If you're a skilled professional from outside the EU and you want to work in Austria, the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte) is your most direct path. It's a points-based work and residence permit designed specifically for qualified non-EU nationals — and since a major 2022 reform, more people qualify than ever before.
This guide covers everything you need to know: how the points system works, which category applies to you, what the process looks like step by step, and how to avoid the mistakes that slow most applicants down.
The Red-White-Red Card (RWR Card) is a combined work and residence permit that allows qualified non-EU nationals to live and work in Austria for up to two years, with a straightforward path to renewal and eventually permanent residency.
Unlike a standard work visa, the RWR Card is employer-linked but not employer-locked to a specific position in the same rigid way. Once you hold the card, you have considerably more flexibility than under older work permit frameworks.
The card is issued under Austria's points-based immigration system, governed by the Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG) and the Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz (AuslBG). Points are awarded across four criteria: qualifications, work experience, age, and language skills.
The RWR Card has three main categories:
| Category | Who It's For | Points Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Very Highly Qualified Workers | Researchers, academics, senior specialists | 70 out of 100 |
| Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations | Professions on the official Mangelberuf list | No fixed points threshold — KV salary compliance required |
| Other Key Workers | Skilled professionals not on the shortage list | 55 out of 75 |
Most applicants fall into either the Shortage Occupation or Other Key Workers category. This guide focuses on both.
For the Other Key Workers category, you need a minimum of 55 points out of 75. Here is exactly how points are calculated:
| Qualification | Points |
|---|---|
| University degree (recognised in Austria) | 30 |
| Vocational training / apprenticeship (recognised) | 20 |
| Special qualifications relevant to the role | up to 10 |
| Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| More than 5 years in the relevant field | 20 |
| 3–5 years in the relevant field | 14 |
| Less than 3 years | 0 |
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | 15 |
| 30–39 | 10 |
| 40+ | 0 |
| Language | Level | Points |
|---|---|---|
| German | B1 or above | 10 |
| German | A2 | 5 |
| English | B2 or above | 5 |
A 27-year-old software engineer with a recognised computer science degree and four years of work experience, with English at B2:
Many people who believe they don't qualify actually do. The eligibility check takes five minutes.
If your profession appears on Austria's official shortage occupation list, the RWR Card process is significantly more accessible. There is no fixed points threshold — instead, you need a job offer that meets the salary requirements of the relevant collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag).
Austria's 2026 shortage occupation list includes:
IT & Technology
Healthcare
Engineering & Trades
Other
If your profession is on this list, your employer's application is simpler, the AMS labour market check (Ersatzkraftverfahren) is largely waived, and Austrian employers in shortage sectors are actively looking for international candidates.
Before approaching any employer, confirm your eligibility. Use WorkPermit.at's free eligibility checker to calculate your points score based on official Austrian criteria. This takes five minutes and requires no registration.
Knowing your score changes the conversation with employers — you arrive prepared rather than asking them to take a risk on an unknown outcome.
You cannot apply for the RWR Card without a job offer from an Austrian employer. The offer must:
For shortage occupations, your employer does not need to demonstrate that no qualified Austrian candidate was available (the Ersatzkraftverfahren is waived or simplified). For the Other Key Workers category, the AMS conducts a brief labour market check first.
The RWR Card application is a joint process. Your employer submits the application to the relevant Austrian Labour Market Service (AMS) office. The required documents typically include:
From you:
From your employer:
Once submitted, the application is reviewed jointly by the AMS (labour market check) and the relevant immigration authority — either the MA 35 in Vienna or the Bezirkshauptmannschaft in other Austrian states.
Processing time: approximately 8 weeks from a complete application. Vienna (MA 35) can run longer; applications in Graz, Linz, or Salzburg are often processed faster.
Once approved, you will receive notification to collect your visa (Visum D) at the Austrian Embassy in your home country. This allows you to enter Austria.
Within a defined timeframe after arriving in Austria, you collect the physical RWR Card from the relevant authority. The card is valid for 24 months and is renewable.
Every RWR Card application must meet the salary threshold set by the applicable Austrian collective agreement (Kollektivvertrag). These are legally binding minimum salaries set by industry sector.
For the Other Key Workers category, there is also a statutory minimum — this figure is updated annually. For 2026, consult the current BMAW guidelines or check via the WorkPermit.at eligibility tool.
For shortage occupations, the Kollektivvertrag salary applies. In practice, this means:
If a job offer does not meet the KV salary threshold, it will not support a successful RWR application. Use this as a filter — not a barrier.
If your degree or professional qualification was issued outside the EU, it may need to be formally recognised in Austria before it counts toward your RWR points.
This process — called Nostrifikation — is handled by Austrian universities for academic degrees, and by the relevant professional authority for regulated professions (such as nursing or medicine).
For nurses: Nursing qualifications must be recognised by the relevant Austrian state health authority before you can practice. This process runs parallel to the RWR application and typically takes 3–6 months. Austrian employers in the healthcare sector are experienced with this process and often provide support.
For engineers and IT professionals: Academic degrees are typically assessed by an Austrian university. Recognition is usually straightforward for degrees from accredited institutions in your home country.
Practical tip: Start the nostrification process early — ideally before or alongside your job search — so it does not delay your start date once you have a job offer.
The most common frustration non-EU professionals face is structural: you need a job offer to apply for the RWR Card, but many employers won't make a job offer without knowing you qualify.
There are three concrete ways to break this cycle:
1. Target shortage occupation employers. Companies hiring for Mangelberuf roles are actively looking for international candidates and are significantly more motivated to navigate the sponsorship process.
2. Find employers with prior RWR experience. Companies that have sponsored before know the process, have internal HR workflows, and carry far less hesitation.
3. Arrive prepared. Come to interviews with your eligibility profile: your points score, the applicable salary threshold, and a one-page summary of the steps involved. Removing uncertainty for the employer removes the biggest barrier to a yes.
→ Read the full article: The Catch-22 of Working in Austria as a Non-EU Professional
The RWR Card is valid for 24 months. After this period:
Austria also offers a straightforward path to citizenship after ten years of continuous legal residence, reduced to six years under certain conditions.
Not checking your points before approaching employers. Many qualified candidates assume they don't qualify and never apply. Check first — it takes five minutes.
Applying to employers with no international hiring experience. Cold applications to companies that have never sponsored a work permit rarely succeed. Target employers with international teams or prior RWR experience.
Ignoring the salary threshold. A job offer below the KV minimum cannot support a successful application. Clarify salary expectations early in the hiring process.
Underestimating nostrification timelines. For regulated professions, especially nursing, the recognition process takes time. Start early.
Applying from inside Austria on a tourist visa. The RWR Card must generally be applied for from your home country. Overstaying or applying from an incompatible status in Austria creates complications.
Find out your official Austria work permit score in 5 minutes. Based on official Austrian criteria. No registration required.
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For binding advice on your specific situation, consult a licensed Austrian immigration lawyer. WorkPermit.at is an independent platform — not affiliated with any Austrian government authority. Contact: hello@workpermit.at
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