• Do you need a visa to work in Austria?

To work in Austria, you must first apply for a work permission. The only exception to this rule is EU or EEA residents.

However, citizens of EU/EEA countries can only live and work in Austria for 90 days, after which they must apply for a certificate of registration in order to extend their stay.

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What is a Red-White-Red Card?

A Red-White-Red Card is a work permit and residence permit that allows its owner to stay and work in Austria for up to 2 years. Not everyone is eligible for this type of visa, as it is issued to highly qualified individuals from other countries who want to work in Austria. The eligibility criteria for obtaining this permit are measured using a scoring system. In the system: personal qualities such as language proficiency, professional achievements, age and work experience are evaluated accordingly.

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You will be eligible for a Red-White-Red Card if you fall into one of these categories:

• Highly qualified employees. 
• Skilled workers in scarce professions.
• Other key employees.
• Graduates of universities and colleges of Higher Education in Austria.

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The permit is issued in the form of a card with an image and identity. For this reason, it is important to keep it in person in cases where you need to confirm your residence status.

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Requirements for a work visa to Austria

In addition to the basic requirements for an Austria visa, you will need some special documents to obtain a work permit, including:

1. Employer's application. Your employer must provide you with an application in accordance with the Foreign Employment Act (AuslBG).
2. The confirmation of professional qualifications. These include certificates and proof of employment.
3. The confirmation of language skills. You must provide proof of proficiency in German or English with an international diploma.
4. Scientific activities. You must also submit any research publication or declaration from the university stating that you have worked as a researcher or at a research center.
5. Patent registration. Registration of a patent using an extract from the national/regional patent register (if any).
6. The confirmation of the annual gross salary for the previous year. These include tax reports confirming your salary.
7. The confirmation of your previous position. You must provide a declaration from your previous employer that you worked in a senior position.
8. Confirm the status of your previous company. You must also provide documents stating that the company you worked for is listed on the stock exchange.
9. The confirmation that you studied in Austria. This includes confirmation through your training record (Studienbuch) and related certificates.
10. The confirmation of habilitation. This is a postdoctoral lecture qualification that recognizes you as a qualified person to conduct research or teach in a scientific field.
11. Employment contract. You will need to provide a copy of your contract from your current employer in Austria, which indicates your annual salary.

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How do I apply for an Austrian work visa?

To apply for a red-white-red card, you need to follow several steps.

1. Provide yourself with a job.
2. Apply for a work permit.
3. Applying for a work visa.
4. Travel to Austria.

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Although a work permit in Austria allows you to work and live in Austria for a long period of time, unfortunately, you cannot enter Austria without a D visa. You must apply for a National D visa before moving to Austria.

A national visa allows you to stay in Austria for up to 6 months, in which case the only purpose of this visa is to allow you to enter Austria, and once you pick up the red – white-red card, no visa is required.

Remember: you have three days after entering Austria to register with the Registration Department.

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Where can you apply for a work visa to Austria?

To obtain a National D visa to enter Austria, you must apply at your local office, embassy or consulate.

You must first apply for a work permit – if you get a permit, the visa application process will be much easier, since you are already registered as a future employer in Austria.

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How long does it take to get a work visa to Austria?

Applying for a work visa to Austria usually takes about 8 weeks. By then, you should have received a response from the embassy. However, keep in mind that sometimes delays occur for various reasons.

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How long does a work visa to Austria last?

A work visa to Austria is valid for two years. During this time, you are free to work and live in Austria just like any other resident of Austria. If your employment contract expires before the expiration of two years, your visa will be valid for the duration of your work plus an additional three months.

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Can you extend your work visa to Austria?

If you want to renew your work permit when it expires, you can apply for an extension of your red-white-red Plus card, which will allow you to stay in Austria for another two years. In addition, if you have a Red-White-Red Plus card for two years, you can apply for another card, and this time you can stay for 3 years.

You must apply for an extension three months before the visa expires.

If you have lived with a work permit for 5 years in Austria, you are eligible to apply for the title of "long – term resident of the EU (Daueraufenthalt - EU)". Your residence permit must also be renewed.

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*Please note that in order to qualify for an extension, you must also complete module 1 of the integration agreement. Completing module 1 means that you have a basic knowledge of German in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).

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Can you change your employer with an Austrian work visa?

No, you can't change your employer with an Austrian work visa. A red-white-red ticket is issued only from a specific employer. If you want to work for someone else, you must re-apply for a work permit.

You can work for another employer if you have a red-white-red Plus card.

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Other types of work visas in Austria

There are several other types of Austrian work visas that you can apply for, depending on what works best for your situation.

- The EU Blue Card

The EU Blue Card is a type of work permit that is not based on a point system. To get an EU Blue Card, you need to meet several criteria.

• you have completed your higher education at an accredited university (at least a three-year program).
• your salary is at least 1.5 times the annual salary in Austria. In 2021, the amount is about 65,000 euros.
• there is not a single relevant position registered as a job seeker in the state Employment Service.
• you must have a guaranteed job in Austria for at least one year.

- Austrian seeker job visa.

A seeker job visa allows you to stay in Austria for 6 months while you are looking for a job. Please note that only highly qualified individuals are eligible to apply for a job seeker visa. Only those who score 70 or more points according to the point system will receive a job seeker's visa.

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Can you bring your family members to Austria with a work visa?

Yes, you can. If you have a Red-White-Red Card, your family members can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, which allows them to work and live in Austria for 1-2 years. Family members are considered to be:

• Spouses.
• Registered same-sex partner.
• Minor children.

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How much does a work permit cost in Austria?

A work permit in Austria as a whole will cost about 160 euros. You must pay 120 euros when you apply, an additional 20 euros when you get a permit, and 20 euros for police identification data