A Guide to Visa Types and Work Permits in Austria

Jump right in:

• Work permits & employment-based visas
• Self-employment visas
• Residence permits: temporary and permanent

Can foreigners work in Austria?

Yes, foreigners can work in Austria, but the process depends on where you're from and the type of job you’re pursuing.

Citizens of EU and EEA countries (as well as Swiss nationals) can work without a visa, while non-EU nationals need a valid work permit, such as the Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card.

These permits often require a job offer, proof of qualifications, and minimum salary thresholds.

While it can take time to navigate the system, skilled workers, especially in sectors with labor shortages, have better chances of securing employment and a residence permit.

Is it hard to get a work visa in Austria?

We’re not going to lie, depending on your situation, it can be a complex process and success can depend on a number of factors.

For example, in many cases, employers must show that no qualified local candidate is available for the role. As an applicant, you may also e required to meet a minimum points threshold based on qualifications, experience, and skills.

Additionally, there are income requirements that you need to earn enough to support yourself.

However, your chances are higher if you work in a high-demand field, have strong qualifications, and/or good language skills in German and English.

What types of permits are there to work in Austria?

Work permits in Austria come in several different forms and cater to professionals in a range of situations. Next to the EU Blue Card, these include the different categories of the Red-White-Red Card for:

• Very Highly Qualified Workers
• Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
• Other Key Workers
• Graduates of Austrian Universities and Colleges of Higher Education
• Regular Workers in Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry
• Self-Employed Key Workers
• Start-Up Founders

We’ll go into more detail on these below.

Very Highly Qualified Workers

If your skills are worth 70 points from Austria’s eligibility criteria, you can move to Austria on a six-month Job Seeker Visa in order to find employment there.

This could for example apply to someone with a PhD (up to 40 points) who is under 35 years of age (20 points), has previous work experience in their field (1 point per half year), and speaks German or English (10 points).

Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations

To get a Red-White-Red Card as a Skilled Worker in a Shortage Occupation, you need training in a shortage occupation, a binding job offer in the country, and 55 points or more in eligibility criteria.

Every year, the concrete list of jobs that are considered shortage occupations is updated, both on a national as well as a regional level. However, they often include jobs in healthcare (e.g., graduate nurses, physicians, opticians), specialized construction workers, and skilled craftsmanship.

Other Key Workers

If you are moving to Austria because you have been offered a role at a company where you will be a key worker, you could be eligible for a Red-White-Red Card even if your job is not on the shortage list.

Your prospective employer has to prove that no equally qualified person could be found within Austria (Arbeitsmarktprüfung) and needs to pay you at you at least 3,465 EUR (~4,000 USD) a month (gross).

You still need to gather at least 55 points in eligibility criteria, though.

Graduates of Austrian Universities and Colleges of Higher Education

If you have completed your studies and any relevant training directly in Austria, you can renew your “Students” residence permit for twelve more months to help you find a job or start a business.

You may do this as long as you fulfill certain requirements, such as having adequate means to support yourself during this time.

Self-Employed Key Workers

The points system is not relevant here. To be eligible for this type of Red-White-Red Card, one of the following must be true:

• You’ll invest at least 100,000 EUR (~115,000 USD) in the Austrian economy.
• Your activity creates or maintains jobs in Austria.
• You’ll introduce significant know-how and new technologies.
• Your business activity is important for the entire region.

Start-Up Founders

To apply for this Red-White-Red Card as a third-country national, you must:

• Submit a concrete business plan for founding and running a company that aims to “develop and launch on the market innovative products, services, processing methods or technologies”.
• Ensure a founding capital of at least 30,000 EUR (~35,000 USD).
• Score at least 50 points from the eligible criteria, which include qualifications, relevant work experience, and language skills.

You can earn bonus points with evidence of additional investment of at least 50,000 EUR (~58,000 USD). You can also earn points by being part of a business incubator or receiving money from an Austrian start-up funding agency

How much does it cost to apply for an Austrian work permit?

To get the Red-White-Red Card (work permit visa), you’ll have to pay for the application form, granting, and personalization of the card — all of this comes in total of 160 EUR (~185 USD).

If you’re applying as a very highly qualified worker, the job seeker visa will cost you an additional 150 EUR (~175 USD).

EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is an alternative to the Red-White-Red Card. It costs 120 EUR (~140 USD) to apply and an additional 20 EUR (~23 USD) when granted.

It gives you:

• equal work rights to Austrian citizens
• free movement inside the EU
• social rights, e.g. unemployment benefits
• better conditions for family reunification
• faster path to permanent residency in the EU

Who can apply for the EU Blue Card?

With additional benefits also come stronger eligibility requirements. To be eligible, you need to meet the following conditions:

• Have a recognized university degree relevant for your job
• Have a confirmed job offer in Austria lasting at least 6 months
• Earn at least 55,678 EUR gross annually (~64,500 USD)
• Pass a labor market check confirming no equally qualified local candidate is available

Business visa

If you plan to visit Austria to perform business activities for less than six months, you can apply for a visa for business purposes.

If your country has an agreement with Austria, as is the case with the United States, and you just want to visit for up to 90 days, you will not need a visa to do this.

Otherwise, if your country does not have a special agreement with Austria, you can apply for a visa for 90 days (called a C-type visa) or for between 91 and 180 days (called a D-type visa). These visas cannot be renewed or extended in Austria.

If you are from one of these countries, you will not need a visa to enter Austria or the Schengen Area.

If you can qualify as a “Very Highly Qualified Worker,” you can get a Jobseeker Visa which allows you to live in Austria for six months before you find a job – these six months can be enough for you to earn points to qualify as a Start-Up Founder or a Self-Employed Key Worker.

Very highly qualified workers

With a Very Highly Qualified Worker Visa, you are allowed to live in Austria for six months and even apply for a Jobseeker Visa. This time could allow you to set up your business or even consider employment opportunities in Austria.

Required documents

To be considered a very highly qualified worker, you will submit many of the same documents that are required for some of the above visas.

• passport
• birth certificate
• photograph (45x35mm)
• proof of accommodation
• proof of health insurance
• evidence that you can financially support yourself

Also, to assess your skills according to the eligibility criteria points system, you will need to submit proof regarding:

• your university/higher education graduation
• gross annual salary in a senior management position
• research and innovation activities
• personal awards and prizes
• testimonials and work certificates
• language skills
• studies in Austria

Submit this application form for the Red-White-Red Card. Submit this application form for the Jobseeker Visa.

Which graduates gain points for a Red-White-Red Card?

To qualify as a highly qualified worker, you must demonstrate a strong academic background. Usually, you need to achieve 70 points from the eligibility criteria, however, if you come from one of the following professions, you only need 65 points.

Favoured professions

• Graduates in power engineering
• Graduate mechanical engineers
• Graduate engineers for data processing
• Graduates in weak-current and telecommunications engineering
• Graduate engineers (special professions)
• Graduates in business administration
• Economic trustees
• Physicians

If you want to get a self-employment visa to start working for yourself in Austria, your task will be made simpler if you can meet the requirements to be a “Self-Employed Key Worker” or a “Start-Up Founder.” If you do not qualify in one of these categories, your best option may be to find a job in Austria and build your own business in your spare time. Ultimately, the easiest way to start working as a self-employed person in Austria is to get one of the various Red-White-Red Card visas.

Application forms and processes

The following are the processes, required documents, and application forms for Self-employed Key Workers and Start-Up Founders.

Self-employed key worker

To qualify for a Self-Employed Key Worker visa, you must submit the following documents:

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate (or equivalent recognized document)
• Recent photo (35×45 mm, taken within 6 months)
• Proof of accommodation in Austria (e.g., lease, tenancy agreement, or ownership document)
• Health insurance covering all risks in Austria
• Proof of financial means (e.g., payslips, employment contract, pension or insurance benefits, investment capital, or significant assets).

Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. Austrian authorities have the right to demand additional documents on a case-by-case basis. Do not be surprised or offended if you are asked for your criminal record. In fact, submitting this document, or an equivalent denoting your good standing, could make the process go smoother.

Demonstrating your business’s macroeconomic benefits

If you believe your business activity will bring macroeconomic benefits going beyond your company’s operational gains, you should also submit

• documents demonstrating an analysis of the market and competition, its headquarters’ location, and a detailed business plan;
• proof of the transfer of capital to Austria and the intention to create new jobs or protect existing jobs in Austria;
• proof you have the qualifications necessary for the business activity proposed, and
• in some cases, company agreements and/or craft authorizations (Gewerbeberechtigungen) Please note that you will need to submit originals and copies of all documents and certificates. These should be in either German or English. You can find the application form here.

Start-up founder

To qualify as a start-up founder, you must submit the following:

• Valid passport and birth certificate (or equivalent)
• Recent passport photo (35×45 mm)
• Proof of accommodation and health insurance in Austria
• Evidence of funds for living expenses

Education credentials:

• Certificate of completed vocational training or diploma

• Proof of higher education (min. 3 years)

• Confirmation of university status

• Austrian diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate (if applicable)

• Proof of work experience and/or specialized skills (e.g. testimonials, certificates)

• Language certificate (German or English)

• Proof of investment capital

• Contract with a recognized Austrian start-up incubator or funding agency

• Business plan and evidence that your idea is innovative

• Proof of your role in managing the new business

• Proof of qualifications relevant to your business activity

• Craft license (Gewerbeberechtigung), if required

Again, do not be surprised if you are asked for additional documents that are not listed here. The Austrian government determines what they need from each applicant. You can find the Start-Up Founder application here.

Austria fiancé visa process

Married partners, civil partners, and minor children of Austrian citizens can apply for a residence permit as a family member, known as a Aufenthaltstitel Familienangehöriger. With this permit, you are also free to work in Austria.

Requirements

• Spouses or civil partners of citizens must be at least 21 years of age.
• Children applying must be under 18 years of age and unmarried.
• First-time applicants must show an ability to use A1-level German.

Exceptions

• Children up to 14 years of age.
• Persons who cannot reasonably be expected to provide such evidence on grounds of a physical or mental health condition (medical report required).

Family visa If you are the spouse of an Austrian citizen, and you are applying to get an Austrian, you must provide the following additional documents:

• proof of Austrian citizenship
• Austrian marriage certificate
• Austrian family record book

Family members who qualify as “family” include:

• Spouses
• Registered partners
• Underage, unmarried children

Red-white-red card plus

Austria’s Red-White-Red Card helps qualified workers from third countries bring their families to Austria to live with them. Qualified workers in Austria who have a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card can bring their family members on a “Red-White-Red Card plus.”

Spouses and children of EU and EFTA citizens may enter Austria under the Visa Waiver Program. They can file their application for a Red-White-Red Card Plus after their arrival in Austria.

You will need to prove you earn enough to support them. The minimum monthly salaries required based on different family circumstances were as follows (note that social benefits are not taken into account):

• Single persons must earn at least 1.270 EUR (1.480 USD)
• Married couples must earn at least 2.010 EUR (2.350 USD)
• For each child, you must earn an additional 200 EUR (230 USD)

In this section you will learn how to become an Austrian permanent resident. However, it is important to keep in mind that the decision on whether you are granted citizenship in the Alpine country is ultimately down to the discretion of the federal government.

How to get permanent residency in Austria

To gain citizenship via naturalization in Austria, you generally need to have lived in the country for ten years. However, five years with a residence permit can be enough. In the following situations, you may be able to gain citizenship before ten years:

• you are a recognized refugee and have lived in Austria for at least six years;
• you are a citizen of another EEA state and have lived in Austria for six years;
• you were born in Austria;
• you are a former citizen of Austria;
• you have German language skills at level B2 or higher and can show proof of substantial personal integration after six years of living in Austria.

Austria permanent resident visa requirements

To be granted citizenship in Austria, you will have to prove that you meet the following requirements:

• No serious criminal or administrative offenses
• Stable income (exceptions for illness or disability)
• Basic knowledge of Austria’s history and democratic system
• proof of German language skills (some exceptions apply)
• Positive attitude about Austria
• No threat to public safety or order
• No ties to extremist or terrorist groups
• Citizenship must not harm Austria’s international or national interests

Austria permanent resident (citizenship) application: How to apply

You should fill in the form “Verleihung bzw. Erstreckung der Verleihung der österreichischen Staatsbügerschaft” or apply without a form, and send your application to your nearest office of the provincial government. Accompanying documents must be in their original form along with copies translated into German by an Austrian certified translator.

Permanent resident fees Austria

Naturalization

• Single persons: 1.448 EUR (1685 USD) federal fee + 150 EUR (175 USD) provincial administrative fee.
• Married couples: 1.448 EUR (1685 USD) (main applicant) + 1.126 EUR (1.310 USD) (spouse) federal fees + 226 EUR (263 USD) provincial administrative fee.

Extension of citizenship to children

To renew a residence permit, the entry fee for children under six it costs 127 EUR (147 USD), and anyone older than six has to pay 186 EUR (216 EUR).

The documentation cost when collecting:

• 121 EUR (140 USD)for persons over six
• 69 EUR (80 USD) for children under six

Permanent resident benefits Austria

Once you earn your Austrian citizenship, you can enjoy several significant benefits, including:

• The freedom to live and work in Austria as long as you want and to live and work in any other state in the European Union.
• Full citizenship for you and your family members for life, which can be passed on to future generations.
• Visa-free or visa at arrival access to 185 locations worldwide, including the US.

Temporary residence permits

To submit a successful application for a temporary resident permit, or “stay permit,” you must have a specific purpose to come to Austria. Accepted specific purposes are:

• ICT (intra-corporate transferee)
• Mobile ICT
• seconded employee
• self-employed persons
• researcher-mobility
• special cases of dependent gainful occupation
• students
• pupils
• Social Service Employee
• volunteers
• Family Reunification

Temporary resident permit requirements and fees

To successfully apply for a temporary resident permit in Austria, the applicant must have their own stream of income which covers their living costs without needing assistance from welfare or local authorities. Their income must be equal to the standard rates of the General Social Insurance Act (ASVG), as seen below:

• For singles: 1.274 EUR (1.482 USD)
• For couples: 2.010 EUR (2.340 USD)
• For each child additionally 196 EUR (228 USD)

For Pupils, Students and Social Service Employees:

• For persons below the age of 24 years: 703 EUR (820 USD)
• For persons over the age of 24 years: 1.274 EUR (1480 USD)

The applicant must also have health insurance which covers them in Austria and adequate accommodation according to local standards.

Temporary resident permit: How to apply

To apply for your temporary stay, please have all of the relevant documents translated into German. If you are a minor or are helping a minor apply, their application must be signed by both of their parents or legal guardians.

To apply, you must take your application form to your Austrian embassy.

Required documents

The following documents should be included in the application:

• passport
• birth certificate
• one recent passport photo (35 x 45 mm to 40 x 50 mm)
• if applicable, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, death certificate, certificate giving evidence of relationship to another individual
• proof of accommodation in Austria
• proof of health insurance (or travel or accident insurance)
• proof of financial means (e.g. bank statements of last two months)

The following documents must also be submitted for those qualifying for specific categories:

• Employee: work permit, statement of salary or income, letter from employer.
• Self-employed: most recent income tax statement, contract letter, business plan.
• Students: original letter of admission to Austrian school or university, written confirmation that tuition has been paid and accommodation has been requested.
• Au-pair: au pair contract and letter of certification (issued by the Austrian Employment Service AMS).
• Family members: letter of guarantee (Haftungserklärung).