Republic of Austria vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Austria
Austria issues residence permits through the MA 35 (Vienna) and Bezirkshauptmannschaften (other regions). The headline route is the Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte), a points-based work permit for skilled workers, key workers, graduates of Austrian universities, self-employed, and startup founders. The EU Blue Card (Austria) is also available. Settlement after 5 years of continuous legal residence.
- Official portal
- Federal Ministry of the Interior (Austria)
- Languages
- German
- Currency
- Euro
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina administers foreigner stay through the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. The public route framework includes visa residence, visa-free stay for eligible nationals, temporary residence for work, family, education, real-estate ownership and other legally listed grounds, plus permanent residence after qualifying temporary residence. The official English guidance also highlights residence registration duties and original/certified document and translation rules.
- Official portal
- Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Languages
- Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
- Currency
- Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark
How Republic of Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina differ
| Dimension | Republic of Austria | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 2 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | Red-White-Red Card for 24 months -> Red-White-Red Card plus after 21 qualifying months -> citizenship usually from 10 years residence. | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) | Temporary Residence for Employment with Work Permit |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | No fixed published floor | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | Austria publishes the AMS/residence-authority workflow for the Red-White-Red Card but does not publish a single central processing-time target for shortage-occupation skilled workers. | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | Austria publishes a EUR 218 application fee for the Red-White-Red Card shortage-occupation route. | — |
| Official languages | German | Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian |
| Currency | Euro | Bosnia and Herzegovina convertible mark |
| Primary regulator | ÖRAK | MoJ BiH |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Republic of Austria
Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
- Salary minimum
- No fixed published floor
- Government fees
- Austria publishes a EUR 218 application fee for the Red-White-Red Card shortage-occupation route.
- Processing time
- Austria publishes the AMS/residence-authority workflow for the Red-White-Red Card but does not publish a single central processing-time target for shortage-occupation skilled workers.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Temporary Residence for Employment with Work Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Republic of Austria
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Austria (5)
Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2 years; then RWR Card Plus (employer-independent, also 2 years, renewable).
EU Blue Card (Austria)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2 years; renewable.
Student Residence Permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Studierender)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · 1 year; renewable for the duration of studies.
Family Reunification (Familiennachzug)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 1 year initially; renewable. Spouses get RWR Card Plus (3 years).
Red-White-Red Card — Startup Founder
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · 2 years; then RWR Card Plus progression.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (7)
Visa-Free Stay
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 90 days over a six-month period from the date of first entry, unless a treaty or Council of Ministers decision provides otherwise.
Temporary Residence for Employment with Work Permit
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Temporary Residence for Work without Work Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Temporary Residence for Family Reunification
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Temporary Residence for Education
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Temporary Residence Based on Real Estate Ownership
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Permanent Residence Permit
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Indefinite permanent residence, once approved.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina?+
Republic of Austria’s Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) requires a salary of at least No fixed published floor; Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Temporary Residence for Employment with Work Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Austria or Bosnia and Herzegovina have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Bosnia and Herzegovina has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 2 for Republic of Austria. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.