Republic of Austria · family · Leads to settlement
Family Reunification (Familiennachzug)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence permit for spouses and children of RWR Card, Blue Card, and permanent residents — spouses receive work rights via the RWR Card Plus.
- Processing time
- 2–6 months.
- Government fees
- €160 per family member.
- Typical duration
- 1 year initially; renewable. Spouses get RWR Card Plus (3 years).
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
Family reunification in Austria allows holders of the RWR Card, EU Blue Card, and Daueraufenthalt-EU (permanent residence) to bring their spouse and unmarried children under 18 to Austria. Spouses of RWR Card holders receive the RWR Card Plus with automatic, unrestricted work rights — no separate work permit needed. The sponsor must demonstrate adequate housing meeting Austrian habitability standards, health insurance covering the family, and income sufficient to support the family without welfare. Austria applies a quota system (Niederlassungsverordnung) to family-reunification permits — the annual quota is set by regulation and can fill up.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Sponsor holds a valid RWR Card, RWR Card Plus, EU Blue Card, or Daueraufenthalt-EU.
- ✓Adequate housing meeting Austrian habitability standards (minimum space per person as defined by the relevant provincial housing law).
- ✓Health insurance covering the family member.
- ✓Income sufficient to support the family without welfare — assessed against the equalisation-supplement reference rate (Ausgleichszulagenrichtsatz).
- ✓Application falls within the annual family-reunification quota (Niederlassungsverordnung).
Common blockers
- !Annual quota exhausted — the family-reunification quota can fill up, particularly in high-demand federal states like Vienna.
- !Income below the reference rate — the sponsor must demonstrate income above the Ausgleichszulagenrichtsatz for the household size.
- !Housing too small — provincial habitability standards specify minimum square metres per person.
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage certificate with apostille and certified German translation.
- ·Sponsor's residence permit and employment/income evidence.
- ·Housing lease showing adequate space.
- ·Health insurance confirmation for the family member.
- ·German A1 certificate for the spouse (pre-entry integration requirement — must be obtained before application in most cases).
Application pathway
Spouse obtains German A1
In most cases, the spouse must demonstrate German A1 proficiency before applying — this is Austria's pre-entry integration requirement. An A1 certificate from ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, or telc is accepted. Exemptions exist for some nationalities and circumstances.
Apply at Austrian consulate
The family member applies at the Austrian embassy/consulate in their country of residence.
Quota check and assessment
The application is assessed against the annual quota and eligibility criteria.
Enter Austria and receive permit
On approval, the family member enters Austria and receives the RWR Card Plus (spouses) or residence permit (children).
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse family reunification guidance ↗
Check eligible family members, filing location and pre-entry requirements before submitting the family application.
Federal Ministry of the Interior · verified
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Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)
Austria's points-based work and residence permit for skilled workers, key workers, and graduates of Austrian universities — 70 points required.
EU Blue Card (Austria)
EU-wide highly qualified worker permit — higher salary threshold than the RWR Card but offers intra-EU mobility after 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
Does my spouse need to speak German before coming to Austria?+
In most cases, yes. Austria has a pre-entry integration requirement: spouses must demonstrate German A1 proficiency (ÖSD, Goethe, or telc certificate) before applying for family reunification. Exemptions exist for nationals of specific countries (US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and others) and for family members of Blue Card holders or very highly qualified RWR Card holders. Check migration.gv.at for the current exemption list.
Can my spouse work in Austria?+
Yes. Spouses of RWR Card holders receive the RWR Card Plus, which grants unrestricted work rights — no separate work permit, labour-market test, or employer sponsorship needed. They can work for any employer in any sector from day one.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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