant’s qualification or senior management position)	Max. points: 20
Work experience (per half-year) Six months of work experience in Austria	1 10
Language skills	Max. points: 10
German or English language skills (A1 level) German or English language skills (A2 level)	5 10
French language skills (B1 level)	5
Spanish language skills (B1 level)	5
Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian language skills (B1 level)	5
Age	Max. points: 20
Up to 35 years of age	20
Up to 40 years of age	15
up to 45 years of age	10
Studies in Austria	Max. points: 10
Second part of diploma programme (Diplomstudium) or half of the required total ECTS points	5
Completed diploma programme (Diplomstudium) or Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programme	10
Sum total of maximum allowable points:	100
Required minimum:	70

Attention

If you achieve at least 70 points, you can submit an application to the Austrian representative authority (embassy/consulate) in your country of residence for a Visa D (Job Seeker Visa, in German “Arbeitssuche-Visum”). On the basis of this visa, you are allowed to enter Austria and directly search for a job in the country for up to six months. As soon as you have a job offer, you can apply for the Red-White-Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers. Please note that public authorities may take several months to examine your application for a Job Seeker Visa.

Required documents

In any case, you will have to submit the following documents in order to receive a Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers:

Application form
Passport
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than six months)
Qualification-related documents:
- Updated curriculum vitae (optional)
- Proof of qualifications or education/training (university diploma, etc.)
- Proof of professional experience (recommendations/references, etc.)
- Language certificates if necessary
Employer documents:
- Employer's Declaration (“ArbeitgebererklärungArbeitgebererklärung ()”)
- Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on the skilled worker’s classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than 3 months
Fees: 160 €

Please note the following:

The validity of your Red-White-Red – Card depends on the validity of your job offer/work contract as well as on your passport's validity. If both are valid for at least 2 years, your Red-White-Red – Card is also valid for a period of 2 years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can check which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () you will have to obtain.
Personal documents must be specially legalised so that these documents are officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary.

If personal documents were not issued in German or English, they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/ beeideter Übersetzer”).
If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee may actually be higher than € 160.

Attention

If you are unable to achieve the necessary number of points, you can find out instead whether the EU Blue Card, the Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations or the Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers more closely matches your situation. In particular, the Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations could be an attractive alternative for you if you have received a job offer in one of the legally defined shortage occupations. If you concluded your studies in Austria in the past year, the Red-White-Red – Card for Graduates could turn out to be a good option for you.

Red-White-Red – Card for Regular Seasonal Workers

The Red-White-Red – Card for Regular Seasonal Workers targets third-country nationals who have already been working as registered seasonal workers for 2 years and dispose of a certain level of German skills.

Under certain conditions, this category of the Red-White-Red – Card enables the changeover from a visa and work permit (“Beschäftigungsbewilligung”) as a seasonal worker to a long-term residence permit in Austria.

01
What are the requirements for obtaining a Red-White-Red Card for regular seasonal workers?

Third-country nationals are admitted to employment as regular seasonal workers and can obtain a Red-White-Red – Card if

1. they have been employed as registered regular seasonal workers in the same industry for at least 7 months in each of the previous 2bcalendar years,

2. they provide evidence of German language skills at A1 level,

3. the employer offers the prospect of a permanent employment relationship, and

4. the general requirements for an employment permit are met.

02
When is someone a "registered regular seasonal worker"?

Registered regular seasonal workers are seasonal workers who:

1. have been employed on a temporary basis in the same industry for at least 3 months in each of the past 5 calendar years under a quota permit and have registered with the regional offices of the Public Employment Service for continued employment in that industry; or

2. were employed in the same sector of the economy for a limited period of at least 4 months in each of the calendar years 2006 to 2010 under a quota and have registered with the regional offices of the Public Employment Service for further employment in this sector of the economy by April 30, 2012.

Attention

The Red-White-Red - Card is intended for long-term employment. For seasonal work, a work permit (“Beschäftigungsbewilligungen”) can/must still be applied for at the Public Employment Service (AMS). In addition to a work permit, seasonal workers also need a visa.

Required documents

The following documents are required upon application of a Red-White-Red – Card for Regular Seasonal Workers:

Application form
Passport, valid for at least 2 years upon application
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than 6 months)
German certificate at A1 level
Employer documents:
- Employer’s Declaration ("ArbeitgebererklärungArbeitgebererklärung ()")
- Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on the skilled worker’s classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than 3 months
Fees: 160 €

Please note the following:

One or more Police Clearance Certificates need to be presented, depending upon the country of residence. Here you can check which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () are required.
Police Clearance Certificates must be specially legalised to be officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary.
If Police Clearance Certificates were not issued in German or English, they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/ beeideter Übersetzer”).
If additional personal documents are requested by the immigration authority or if a Visa D is required, the fee may actually be higher than € 160.

The language certificate must not be older than 5 years upon application for the Red-White-Red – Card. German certificates from the following institutions are accepted: ÖSD, Goethe-Institute, TELC, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
There is no special minimum salary specified for the Red-White-Red – Card for Regular Seasonal Workers. However, the Austrian employer is required to pay a salary according to the collective agreement.
The validity of the Red-White-Red – Card depends on the passport's validity. If it is valid for at least 2 years, the Red-White-Red – Card will also valid for a period of 2 years.

Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers

The Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers targets third-country nationals who want to establish a company, which will offer high added value to the Austrian economy, or will provide added impetus, or which will have an outstanding positive effect on Austria’s economic development (“macroeconomic benefits”). Among other things, an investment transfer of at least € 100,000 must be proven for this.

ABA landscape photoshoot — © digitalwerk

Requirements

This is reflected by the requirements which must be fulfilled when you become involved in the company. There are several options. One option is

01
the sustainable transfer of investment capital to Austria equalling a minimum of € 100,000

The transfer of financial resources from abroad must have already taken place or there must be a realistic prospect of this taking place in the near future. For this purpose, you must show proof in which you demonstrate that you have a specific amount of financial funds at your disposal at any time. This involves the direct transfer of capital from abroad for the purpose of setting up a company – and building it up. In practice, for example, you have to show that the funds are available on a bank account and present a business plan outlining which purchases or acquisitions are to be carried out with the investment capital. A declaration on your part is not sufficient to show the transfer of capital. The payment of share capital itself does not represent the transfer of investment capital. The Austrian Public Employment Service (“Arbeitsmarktservice”; short: AMS) carefully examines all these details.
02
that new jobs are created, or existing jobs are secured

In principle, this means that several full-time jobs must be created. You have to show evidence of this (e.g., relevant details specified in the business plan) which is carefully reviewed by AMS.

03
that the subsidiary or branch office will involve a transfer of know-how or the introduction of new technologies

In your business plan, you must explain in detail how know-how will be contributed to the company in connection with your participation, qualifications and position in the company. Qualifications can be shown, for instance, by presenting a university diploma and/or professional experience.
04
that the company is of significant importance to the entire Austrian region

This means that you must explain in your business plan in which ways the company you will establish or your participation in an existing company will be of great importance to the entire region.

Procedures

You apply for the Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers as follows

If you are not allowed to enter the country without a visawithout a visa (), you apply to the Austrian representative authority (embassy or consulate) in your country of residence.
If you are allowed to enter the country without a visa, you may apply personally to the Immigration and Residence Authority (“Aufenthaltsbehörde”) in Austria

In any case, you must submit the following documents when applying for the Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers:

Application form
Passport
Passport photo fulfilling EU criteria (not older than 6 months)
Personal documents:
- Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than 3 months
Proof of health insurance covering all risks (compulsory health insurance or an insurance policy)

Proof of a secure livelihood or sufficient means of subsistence (e.g., salary slips, wage statements, confirmation of insurance benefits, proof of pension payments, retirement and other benefits, investment capital or a sufficient amount of own assets, proof of covering accommodation expenses)

Work- or company-related documents:
- Documents on implementing a market, competitor and location analysis: description and objectives of the intended corporate activities ("business plan")
- Proof of the transfer of investment capital or the intend creation and safeguarding of jobs
- Proof of qualifications required to work on a self-employed basis
- Articles of association or shareholder agreement, if necessary
- Required already existing) licenses to pursue a specified trade
Fees: € 160

Attention

Before you submit the application, you have to decide where in Austria you want to live. This is important because Austria does not have one single Immigration and Residence Authority branch but many. Which of these branches is actually responsible for you depends on your future place of residence in Austria. Once you have selected a particular place, any change is complicated and not recommended. This means that you will need to look for appropriate housing during your application process. Also, please keep in mind that you will need to register your main residenceregister your main residence () upon immigrating to Austria and before collecting your permit.

Please note:

If necessary, public authorities can demand that you submit other documents as well.
The validity of your Red-White-Red Card depends on how long your passport is still valid. If it is valid for at least two years, then your Red-White-Red Card is also valid for a period of two years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can see which Police Clearance CertificatesPolice Clearance Certificates () you will have to obtain.
Personal documents must be specially legalised so that these documents are officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can look to see which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary .
If personal documents are not available in German or English, as a rule they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/beeideter Übersetzer”).

If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee to be paid may actually be higher than € 160.

The Immigration Authority will forward your application and documents to the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS, short for “Arbeitsmarktservice”). In the first step, AMS will check to see whether or not your work really involves self-employment (“preliminary review” or “Vorprüfung”).

he business plan must contain the information required which enables AMS to examine the supposed macroeconomic benefit:

This business plan should describe the business activities of the company and its objectives and thus serves as the basis for a market, competitor and location analysis.
The business plan must specify the company size, the number of people to be employed, capacity utilisation, etc., so that AMS can make a forecast about whether or not the requirements are fulfilled.

AMS also checks to see whether there is a tense competitive situation in the economic environment in which the company is to be founded:

If there are too many suppliers/providers in the same market niche on the marketplace, you must show that your concept significantly deviates from that of your competitors. If several providers in this field already have economic difficulties (e.g., are bankrupt), this has a negative impact on the decision relating to the overall macroeconomic benefits of your company.

The result of this review by AMS is an expert opinion (“Gutachten”) which reports the conclusions about whether or not the company will provide macroeconomic benefits. AMS has three weeks in which to prepare this expert opinion.

If the company and the company founder fulfil the requirements, AMS will provide a positive opinion and forward this report to the Immigration and Residence Authority.

Subsequently, the Immigration Authority examines all the other requirements and approves your Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers.

All further steps depend on whether you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa without a visa ()or not.

01
Are you allowed to enter Austria without a visa?

As soon as you have received your approval, you can come to Austria and go directly to the Immigration Authority in order to have your fingerprints taken. Furthermore, you will have to show your original personal documents (passport, birth certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, etc.). Your permit card will then be printed. You are permitted to begin working as soon as you receive your card!

02
Are you not permitted to enter Austria without a visa?

In this case, after your application has been approved, you will receive an invitation from the Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate) in your country of residence. In this invitation, you will be asked to apply for a so-called Visa D within the following three months and to pick up your Red-White-Red Card in Austria within a period of six months. In order to receive a Visa D, you will need the following documents:

Application form

Passport with a copy

Invitation of the representative authority

Approval of the Immigration Authority

Travel insurance (coverage of at least € 30,000)

Flight reservation

Generally, it will take about two weeks until the Visa D is stamped in your passport. During this processing time, the Austrian embassy or consulate will keep your passport. As soon as you have your Visa D, you can travel to Austria and have your fingerprints taken by the Immigration Authority. Furthermore, you will also have to show your personal documents (passport, birth certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, etc.). Your permit card will then be printed. You are permitted to begin working as soon as you receive your card!

If the company and the company founders do not fulfil the requirements, AMS issues a negative opinion and forwards its report to the Immigration Authority. In this case, the Immigration Authority gives you the opportunity to comment on the expert opinion of AMS. If the Immigration Authority does not issue you a Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers, you will receive a negative decision by the public authority in the form of an official notification (“Bescheid”). You are allowed to lodge a complaint against this negative decision by the Immigration Authority.

Validity, extension
and family reunification

The Red-White-Red – Card is issued for a maximum period of 24 months. During this period, you are permitted to stay in Austria and can only work on a self-employed basis.

This means you are not allowed to work as a salaried employee. If you want to work as a salaried employee, you will need a different residence permit, for example a different type of Red-White-Red – Card or a Blue Card.

If you are granted a Red-White-Red – Card for Self-Employed Key Workers, you can apply for a so-called Settlement Permit (“NiederlassungsbewilligungNiederlassungsbewilligung ()”) after two years if you continue to fulfil the requirements. This Settlement Permit is valid for up to three years. The Settlement Permit allows you to continue working as a self-employed person. You are still not permitted to work as a salaried employee. When the next extension comes around, you may receive the Long-Term Resident EU permit (“Daueraufenthalt EUDaueraufenthalt EU ()”) if you fulfil the requirements.

Your close family members (wife/husband, civil partner, children) are entitled to apply for a Red-White-Red- Card PlusRed-White-Red- Card Plus (), which gives them unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market.

Please note:

If you are a skilled worker who is a third-country national and are married to or are the partner of an EU citizen or your children are EU nationals, you do not need to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card if you want to work on a self-employed basis in Austria. You can apply for a so-called Residence Card (“AufenthaltskarteAufenthaltskarte ()”). This gives you unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. You can work both as a salaried employee or in self-employment.

If you are a skilled worker who is a third-country national and you are married to or are the partner of an Austrian citizen, you do not need to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card if you want to work on a self-employed basis in Austria. You can apply for a Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel FamilienangehörigerAufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger ()”). In this way, you have unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. You can work both as a salaried employee or in self-employment.

Red-White-Red – Card
for Start-Up Founders

The Red-White-Red – Card for Start-Up Founders targets third-country nationals whose future company must comprise an innovative enrichment of the Austrian economy.

Among the prerequisites is providing proof of an investment transfer of at least € 30,000 (of which at least 50% must derive from equity capital). In order to qualify as a start-up founder for the Red-White-Red – Card, sufficient points must be achieved within the framework of a legally stipulated points system.

There are categories of criteria in which you can collect points:

General

You have to achieve a score of at least 50 points.

Each category has a maximum number of points which you are not permitted to exceed. For example, if you have more than 5 years of relevant professional experience, you will still not receive more than 10 points for your professional experience.

You do not have to collect points in every category. It is sufficient for you to score a total of 50 points.
Professional experience

Not only fully completed years of professional experience will count, but also periods of 6 months. Proof of professional experience must include, at a minimum, the starting date, the end date and a description of the job position.
German language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. German certificates from the following institutions are accepted: ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, TELC, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF).
English language skills

Language certificates must not be older than 5 years when you apply for the Red-White-Red – Card. English certificates are accepted from the following institutions: Cambridge, The European Language Certificates (TELC), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Certificates proving skills of the mentioned languages are also only accepted if obtained from recognised institutions (alternatively: proof of completed education in one of the aforementioned languages or native language skills).
Age

You will obtain points for the age you are upon submission of the application (if applicable).

Eligibility criteria for start-up founders	Points
Qualifications	Max points: 30
Completed vocational education/training or special know-how or skills in the prospective occupation	20
Completed programme of a minimum duration of three years at an institution of tertiary education	20
Completed diploma programme or Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctor’s degree programme or vocational education/training in Austria	30
Work experience according to qualification	Max points: 10
Work experience (per half-year)	1
Language skills	Max points: 15
German (A2 level)	5
German (B1-B2 level)	10
English (B2 level)	10
German (C1-C2 level)	15
French language skills (B1 level)	5
Spanish language skills (B1 level)	5
Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian language skills (B1 level)	5
Bonus points	Max points: 30
Evidence of additional investment capital of at least € 50,000	10
Admission to a business incubator or funding by a start-up funding agency in Austria	10
Age up to 35 years	10
Sum total of maximum allowable points:	85
Required minimum:	50

A start-up within the meaning of the Red-White-Red – Card for Start-Up Founders is a company which develops innovative products, services, processes or technologies and launches them on the Austrian market. Innovations mean that something new or a new idea or invention is involved. A characteristic feature of such a company is that the founding of the company goes hand in hand with the objective of growing strongly and generating a high value. This must be presented in the business plan.

In practice, these companies are generally in the technology sector, above all in fields involving cutting-edge technologies and the internet (e.g., e-commerce, application software, financial technology, new manufacturing processes, Industry 4.0 or aeronautical and aerospace engineering). Generally, licensing for startup founders in connection with the establishment of handicraft businesses is not possible. A franchise is also not considered to be a startup.

If you apply for a Red-White-Red – Card for Start-Up Founders, you have to show, first, that

01
You are actually able to exert a significant influence on the management

This means that you make business and strategic corporate decisions and thus provide important impetus to determine the direction your company is taking. For example, you can demonstrate this by presenting the articles of association or shareholder agreement which shows that you not only have a substantial shareholding in the company but that you are appointed to be the managing director.
02
You have at least € 30,000 in capital at your disposal (of which at least half is equity capital)

In order to receive this Red-White-Red – Card, you have to receive a sufficient number of points in the legally stipulated point system. There are four categories of criteria in which you can collect points:

Qualifications (training or education)

Professional experience which you gained in your specialised area after your studies or training

Language skills in German and English

Additional points (e.g., additional capital of at least € 50,000, specified funding, age of up to 35)

Procedures

You apply for the Red-White-Red – Card for Start-Up Founders as follows:

If you are not allowed to enter the country without a visa, you apply to the Austrian representative authority (embassy or consulate) in your country of residence.
If you are allowed to enter the country without a visawithout a visa (), you apply personally to the Immigration Authority (“Aufenthaltsbehörde”) in Austria.

Required documents

Application form
Passport
Passport photo (not older than six months)
Police Clearance Certificate (“Strafregisterbescheinigung”), not older than 3 months
Health insurance
Proof of a secure livelihood or sufficient means of subsistence (e.g., sufficient amount of own assets, confirmation of insurance benefits, proof of covering accommodation expenses)
Qualification-related documents:
- Proof of qualifications or education (university diploma, etc.), including those qualifications which are specifically relevant to your work as a self-employed person
- Proof of professional experience (references or testimonials, etc.)
- Language certificates
Company-related documents:
- A business plan and other documents highlighting the innovations with respect to products, services, processes or technologies
- Proof of investment capital including the available equity capital
- If applicable, a contract with the founder’s centre or proof of funding by a start-up funding agency in Austria
- Articles of association or shareholder agreement of the planned company to prove that you exercise a significant influence on the by-laws (exception: one-person company)
- Required licenses to pursue a specified trade
Fees: € 160

Attention

Before you submit the application, you have to decide where in Austria you want to live. This is important because Austria does not have one single Immigration Authority branch but many. Which of these branches is actually responsible for you depends on your future place of residence in Austria. Once you have selected a particular place, any change is complicated and is not recommended. This means that you will need to look for appropriate housing during your application process. Also, please keep in mind that you will need to register your main residenceregister your main residence () upon immigrating to Austria and before collecting your permit.

Please note:

If necessary, public authorities can demand that you submit other documents as well.
The validity of your Red-White-Red Card depends on how long your passport is still valid. If it is valid for at least two years, then your Red-White-Red Card is also valid for a period of two years.
You will have to present one or more Police Clearance Certificates depending upon the country in which you live. Here you can see which Police Clearance Certificates Police Clearance Certificates ()you will have to obtain.
Personal documents must be specially legalised so that these documents are officially recognised. This depends upon the country in which the documents were issued. Here you can check which type of legalisationtype of legalisation () is necessary .
If personal documents are not available in German or English, as a rule they must be translated by a court-certified translator (“gerichtlich beeidete Übersetzerin/beeideter Übersetzer”).

If you have to show additional personal documents or if you need a Visa D, the fee to be paid may actually be higher than € 160.

Your application will be forwarded by the residence authority to AMS. AMS will then draw up an expert opinion (within three weeks).

The Immigration Authority will approve your application if AMS issues a positive expert opinion, and if you fulfil all additional requirements.
If AMS issues a negative opinion, the Immigration Authority gives you the opportunity to comment on the expert opinion of AMS. If the Immigration Authority does not issue you a Red-White-Red – Card for Start-Up Founders, you will receive a negative decision by the public authority in the form of an official notification (“Bescheid”). You are allowed to lodge a complaint against this negative decision by the Immigration Authority.

The Immigration Authority has eight weeks in which to decide on your application.

Your application has been approved by both the AMS and the residence authority? All further steps now depend on whether you are allowed to enter Austria without a visa or not.

01
Are you allowed to enter Austria without a visa?

As soon as you have received your approval, you can come to Austria and go directly to the Immigration Authority in order to have your fingerprints taken. Furthermore, you will have to show your original personal documents (passport, birth certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, etc.). Your permit card will then be printed. You are permitted to begin working as soon as you receive your card!

02
Are you not permitted to enter Austria without a visa?

In this case, after your application has been approved, you will receive an invitation from the Austrian representative authority (embassy, consulate) in the country in which you live. In this invitation, you will be asked to apply for a so-called Visa D within the following three months and to pick up your Red-White-Red – Card in Austria within a period of six months. In order to receive a Visa D, you will need the following documents:

- Application form
- Passport with a copy
- Invitation of the representative authority
- Approval of the Immigration Authority
- Travel insurance (coverage of at least € 30,000)
- Flight reservation

Generally, it will take about two weeks until the Visa D is stamped in your passport. During this processing time, the embassy or consulate will keep your passport. As soon as you have your Visa D, you can travel to Austria and have your fingerprints taken by the Immigration Authority. Furthermore, you will also have to show your personal documents (passport, birth certificate, Police Clearance Certificate, etc.). Your permit card will then be printed. You are permitted to begin working as soon as you receive your card!

Validity, extension
and family reunification

The Red-White-Red – Card is issued for a maximum period of 24 months. During this period, you are permitted to stay in Austria and can only work on a self-employed basis.

After two years AMS will check to see if you are still active as a managing director in your field of work, if revenues were actually generated, if investments were made and how the number of employees in your company developed.

After two years, you can obtain a Red-White-Red – Card PlusRed-White-Red – Card Plus () which is valid for up to three years if you:

have at least two full-time employees, and
continue to exercise a significant influence on the management of the company, and
either generated annual revenue of at least € 200,000 or secured further financing of at least € 100,000, and
your start-up actually offers an innovative product or service.

If you as a start-up founder do not meet the requirements for obtaining a Red-White-Red – Card Plus, you can convert to a Settlement Permit (“NiederlassungsbewilligungNiederlassungsbewilligung ()”) if you fulfil the general prerequisites and you carried out work in your start-up during the last two years.

Family members (wife/husband, civil partner, children) are entitled to apply for a Red-White-Red- Card PlusRed-White-Red- Card Plus (), which gives them unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market.

Important notes

If you are a skilled worker who is a third-country national and are married to or are the partner of an EU citizen or your children are EU nationals, you do not need to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card if you want to work on a self-employed basis in Austria. You can apply for a so-called Residence Card (“AufenthaltskarteAufenthaltskarte ()”). This gives you unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. You can work both as a salaried employee or in self-employment.

If you are a skilled worker who is a third-country national and you are married to or are the partner of an Austrian citizen, you do not need to apply for a Red-White-Red – Card if you want to work on a self-employed basis in Austria. You can apply for a Residence Permit – Family Member (“Aufenthaltstitel FamilienangehörigerAufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger ()”). In this way you have unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. You can work both as a salaried employee or in self-employment.

Legal Foundations:

Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers: Sect. 41 Austrian NAG, Sect. 12 AuslBG
Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations: Sect. 41 NAG; Sect. 12a AuslBG
Red-White-Red – Card for Other Key Workers and Graduates: Sect. 41 NAG; Sect. 12b AuslBG
EU Blue Card: Sect. 42 NAG; Sect. 12c AuslBG
Red-White-Red – Card Plus: Sect. 41a NAG

We simply make it easy

WORK in AUSTRIA is the point of contact for specialists who would like to work in Austria as well as for companies looking for suitable specialists. We advise you free of charge.

Get in touch

The Red-White-Red – Card

The Red-White-Red – Card at a glance

Combined residence and work permit

Designed for long-term employment in Austria

Prerequisite: binding job offer

Bound to one specific employer

Validity of up to 2 years

Family immigration possible

Attention

Immigration Guide Austria

Choose one category of the Red-White-Red – Card and learn more about it

The Red-White-Red – Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations

French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Attention

Required documents

Please note the following:

French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

German language skills

English language skills

French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

English language skills

French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language skills

Legal Foundations:

We simply make it easy

Choose one category of the Red-White-Red – Card
and learn more about it

The Red-White-Red – Card for
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations