Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)

It depends on the category. Current migration.gv.at pages require at least 55 points for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations and Other Key Workers. Other categories, such as Very Highly Qualified Workers, graduates, self-employed key workers and start-up founders, use different category rules. Use the official points calculator and category page before filing.

It can be points-critical even when it is not a separate mandatory requirement for every RWR category. Current skilled-worker and key-worker tables award points for certified language ability, including German A1/A2/B1 and English A2/B1. German is also important for daily life in Austria and later long-term residence steps.

Migration.gv.at currently publishes a EUR 218 application fee for Red-White-Red Card categories. Budget separately for passport photos, criminal-record extracts where required, translations/legalisation for documents not in German or English, language tests if you need points, and any regulated-profession recognition. Family members normally apply for Red-White-Red Card plus and the current application fee is also EUR 218 per applicant.

The Mangelberufsliste (shortage occupation list) is published annually in January by the Austrian government. It lists occupations experiencing documented labour shortages. Workers in these occupations have a separate, slightly easier RWR Card category with its own points table. Common occupations on the list include IT professionals, engineers, healthcare workers, and skilled tradespeople. Check migration.gv.at for the current year's list — it changes every year.

The initial RWR Card (first 2 years) is tied to a specific employer. You cannot change employers without obtaining a new RWR Card or upgrading to the RWR Card Plus. After 2 years, the RWR Card Plus grants employer-independent work rights — you can change jobs, occupations, and sectors freely.

The RWR Card Plus gives fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour-market access. RWR Card holders can apply after they were employed according to the RWR eligibility criteria for at least 21 months during the preceding 24 months, assessed by AMS. Family members of RWR Card holders can also receive RWR Card plus if they meet the general granting requirements.

Only in the "Very Highly Qualified Workers" category. This targets researchers, top executives, and individuals with exceptional achievements (patents, academic prizes, etc.). The points threshold is still 70, but the assessment focuses on academic and professional distinction rather than a specific employer. All other RWR Card categories require a concrete job offer.

Age affects your points but is not disqualifying. The points system awards up to 20 points for age, with applicants under 26 scoring the maximum, so older applicants score fewer age points and must make them up elsewhere — through qualifications (up to 30), work experience (up to 20), German (up to 10), and English (up to 10). You still need 70 points in most categories — verify your score with the calculator on migration.gv.at.

Healthcare qualifications typically require nostrification (credential recognition) through the relevant Austrian authorities before you can work, and this process can take 3–6 months, so start it early. German B1 is essential for healthcare roles, and healthcare occupations appear consistently on the Mangelberufsliste shortage list. Confirm requirements on migration.gv.at.

Standard Red-White-Red Card categories indicatively take about 4–8 weeks to process, while the "Very Highly Qualified" category may be faster. Treat this as indicative and check current timelines on migration.gv.at.