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Republic of Austria · family · Leads to settlement

Family Reunification (Familiennachzug)

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Residence permit for spouses and children of RWR Card, Blue Card, and permanent residents — spouses receive work rights via the RWR Card Plus.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residency1 year initially; renewable. Spouses get RWR Card Plus (3 years).
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
Reviewed BMI ↗

In short

As of 8 July 2026, the Family Reunification (Familiennachzug) for Republic of Austria is an unsponsored Austria immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Austria government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/austria/family-reunification-austria#answer

What is the Family Reunification (Familiennachzug) in Republic of Austria?

Family Reunification (Familiennachzug) is an unsponsored Austria route. Indicative government fees are €160 per family member; indicative processing time is 2–6 months; typical duration is 1 year initially; renewable. Spouses get RWR Card Plus (3 years). This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against BMI on 18 April 2026.

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

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.Austria's official government portal (content under BMI competency) ↗
  • !Housing too small — provincial habitability standards specify minimum square metres per person.

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. 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.

  2. Apply at Austrian consulate

    The family member applies at the Austrian embassy/consulate in their country of residence.

  3. Quota check and assessment

    The application is assessed against the annual quota and eligibility criteria.

  4. Enter Austria and receive permit

    On approval, the family member enters Austria and receives the RWR Card Plus (spouses) or residence permit (children).

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Family Reunification (Familiennachzug), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Family Reunification (Familiennachzug) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Austria

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Austria. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use 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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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.

Could the annual quota stop my spouse from joining me in Austria?+

Yes, it's a real risk. Austria applies an annual family-reunification quota (Niederlassungsverordnung), and it can fill up — particularly in high-demand federal states like Vienna — which is listed as a common reason an application cannot proceed that year. Check the current position on migration.gv.at before planning.

Which family members can I bring to Austria on the family reunification route?+

Family reunification covers a sponsor's spouse and unmarried children under 18. Spouses of RWR Card holders receive the RWR Card Plus with unrestricted work rights, and children receive a residence permit. Confirm your exact circumstances on migration.gv.at.

How long does family reunification take to process in Austria?+

The indicative processing time for family reunification is 2–6 months. This is separate from any wait caused by the annual quota. Treat it as indicative and confirm timelines on migration.gv.at.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Austria

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: BMI

Last checked: 18 April 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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