Austria Work Visa

Types of Austrian work visa for nationals of non-EU countries

These individuals can apply for an Austrian work visa through the following two routes:

• Receiving a job offer
• Obtaining an Austrian job seeker visa

Note: Work visas are granted on the basis of a points system, and applicants who reach the required number of points will be granted a work visa.

Austrian work visa through a job offer (Job Offer)

An Austrian job offer is an offer of employment that you receive from an Austrian employer. An applicant who meets the basic requirements can send their CV to the employer and receive an official invitation to work in Austria. In the Austrian points system, the minimum score required for the job offer visa is 55. Those with this score can apply for the Red-White-Red Card, which is valid for 2 years and can be renewed. The points table for the job offer route is as follows:

Austrian job seeker visa (Job Seeker) Austria

In this type of Austrian work visa, there is a points system. In the Austrian points system, the minimum score required for the job offer visa is 70. The Austrian job seeker visa lasts 6 months, and its holder is permitted to look for work within the country for 6 months; during this period they must find the job they want by contacting employers. Those who obtain the required points and have an employer can receive the Austrian residence card known as the Red-White-Red Card. If, after two years, the applicant still has suitable employment, they can renew their residence card for another two years.

The points table for the Austrian job seeker visa is as follows:

What is the Austrian Red-White-Red residence card?

The Austrian Red-White-Red Card is one of the types of Austrian residence card. This card indicates work-based residence and is intended for applicants who intend to work in the country. The card is valid for two years and costs 120 euros.

Eligibility for the Austrian Red-White-Red Card

Eligible individuals include the following groups:

• Very highly qualified workers
• Skilled workers in occupations with shortages in Austria
• Graduates of Austrian universities and higher education colleges
• Self-employment in Austria
• Other key workers
• Start-up founders

Highly qualified workers

• Individuals with special skills.
• Those who score 70 points in the Austrian points system.
• Those who find work in Austria with a six-month residence visa.
• These individuals can obtain the Austrian Red-White-Red Card for two years.

Skilled workers in occupations with a shortage of skilled labour in Austria

• A score of 55 is required for the Austrian Red-White-Red Card.
• Workers earn points through educational qualifications, work experience relevant to the position, German or English language skills, and being under 40 years of age

Graduates of Austrian universities and higher education colleges

• Graduates in Austria may be allowed to extend their “student” residence for one year
• to look for work or start a new business during this period.

Self-employment in Austria

Applicants work in the country on a self-employed basis, and if this self-employment benefits the Austrian economy, they receive the Red-White-Red Card.

Conditions and requirements for self-employed applicants in Austria

• An investment of at least 100,000 euros in Austria
• Proof that the intended activity will create or maintain a job in Austria.
• Proof that the self-employment will introduce new knowledge and technologies.
• Proof of the importance of this business activity for the region as a whole

Other key workers

Applicants who immigrate to Austria through a job offer are recognised as key workers and are eligible for the Red-White-Red Card.

Start-up founders

Requirements for start-up applicants in Austria:

• Setting up a company that offers innovative products, services, processes or technology.
• Submitting a business plan for their company
• Providing capital of at least 50,000 euros, with a shareholding of at least 50% in the company.
• Obtaining at least 50 points in the Austrian points system

Documents required for an Austrian work visa and residence through the Red-White-Red Card

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• Recent passport photo
• Residential address in Austria
• Health insurance receipt or card
• Proof of financial means and the required capital
• Educational documents
• Certificate of employment
• German language certificate or its English equivalent
• Visa application form
• Bank statements
• Payslips
• Police clearance certificate
• Other documents requested by the Austrian embassy

Fees for an Austrian work visa application

Applicants for a work visa must pay the following fees. Note that those applying as highly skilled workers have to pay higher fees.

Accompanying visa for the family of an Austrian work visa holder

• Red-White-Red Card: Families of those who receive the country's Red-White-Red Card (including spouse, minor children and same-sex partner) can obtain an accompanying visa. Holders of an accompanying visa can study and work in Austria for 1 to 2 years.
• With the job offer route, the applicant can apply for visas for their family (spouse and/or children under 18) from the very beginning. However, family members do not join at the same time in Austria, and the spouse receives a Red-White-Red Card Plus residence card.
• In the job seeking process, the family cannot accompany the applicant at the beginning or during the job search period; the applicant searches for work alone in Austria for 6 months and can only apply for their family to join them once they have found a suitable job.

In-demand occupations in Austria

• Nurses and nursing assistants
• Doctors
• Engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical, data processing, communications…)
• Optometrists
• Train and locomotive drivers
• Furniture makers
• Accountants
• Carpenters
• Tinsmiths
• Tilers
• High-voltage electrical technicians
• Blacksmiths
• Concrete machinery and concrete fitting workers
• Welders
• Motor vehicle mechanics

Level of salaries for work in Austria

The average annual income in Austria is 42.823 euros. Those who usually earn the highest salaries in Austria are engineering graduates and managers. The table below shows the income for various occupations:

Austrian residence and citizenship through an Austrian work visa

As discussed above, if a person has the initial points for working in Austria and also has a job offer, they can apply for the Austrian Red-White-Red Card. The initial validity of the Austrian Red-White-Red Card for the main applicant is two years, and through it the person can live and work in Austria. To extend residence in Austria and obtain the Red-White-Red Card Plus, the person must be assessed by the AMS and, in addition to meeting the requirements set by the Austrian government, must have at least 21 months of employment during their two years of work. The Red-White-Red Card Plus leads to permanent residence in Austria. The Red-White-Red Card Plus is valid for three years, and on completing these three years and 5 years of residence and work in Austria, the person may obtain permanent residence. Furthermore, to obtain an Austrian passport, the person must have spent at least  6 years in Austria, complied with all Austrian laws during this period, and paid all relevant taxes. In that case, they will be eligible for an Austrian passport and citizenship.

In this article we reviewed the requirements for obtaining an Austrian work visa , the conditions for residence in Austria through work, and the types of Austrian work visa. According to global statistics on Austria's low unemployment rate, many people wish to immigrate to Austria for work and enjoy the country's benefits. It is worth noting that finding a job through reputable agencies and receiving correct and accurate advice makes the process of obtaining an Austrian work visa easier for applicants. So if you too intend to immigrate to Austria for work, to learn more about the requirements for obtaining an Austrian work visa and other immigration routes, you can contact the experienced consultants of Iranoca Immigration Marketing Company.

If you need advice , you can meet our consultants in person or online and learn about the process of obtaining your Austrian work visa . You can also, right now, through our free assessment form, which is managed by expert consultants, check your eligibility for this type of visa.

Steps for obtaining an Austrian work visa

Dear applicant, if you wish to obtain an Austrian work visa, please follow the steps below

Assessment form and consultation

First, by completing the free assessment form, you can send your initial details and circumstances to the lawyers for review. If your general circumstances are suitable, a call will be scheduled for your consultation. Please note that this entire process is free of charge and is reviewed and assessed by specialists

Receiving the approval letter

After the consultation and completion of the immigration file process, a letter of approval or non-approval will be sent to you by the licensed lawyers. This letter states whether or not you are eligible to immigrate, the type of immigration visa, and the route and conditions through which you can immigrate.

Registration at Obtaining the visa Frequently asked questions some users have had about the Austrian work visa