Austria Immigration

Austria’s Red-White-Red (RWR) card model aims at a more efficient and flexible migration scheme for qualified third country workforce and their families who wish to settle permanently in Austria according to labour market and personal criteria.

The most important requirements to obtain a RWR card are:

• Educational qualification
• Work experience
• Age
• Language skills
• Offer of employment according to the qualification and minimum remuneration

The new regulations came into force on 1^st July 2011.

The following groups of applicants can get a RWR card:

• Very highly qualified workers
• Skilled workers in shortage professions
• Other key workers
• Graduates of universities and colleges of higher education in Austria

Red-White-Red Card is available for people who meet the outlined requirements in 2 different versions:

RWR Card: The applicant can reside in specific area and work with a certain employer

RWR Card plus: The applicant can reside and work anywhere in Austria

Very highly qualified workers

Very highly qualified workers can apply for RWR card for the purpose of searching for employment with the competent Austrian representation (embassy, consulate) of their country of residence. They do not require an employer to apply for visa. The RWR card is given only if the  Labour  Market  Service  for  Vienna  (AMS  Wien)  confirms  to  the representation that the visa applicant achieves the required points for the grant.

Highly qualified worker

Highly qualified worker with a visa for job search may apply for a RWR Card with the competent residence authority in Austria, if during the validity period of this visa they submit valid work contract. The intended employment should be in accordance with the qualification of the RWR card applicant and must be adequately paid. Austrian Labour Market Service checks and verifies whether these criteria are fulfilled or not.

Skilled workers in shortage professions

Skilled workers in shortage professions and other key workers can apply for a RWR Card with the competent Austrian representation abroad either the embassy or consulate. Prospective employer needs to give a declaration on the compliance of employment conditions. The applicant should submit this along with the application.

RWR card applicants who can enter Austria without a visa and foreign graduates of universities in Austria, holding a confirmation by the competent residence authority may submit their application directly with the embassy or consulate. The authorized body will forward the application for examination and confirmation of the admission criteria.

Family members

Family members of skilled workers, highly qualified workers and other key workers can apply for a RWR Card plus with the Austrian embassy or consulate respectively after lawful entry without a visa with the competent residence authority in Austria.

Red-White-Red card is issued by the residence authority, if all general and special requirements according to the Act on Settlement and Residence (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG) are met.

RWR card has been designed along the lines of the US Green Card. The name signifies the colors in the national flag of Austria.

RWR card awards points on the basis of age, previous wage, education, work experience and language proficiency in German.

Austrian Interior Ministry has set a target to give 8,000 RWR cards annually; however, the overall immigration limit will remain unchanged.

• Very highly qualified workers

Very highly qualified workers, without an employer in Austria may apply for a visa for the purpose of searching for employment with the competent Austrian representation (embassy, consulate) of their country of residence. This visa is issued under  the  condition  that  the  Labour  Market  Service  for  Vienna  (AMS  Wien)  confirms  to  the representation that the applicant achieves minimum amount of points required for the grant.

• Highly qualified worker

Highly qualified worker, holding a visa for the purpose of searching for employment may apply for a RWR Card with the competent residence authority in Austria, if during the validity period of this visa they submit a legally binding offer of employment (valid work contract). The intended employment must be in accordance with the qualification of the applicant and must be adequately remunerated. The Labour Market Service examines and confirms whether these criteria are fulfilled.

• Skilled workers in shortage professions

Skilled workers in shortage professions and other key workers may apply for a RWR Card with the competent Austrian representation abroad (embassy, consulate). A declaration by the prospective employer, on compliance with the employment conditions, must be submitted together with the application. Applicants who are entitled to entry without a visa and foreign graduates of universities in Austria, holding a confirmation by the competent residence authority may submit their application directly with the competent residence authority, who will forward the application for examination and confirmation of the admission criteria.

Note:Skilled workers in shortage professions can only apply for a RWR Card starting from 1st May 2012 at the earliest.

• Family members

Family membersof highly qualified workers, skilled workers and key workers may apply for a RWR Card plus with the competent Austrian representation abroad (embassy, consulate) respectively after lawful entry without a visa with the competent residence authority in Austria (Bezirkshauptmannschaft/BH, Magistrat, in Vienna MA 35).

The RWR Card is issued by the residence authority, if all general and special requirements according to the Act on Settlement and Residence (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG) are fulfilled.

The ‘red-white-red card’ has been fashioned along the lines of the US Green Card and named after colors in the national flag of Austria. The card gives points to the migrants on the basis of their age, previous pay scales, education, and work experience and language proficiency in German.

The Interior Ministry intends to offer 8,000 Red-White-Red cards annually; however, the overall immigration limit will remain unchanged.

Around 35,000 migrants come to Austria each year to live here permanently out of which one-third come to live with their family members who are already living in Austria.

Visa Requirements & Features for Austria RWR for other Key Workers

Third-country national who want to take up employment in undertakings as key workers as per their qualifications, may apply for a Red-White-Red Card. The validity would be for twelve months if they fulfill the following requirements:

1. Prospective employer will pay the statutory minimum salary:
2. a)      for key workers over 30 years of age: € 2,664 (2013) gross monthly pay plus special payments (holiday and Christmas pay),
3. b)      for key workers under 30 years of age: € 2,220 (2013) gross monthly pay plus special payments (holiday and Christmas pay)
4. No equally qualified person registered as a jobseeker at the Public Employment Service (AMS) can be placed (labour market test/Arbeitsmarktprüfung).
5. The key workers obtain the required points for qualifying.

Documents required are:

• Valid passport
• Proof of birth date
• Accommodation arrangement document
• Health insurance

Family members can accompany the main card holder with a Red-White-Red Card Plus. Family members are:

1. Spouses
2. Registered partners
3. Unmarried minors including adoptive and step children

Note: Spouses and registered partners must 21 years of age or older when applying.

Documents required for RWR Card Plus for dependents are:

1. Financial statement
2. Health insurance coverage
3. Accommodation arrangement
4. Document to prove the relationship with the dependent

RWR Card plus is awarded to the following groups of applicants:

• Family members of applicant groups 1-4 and EU Blue Card holders
• Family members of foreign citizens who are permanently settled in Austria

Austrian Permanent Residence can be obtained after staying in Austria for 5 years

Note: The time spent for study purposes is not considered for residency requirement of Austrian PR.

Austrian Citizenship is awarded only after 5 years of stay in Austria on a PR. It will take 10 years to get an Austrian citizenship after your first arrival.

• Applicant needs to have an Austrian PR to get a citizenship
• Applicant should know German language
• Applicant should not have any criminal record
• Applicant has to renounce his/her current nationality while becoming an Austrian citizen

To know more about the Austrian visa fees, process and document, contact us!

Visa application fee charged by Austrian Embassy for RWR Card is Euro 100.

Embassy charges are subjected to change without prior notice. Please confirm before submitting the application.

Awan Links Services offers best services and has highly competitive and the best service fees. Our state-of-the-art Processing Centre processes over 5000 active cases from across the world at any given time. Awan Links Services offers best service in documentation and our processes are standard & process consultants are the best in the world.

Our service charges are standard and same across all our offices. We guarantee that you will be quoted a nominal and affordable price for the high class service we offer. Prices are determined by the company & are fixed for all clients, offices & cases without any discrepancies. Be assured of paying the right and best price – at par with all our 10000+ clients around the world.

Awan Links Services offers advice and guidance for best possible documentation. We assist and guide you at each step till you get your visa.

• Expert advice on complete process stage wise
• Visa documentation*
• Provide you the document checklist stage-wise and assisting you with the requisites and the alternatives upon receiving the signed service agreement copy
• Provide documents samples and assist you with inputs wherever necessary
• Corresponding with the department, on your behalf, if required
• Post landing, traveling and settling assistance

*Documentation service differs from country to country. Please refer your Service Agreement for further details.

Once the client receives his/her Austrian Red-White-Red Card or RWR Card, we offer post landing and resettlement services. Our post landing and resettlement assistance includes:

• Accommodation and travel assistance ( if required at extra cost)
• Tips on how to settle and socialize with Austrian citizens

Austria is one of the most sought after immigration destination for skilled professionals. It is one of the richest countries in the world. Austria is perfect for people who want a better life with international facilities and more career opportunities.

Some of the most inspiring factors are:

• Great quality of life
• Clean & green environment
• World class education
• Secure and safe environment
• Good health care facilities
• Beautiful and serene places to visit
• Well balanced work and family life balance
• Very low living costs