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5 programs for Austria. Explore the options and get an expert assessment.
Austria does issue the EU-wide Blue Card for highly qualified professionals. You need a degree (or, for IT and managerial roles, three years of comparable experience), a job offer of at least six months, and a salary at or above the Austrian threshold. It runs in parallel to the Red-White-Red Card and, after 21 of 24 months in qualifying work, opens the door to a Red-White-Red Card plus with open labour-market access.
A simpler route for international students who finished a degree in Austria and want to stay and work. Unlike the other Red-White-Red tiers, there is no points test here. You just need a graduate-level job offer paying the locally customary minimum for comparable junior staff. After studying here, it is often the most direct way to move into the Austrian workforce.
The general key-worker tier of the Red-White-Red Card, for roles that are not very-highly-qualified or shortage-listed but still meet a points threshold and a minimum salary. A labour-market test applies: the AMS checks that no equally qualified jobseeker is already available for the role before approving it.
For trained workers in occupations Austria has officially flagged as short of staff. You need a job offer in a listed shortage occupation and to pass a points test (55 of 90). Both a nationwide and a regional shortage-occupation list apply, so the qualifying jobs change from year to year. The card is normally issued for 24 months.
Austria's flagship route for top-tier talent, scored on a points test. If you reach 70 of 100 points across qualifications, experience, language and age, you can come to find work on a Job Seeker Visa and then switch to this card once you have a matching job offer. It is the premium tier of Austria's Red-White-Red (Rot-Weiss-Rot) Card system.
Yes. Eligible family members can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, which provides them with access to the Austrian labour market.
You qualify after successfully completing at least the second stage of a diploma programme, a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral programme at an Austrian university, university of applied sciences, or accredited private university.
You need a job offer matching your qualification level paid in line with the relevant collective agreement, but no labour market test is required for graduates.
You need at least 55 of a possible 90 points, awarded for your qualification, work experience, language skills and age.
Graduates can renew their student residence permit for 12 months to search for suitable employment or to start a business.
You qualify after successfully completing at least the second stage of a diploma programme, a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral programme at an Austrian university, university of applied sciences, or accredited private university.
Yes. In 2026 the employer must pay at least €3,465 gross per month, and the role is also subject to a labour market test.
Yes. Spouses or registered partners and minor children can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, which gives them access to the labour market.
Take the assessment or ask Acey, our immigration assistant.
Work abroad — Austria