Republic of Austria vs Independent State of Samoa
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
Independent State of Samoa
Samoa Visa Atlas coverage is source-backed from Samoa Immigration pages under the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The source packet covers visitor entry, business visitors, visitor extensions, temporary residence for employment, business and investment, study, family support or reunion, research, cultural and religious purposes, permanent residence, citizenship routes, official forms and fee tables. Applicants should use Samoa Immigration guidance and forms, then confirm the current filing place, fee and supporting evidence before travelling, working, studying, investing or relying on long-stay status.
- Languages
- Samoan, English
- Currency
- Samoan tala
How Republic of Austria and Independent State of Samoa differ
| Dimension | Republic of Austria | Independent State of Samoa |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 10 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 2 | 6 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 4 | 2 |
| 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 |
| 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 | Samoan, English |
| Currency | Euro | Samoan tala |
| Primary regulator | ÖRAK | Immigration |
| 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
Independent State of Samoa
Temporary Residence for Employment
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to Republic of Austria
Routes unique to Independent State of Samoa
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.
Independent State of Samoa (10)
Visitor Permit on Arrival
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 90 days on arrival for visitor purposes, subject to Samoa entry requirements.
Business Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visitor framework; confirm permitted stay and activity limits with Samoa Immigration.
Visitor Permit Extension
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Further visitor stay; confirm the approved extension length with Samoa Immigration.
Temporary Residence for Employment
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence; confirm the approved validity period and any renewal conditions on the permit issued by Samoa Immigration.
Temporary Residence for Business or Investment
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence; confirm the approved validity period and any renewal conditions on the permit issued by Samoa Immigration.
Temporary Residence for Study
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence; confirm the approved validity period and any renewal conditions on the permit issued by Samoa Immigration.
Temporary Residence for Family Support or Reunion
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence; confirm the approved validity period and any renewal conditions on the permit issued by Samoa Immigration.
Temporary Residence for Research, Cultural or Religious Purposes
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Temporary residence; confirm the approved validity period and any renewal conditions on the permit issued by Samoa Immigration.
Permanent Residence Permit
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence status, subject to approval and any endorsement or reissue conditions.
Citizenship by Descent, Permanent Residence or Marriage
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Citizenship status after registration or recognition; processing depends on the citizenship route and decision.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Austria or Independent State of Samoa?+
Republic of Austria’s Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) requires a salary of at least No fixed published floor; Independent State of Samoa’s Temporary Residence for Employment 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 Independent State of Samoa have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Independent State of Samoa has more: 6 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.