EU Citizens
As an EU citizen, you enjoy the same rights as Austrian nationals regarding residence and employment in Austria. Therefore, no residence or work permit is needed to start working in Austria.
Third-Country Nationals (e.g., Albanian and Kosovar citizens): Red-White-Red – Card
Austria’s Red–White–Red–Card (“Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte”) offers a residence permit for third-country nationals who want to work as skilled employees in Austria and stay here permanently. Third-country nationals are individuals who are not EU, EEA or Swiss nationals.
There are seven sub-categories, and depending on your background in terms of education, work experience, English & German skills and age, you collect points for specific Red-White–Red–Card categories in order to be eligible for immigration.
The first relevant category of the Red-White-Red – Card for hospitality workers is “Highly Qualified Workers” As a Highly Qualified Worker from a third country, you have the following options:
- You can apply for a Red-White-Red card with the competent residence authority in Austria after legal entry and during your legal stay. For example, you can enter Austria under a Job Seeker Visa to look for work here.
- You can apply for a Red-White-Red card at the competent Austrian representation in your home country or country of residence, provided that you have received an employment offer.
The second category of the Red-White-Red – Card for hospitality workers is “Other Key Workers”. If you are a third-country citizen who is to take up employment with a company in Austria as a key worker, you may apply for a Red-White-Red -Card valid for 24 months if you meet the following requirements:
- Your prospective employer will pay the statutory minimum of € 2,925 (2023) gross monthly payments
- no equally qualified person is registered as a jobseeker at the Public Employment Service (labour market test)
For more information, please visit the following websites:
- Welcome to the Federal Government‘s Official Information Website on Migration to Austria!
- Third-country nationals – Stay in Austria (oesterreich.gv.at)
- Requirements for third-country nationals (bmi.gv.at)
- Very Highly Qualified Workers (migration.gv.at)
- Other Key Workers (migration.gv.at)
- Permanent immigration
Special Rules for Ukrainian Refugees
Currently, there are special rules in place for Ukrainian refugees who had to flee from their country due to the war. They automatically receive a residence and work permit valid for up to a year from now and are potentially eligible for an extension.
Family Immigration to Austria
Austria welcomes all close family members of skilled international employees and offers various residence permits for them. As a rule, immediate family members are considered wives/husbands, civil partners, and children under the age of 18.
