How does Red-White-Red Card work in Austria, and who qualifies?

The Very Highly Qualified Workers tier sits at the top of Austria's Red-White-Red (Rot-Weiss-Rot) Card system. Instead of needing a job lined up before you arrive, you're scored on a points test that weighs special qualifications, work experience, language skills, age and any Austrian studies. If you reach at least 70 of 100 points, an Austrian embassy can issue a category D Job Seeker Visa valid for six months, giving you time on the ground to find a role that fits your background.

Once you have a concrete employment offer that matches your qualifications and pays adequately, you apply for the card itself. You'll need a valid travel document, all-risks health insurance, and an assessment confirmation from the Public Employment Service (AMS). The official fees are EUR 195 for the Job Seeker Visa and EUR 218 for the card application (2026 figures).

This is the flagship tier, but it's not the only one — the Red-White-Red Card also has tiers for shortage occupations, other key workers, Austrian graduates, start-up founders and self-employed key workers, each with its own criteria. After roughly 21 of 24 months in qualifying work, holders can move to a Red-White-Red Card plus with open labour-market access.

Thresholds, fees and the points criteria are updated over time, so it's worth confirming the current figures on migration.gv.at before you apply. If you'd like help working out whether you'd clear 70 points, ACME offers a free initial consultation to map your profile against the criteria.