Red-White-Red Card 2026: All Variants, Points and Salary Thresholds

Last updated: October 2026 · Official sources linked

The Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) is the most important route for skilled workers from third countries. It is a residence permit and a work permit in one. But there are several variants, and each has its own rules. Our founders came to Austria themselves, one as a student and one as a refugee. We know the official procedures. Here we explain everything in plain language.

Who is this route for?

This route is for people from countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. It fits if you want to work in Austria. In most cases you need a concrete job offer. The exceptions are the variants for self-employed people and start-up founders.

Variant	Core requirement 2026	Points
Very Highly Qualified Workers	A job that matches your qualification, with adequate pay	min. 70
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations (Fachkräfte in Mangelberufen)	Training in a shortage occupation, minimum wage under the law or the collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag)	min. 55
Other Key Workers	€3,465 gross per month plus special payments, labour market test	min. 55
Graduates of Austrian Universities (Studienabsolventen)	the local salary of Austrian graduates	none
Regular Seasonal Workers (Stammmitarbeiter)	at least 7 months as a registered seasonal worker (Stammsaisonier) in each of the two previous years, German A1	none
Self-employed Key Workers (Selbständige Schlüsselkräfte)	benefit to the economy as a whole, e.g. an investment of at least €100,000	none
Start-up Founders (Start-up-Gründer)	at least €30,000 in capital, at least half of it equity	min. 50

Requirements

In general, you need a valid passport and health insurance. You must not pose a threat to public order. For the Red-White-Red Card, you do not have to prove accommodation or means of subsistence. For employees, the AMS checks the specific requirements.

The salary for Other Key Workers is 50% of the monthly ASVG maximum contribution basis (Höchstbeitragsgrundlage). In 2026, that is €3,465 gross per month.

The points system for Other Key Workers according to migration.gv.at:

Criterion	Points
Completed vocational training or special skills	20
General university entrance qualification (e.g. Matura)	25
Degree programme lasting at least three years	30
Work experience per half-year (max. 20)	1, in Austria 2
German A1 / A2 / B1	5 / 10 / 15
English A2 / B1	5 / 10
French, Spanish or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian B1	5 each
Languages in total (max.)	25
Age up to 30 / up to 40	15 / 10
Bonus: English is the main language in the company	5

For Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations, training in the shortage occupation counts for 30 points. For age, you still get 5 points up to 50. For Very Highly Qualified Workers, a doctorate or PhD brings 40 points. Up to 35, you get 20 points for age.

Worked examples

• Other Key Worker, aged 29: three-year bachelor’s degree (30). Four years of work experience abroad (8). English B1 (10). Age up to 30 (15). Result: 63 points. That is enough.
• The same person at 36: 30 + 8 + 10 + 10 = 58 points. Still enough.
• Shortage occupation car mechanic, aged 42: training (30). Ten years of experience (20, the maximum). German A2 (10). Age up to 50 (5). Result: 65 points.
• Very highly qualified, aged 33: PhD (40). Five years of experience (10). English A2 (10). Age up to 35 (20). Result: 80 points.
• Salary: €3,465 per month. With 14 salary payments a year, that is €48,510 gross per year.

Check your result with the official points calculator.

Shortage occupations 2026: The nationwide list names 64 occupational groups. Examples include roofers, car mechanics, doctors and registered nurses. In addition, there are regional lists for eight federal provinces. Vienna has no regional list in 2026. For a regional shortage occupation, the job must be in that province.

Checklist: what to prepare before you apply

• Choose your variant and check your points with the points calculator
• Check your passport: is it valid for at least two more years?
• Collect certificates and diplomas, with proof of the university’s status
• Obtain employment references for every job
• Take a language certificate, no older than five years
• Apply for a criminal record certificate, ideally no older than three months
• Clarify translations and apostille
• Have your employer fill in the employer’s declaration (Arbeitgebererklärung)

Documents

Typical documents are (oesterreich.gv.at):

• completed application form
• valid travel document; for a first application in Vienna, also a copy of the entire passport
• passport photo 45 x 35 mm, no older than six months
• proof of education, work experience and language skills
• employer’s declaration under the Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz)
• proof of health insurance
• in individual cases: criminal record certificate

Documents in foreign languages usually need a certified translation. Documents in English usually do not need a translation. An apostille may be required. Bring originals and copies.

Process and timeline, step by step

1. Preparation (several weeks): collect documents, have them translated and certified.
2. Submit the application: at least eight weeks before you start work. From abroad, at the embassy. In Austria, at the authority where you live. Your employer can also submit the application.
3. Review by the AMS: The authority forwards the application to the AMS. According to the WKO, the AMS responds within four weeks.
4. Decision: The authority decides within eight weeks.
5. Visa D: If you need a visa, apply for it within three months of the notification.
6. Collection: You collect the card in person within a further three months. As a rule, only then may you start working.

Costs and duration

• Application fee: €218. In Vienna, you pay when you apply. You receive the card only after payment.
• Decision: within eight weeks
• Validity: usually up to two years. If your passport expires sooner, the card is valid only as long as the passport.
• Extra costs: translations, certifications, language certificate, visa

Competent authority

From abroad, the Austrian embassy or consulate is responsible. In Austria, it is the authority where you live. This is usually the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the municipal authority (Magistrat). In Lower Austria, it is the Office of the Provincial Government (Amt der Landesregierung) (oesterreich.gv.at).

In Vienna, the MA 35 – Business Immigration Office is responsible. You need an appointment.

After approval: the next steps

1. Register your residence (Wohnsitzanmeldung): within three days of moving in. Registration is free of charge.
2. Social insurance: Your employer registers you with the health insurance fund before you start work. You then receive your insurance number.
3. German: With a Red-White-Red Card, Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung) is deemed fulfilled.
4. Report a change of job: The card is valid for one employer only. If you change jobs, you file an application for a change of purpose (Zweckänderungsantrag). After 45 days, you may provisionally start with the new employer.
5. Renewal: at the earliest three months before expiry, at the latest before expiry. Otherwise, the application counts as a first application.
6. Red-White-Red Card plus: possible after 21 months of employment within the last 24 months. It gives you free access to the labour market.

Forms and online services

• BMI application forms and employer’s declaration (Form B “Residence title for third-country nationals”, Aufenthaltstitel Drittstaatsangehörige)
• Points calculator on migration.gv.at
• Appointment booking MA 35, Business Immigration Office
• Search for court interpreters (Ministry of Justice)

Common pitfalls

• Choosing the wrong variant. Check all variants. Another one is often a better fit.
• Salary just below the threshold. Part-time work can quickly fall below it.
• Old language certificates. Certificates older than five years do not count.
• Starting work too early. As a rule, you may only work once you have the card.
• Passport expiring soon. Then the card is also valid for a shorter time.

Related routes

• EU Blue Card
• Self-employed Key Worker
• Start-up Founder Card
• Staying after your studies
• Studying in Austria

FAQ

How much do I need to earn in 2026 for the Red-White-Red Card? That depends on the variant. In 2026, Other Key Workers need €3,465 gross per month plus special payments. In shortage occupations, the minimum wage under the law or the collective agreement is sufficient. As of 26 October 2026, the figures for 2027 had not yet been published.

Do I need to speak German? Usually not. But German earns you points. Only Regular Seasonal Workers need German A1.

Can I come to Austria without a job offer? Very Highly Qualified Workers can apply for a job-seeker visa. It is valid for six months and costs €195. The AMS must first confirm your points.

Can I submit the application in Austria? Yes, if you entered lawfully and are staying here lawfully (oesterreich.gv.at).

Can my family come with me? Yes. Family members can receive a Red-White-Red Card plus. The requirements depend on the individual case.

Sources and legal basis

• migration.gv.at – Other Key Workers
• migration.gv.at – Very Highly Qualified Workers
• migration.gv.at – Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations, points table (English)
• migration.gv.at – Nationwide shortage occupations 2026
• migration.gv.at – Regional shortage occupations 2026
• oesterreich.gv.at – Red-White-Red Card, all variants
• oesterreich.gv.at – Other Key Workers
• oesterreich.gv.at – Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
• oesterreich.gv.at – Very Highly Qualified Workers
• oesterreich.gv.at – Red-White-Red Card plus
• oesterreich.gv.at – Integration Agreement
• oesterreich.gv.at – Registering your residence
• wien.gv.at – Red-White-Red Card for employed key workers
• usp.gv.at – Registering employees
• WKO – Red-White-Red Card: admission procedure
• Legal basis according to oesterreich.gv.at: § 41 NAG (Red-White-Red Card), § 41a NAG (Red-White-Red Card plus), § 11 NAG (general requirements), §§ 12, 12a, 12b, 20d AuslBG (admission by the AMS), § 24 AuslBG with Annex D (Anlage D) (self-employed, start-ups)
• Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG) in the RIS
• Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz, AuslBG) in the RIS

General information based on official sources. Leading Viennese law and tax firms review your individual case, and we guide you personally all the way to your goal.