Republic of Austria vs Republic of Kazakhstan
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
Republic of Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan administers migration through the Migration Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with services on the eGov.kz portal and IT routes via Astana Hub. It is one of the more open Central Asian options, offering two remote-worker routes - the Neo Nomad Visa and an IT-focused Digital Nomad Residency - alongside employer work permits, temporary residence and a permanent-residence permit.
- Official portal
- Migration Service, Ministry of Internal Affairs (Kazakhstan)
- Languages
- Kazakh, Russian
- Currency
- Kazakhstani tenge
How Republic of Austria and Republic of Kazakhstan differ
| Dimension | Republic of Austria | Republic of Kazakhstan |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 7 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 2 | 3 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) | Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | German | Kazakh, Russian |
| Currency | Euro | Kazakhstani tenge |
| Primary regulator | ÖRAK | MoJ |
| 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
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Republic of Kazakhstan
Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored)
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Republic of Austria
Routes unique to Republic of Kazakhstan
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Austria (5)
Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
Sponsor · To settlement · 2 years; then RWR Card Plus (employer-independent, also 2 years, renewable).
EU Blue Card (Austria)
Sponsor · 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 · To settlement · 1 year initially; renewable. Spouses get RWR Card Plus (3 years).
Red-White-Red Card — Startup Founder
No sponsor · To settlement · 2 years; then RWR Card Plus progression.
Republic of Kazakhstan (7)
Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored)
Sponsor · To settlement · Work permits are tied to your employment and renewed while you keep the job; the residence permit is issued for a defined period and renewed alongside it.
Neo Nomad Visa (B12-1)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for up to around a year with the possibility of in-country extension; it is a stay route, not a settlement route.
Digital Nomad Residency (IT specialists, via Astana Hub)
Sponsor · To settlement · Designed as a long-horizon route for IT talent that can lead to a permanent residence permit; confirm the current validity terms on the official page.
Temporary Residence Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Issued for a defined period linked to your purpose of stay and renewable while that purpose continues.
Permanent Residence Permit
Sponsor · To settlement · Confirms permanent residence; the physical permit is issued with a validity period and renewed while you keep your status.
Study Residence (foreign students)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Linked to the length of your course and renewable while you remain enrolled.
Family Residence (reunification)
Sponsor · To settlement · Issued for a defined period and renewable while the family relationship and basis continue; can lead towards permanent residence over time.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Austria or Republic of Kazakhstan?+
Republic of Austria’s Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) is the dominant skilled route; Republic of Kazakhstan’s Work Permit and Residence (employer-sponsored) 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 Republic of Kazakhstan have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Kazakhstan has more: 3 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.