Austria — migration.gv.at / AMS
Austria Red-White-Red Card points calculator
Check whether you reach the 55-point threshold for the Red-White-Red Card as a Skilled Worker in a Shortage Occupation. Points come from your qualification, work experience, German and English levels, and age, scored against the official migration.gv.at grid (maximum 90).
Meets the 55-point threshold
56 / 55 points
- Qualification · Completed vocational training in the shortage occupation
- +30
- Work experience · 3 year(s) — capped at 20
- +6
- Language · German A2 (10) + English — (0), capped at 25
- +10
- Age · Under 40
- +10
- • Scoring the points grid is only part of eligibility: the Public Employment Service (AMS) also checks that your occupation is on the shortage list, that your qualification matches it, and that your pay meets the required minimum. Regulated professions (e.g. health, teaching) need formal recognition. This is indicative and educational — confirm with the official points calculator on migration.gv.at.
Dated verdict context
Austria Red-White-Red Card verdict context
Verified 2026-06-27
The calculator result should be read against the 55-point shortage-occupation threshold and the separate AMS gates: completed training in the shortage occupation, a binding Austrian job offer and minimum pay under law, regulation or collective agreement.
A passing points result means the profile reaches the published shortage-occupation grid threshold. It does not decide whether the occupation is on the current list, the qualification matches it, the pay is adequate, or a regulated profession has been recognised.
Points threshold
55 points
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations need at least 55 of 90 points in the migration.gv.at grid.
Shortage-occupation training gate
Required
The route requires completed training in a shortage occupation; points alone do not cure a missing route-specific qualification.
Salary and pay test
Collective-pay test
No single published salary number for the shortage-occupation skilled-worker route. The job offer must pay at least the minimum legal or collective-agreement remuneration for the occupation.
Effective 2026-06-27 - Migration.gv.at - Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
Official worked example
70 points
migration.gv.at gives a Serbian roofer aged 29 with completed training, more than 10 years of experience and German A1 as a 70-point example.
Roofer, 29 (official worked example)
70 points (+15 vs 55)
Score 70 of 90; threshold 55; points margin +15. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Care worker, 32
61 points (+6 vs 55)
Score 61 of 90; threshold 55; points margin +6. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Technician, 28, 2 years in Austria
68 points (+13 vs 55)
Score 68 of 90; threshold 55; points margin +13. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Tradesperson, 45
40 points (-15 vs 55)
Score 40 of 90; threshold 55; points margin -15. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Strong profile, no shortage-occupation training
60 points (+5 vs 55)
Score 60 of 90; threshold 55; points margin +5. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Multilingual applicant, 35
67 points (+12 vs 55)
Score 67 of 90; threshold 55; points margin +12. AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant.
Limits
- This context covers only Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations, not every Red-White-Red Card category.
- AMS and the residence authority remain the decision makers.
- Regulated professions can require formal recognition before the work can be practised.
Worked examples
Typical profiles scored by the same calculator above. You need 55 of 90 points, plus vocational training in a shortage occupation.
| Profile | Detail | Points | Result | AMS gate context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofer, 29 (official worked example) | Vocational training, 10+ years experience, German A1 — the migration.gv.at example: 70 points. | 70 / 55 | Meets threshold | Meets the 55-point threshold by 15 points AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
| Care worker, 32 | Vocational training, 3 years experience, German B1. | 61 / 55 | Meets threshold | Meets the 55-point threshold by 6 points AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
| Technician, 28, 2 years in Austria | Vocational training, 2 years experience in Austria (double rate), German A2 + English A2. | 68 / 55 | Meets threshold | Meets the 55-point threshold by 13 points AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
| Tradesperson, 45 | Vocational training, no experience yet, German A1 only — falls short of 55. | 40 / 55 | Does not qualify | Short of the 55-point threshold by 15 points AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
| Strong profile, no shortage-occupation training | High points on experience + language + age, but without the qualifying vocational training the category does not apply. | 60 / 55 | Does not qualify | Scores 60, but the shortage-occupation training gate is missing AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
| Multilingual applicant, 35 | German B1 (15) + English B1 (10) caps the language block at 25. | 67 / 55 | Meets threshold | Meets the 55-point threshold by 12 points AMS still checks the shortage list, qualification match, binding job offer, collective-pay compliance and regulated-profession recognition where relevant. |
Points are scored against the migration.gv.at grid only. Meeting the threshold does not by itself grant the card — the AMS also checks the shortage list, qualification match, and pay.
About this calculator
The Red-White-Red Card is Austria’s points-based route for qualified workers from outside the EU. This calculator scores the Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations category, which needs 55 of 90 points and completed vocational training in an occupation on the federal or regional shortage list. It does not assess the shortage list itself, salary, or qualification recognition, all of which the AMS checks.
Calculator provenance
- Rule review date
- 5 June 2026
- Calculation method
- Scores the published Red-White-Red Card shortage-occupation grid against the 55-point threshold.
It does not assess the shortage list match, qualification recognition, salary compliance, regulated-profession licensing, or AMS discretion. This independent calculator is for planning only; the authoritative result is the relevant government or caseworker decision.
FAQs
How many points do I need for the Austria Red-White-Red Card (shortage occupation)?
55 of a possible 90 points, plus the core requirement: completed vocational training in an occupation on the shortage list. Points come from qualification (30), work experience (up to 20), language (up to 25), and age (up to 15).
How are points awarded?
Qualification in the shortage occupation is 30 points. Work experience scores 1 point per half-year (2 per half-year if gained in Austria), capped at 20. German is A1=5, A2=10, B1+=15 and English A2=5, B1+=10 (summed, capped at 25). Age is 15 under 30, 10 under 40, 5 under 50.
Does this calculator cover all Red-White-Red Card categories?
No. It scores only the Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations category. Very Highly Qualified Workers, Other Key Workers, Graduates and Start-up Founders use different grids and thresholds.
Does passing the points test guarantee the card?
No. The Public Employment Service (AMS) also checks that your occupation is on the shortage list, that your qualification matches it, and that your pay meets the minimum. Regulated professions need formal recognition. The authoritative check is the official points calculator and the AMS decision, not this tool.