🇦🇹Visa options for Austria

Austria offers 33 permit types across 7 categories — the points-based Red-White-Red Card (7 variants), EU Blue Card, ICT permits, Job Seeker Visa, Au Pair, family reunification, study permits, and the Daueraufenthalt-EU permanent residence pathway. 25 lead to PR; 22 don't require a job offer. Here's every Austrian permit tracked by VisaMatch.

33permit types

7categories

25PR pathways

22no job needed

Check which Austria visas you qualify for →

Visa categories in Austria

Work13 Special6 Study3 Family3 Permanent3 Humanitarian3 Visitor2

All Austria permit types

Work (13)

Red-White-Red Card — Very Highly Qualified Workers Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
Points-based work permit for exceptional talent. Minimum 70/100 points. No job offer needed — enter on Job Seeker Visa (6 months). EUR 218 fee, 24-month permit.
Red-White-Red Card — Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
55+ points, job offer in one of 64 nationwide/66 regional 2026 shortage occupations. No labour market test. Salary must meet collective bargaining agreement.
Red-White-Red Card — Other Key Workers Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
55+ points, EUR 3,465/month gross minimum (2026), labour market test applies. For qualified roles outside shortage occupation list.
Red-White-Red Card — Graduates of Austrian Universities Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
No points system or minimum salary — most accessible RWR Card. Completed degree at accredited Austrian institution. Apply onshore. No labour market test.
Red-White-Red Card — Regular Workers in Tourism, Agriculture & Forestry Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
Recurring seasonal workers with 7+ months same employer in same sector in 2 consecutive years. German A1 required.
Red-White-Red Card — Self-Employed Key Workers Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
Self-employed business in Austria with EUR 100,000 minimum capital transfer and demonstrable macroeconomic benefit.
Red-White-Red Card — Start-up Founders Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte
50+ points, EUR 30,000 initial capital (50% equity), scalable innovative business plan. No job offer needed.
Red-White-Red Card Plus Rot-Weiß-Rot Karte plus
Unrestricted labour market access — not tied to a specific employer. For RWR Card holders after 21 months, Blue Card holders, and family members of card holders.
EU Blue Card Blaue Karte EU
University degree (min. 3 years), EUR 55,678/year gross (2026), 6-month job offer. Labour market test required. Upgrades to RWR Card Plus after 21 months.
Residence Permit — ICT (Intra-Company Transfer) ICT
Multinational company managers, specialists (1–3 years), and trainees (up to 1 year). 9 months prior employment required (6 months for trainees).
Residence Permit — Mobile ICT Mobile ICT
For ICT permit holders from another EU state extending their transfer to Austria for over 90 days. Apply 20 days before start.
Residence Permit — Seconded Employee Secondment
Employees posted to Austria by a non-Austrian employer for 6+ months. AMS approval required. No family immigration permitted.
Residence Permit — Self-Employed Person (Temporary) Self-Employed
Temporary self-employed activity under a 6+ month contract. 12 months, renewable. Family reunification permitted.

Special (6)

Job Seeker Visa (National Visa D) D Visa
6-month national visa for Very Highly Qualified Workers (70+ points) to search for employment before applying for the RWR Card. No work permitted. EUR 195 fee.
Residence Permit — Au Pair Special Cases
Au pair with Austrian host family. Ages typically 18–26. Max 12 months. 2026 minimum: EUR 551.10/month for 18 hours/week. Renewable after 6 months.
Residence Permit — Social Service Employee Social Service
Educational or training work for non-partisan, non-profit organisation. Maximum 12 months — no extension or family reunification possible.
Residence Permit — Volunteer Volunteer
European Solidarity Corps or approved Austrian voluntary service programme. Non-commercial work only.
Settlement Permit — Artist Niederlassungsbewilligung
Primarily artistic activities (film, performing arts, music). Subject to annual quota. Income: EUR 1,308.39/month minimum (2026 ASVG).
Settlement Permit — Special Cases of Dependent Employment Niederlassungsbewilligung
Foreign media correspondents, university professors, and internationally recognised school teachers. No quota restriction for most sub-categories.

Study (3)

Residence Permit — Student Aufenthaltsbewilligung
Degree programmes at accredited Austrian universities. Work up to 20 hours/week. Income: EUR 722.58/month (under 24) or EUR 1,308.39/month (24+). Pathway to RWR Card Graduates.
Residence Permit — Pupil Aufenthaltsbewilligung
Third-country national minors attending public or private schools with public-law status in Austria. Renewable annually.
Residence Permit — Researcher Mobility Researcher Mobility
Researchers with existing Researcher permit from another EU member state conducting research in Austria. Up to 2 years total.

Family (3)

Red-White-Red Card Plus — Family Member Family Reunification
Spouse/partner (min. 21 years) and minor children of RWR Card, Blue Card, or Researcher holders. Unrestricted labour market access. German A1 required (exemptions apply).
Settlement Permit — Dependant (Family of Austrian Citizens) Family Reunification
Spouse/partner (min. 21 years) and minor children of Austrian citizens. Subject to annual quota. German A1 required. Liability declaration from Austrian sponsor needed.
Settlement Permit — Family Member (of Settlement Permit Holders) Family Reunification
Family of third-country settlement permit holders (not RWR/Blue Card route). Subject to quota. German A1 required. Work rights depend on sponsor's permit type.

Permanent (3)

Settlement Permit — Researcher Niederlassungsbewilligung
PhD-level researchers at certified Austrian research institutions under a hosting agreement. 2 years, renewable. 1-year job search extension available after research ends.
Settlement Permit — Gainful Employment Excepted Niederlassungsbewilligung
Pensioners and independently wealthy persons. No employment permitted. Double income threshold: EUR 2,616.78/month single (2026). Subject to strict annual quota.
Long-Term Resident EU (Daueraufenthalt-EU) Permanent Residence
5 years of continuous lawful residence + German B1 (Module 2). Unrestricted labour market access. EUR 275 fee. 5-year permit, renewable indefinitely.

Humanitarian (3)

Asylum (Refugee Status) International Protection
For persons with well-founded fear of persecution. 3-year permit, automatically renewable. Free application. Full labour market access upon recognition. Citizenship pathway after 10 years.
Subsidiary Protection International Protection
For persons at serious risk of harm if returned to their country. 1-year permit, renewed for 2-year periods. Full labour market access. Note: family reunification suspended through 30 September 2026.
Humanitarian Leave to Remain Humanitarian
Discretionary status after rejection of asylum and subsidiary protection, for compelling humanitarian circumstances. 1 year, extendable. Case-by-case assessment.

Visitor (2)

Schengen Short-Stay Visa (Type C) Schengen-Visum
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Fee: EUR 80 (children 6–12: EUR 40; under 6: free). Tourism, business, medical, family, and short-term study.
Airport Transit Visa (Type A) Transit
For nationals requiring ATV to transit Vienna International Airport. Up to 24 hours in international transit zone. Fee: EUR 80.

Frequently Asked Questions about moving to Austria

How many visa types does Austria offer?

Austria offers 33 permit types across 7 categories — the points-based Red-White-Red Card (7 variants), EU Blue Card, ICT permits, family reunification, study permits, and the Daueraufenthalt-EU permanent residence. Most work permits require a EUR 218 application fee.

Can I move to Austria without a job offer?

Yes — 22 of Austria's 33 permit types don't require a pre-arranged job offer. These include the Very Highly Qualified Workers RWR Card (via Job Seeker Visa), the Self-Employed and Start-up Founder RWR Cards, the Settlement Permit for Gainful Employment Excepted (retirees), family reunification, study permits, and humanitarian protection.

What is the Red-White-Red Card salary threshold in 2026?

In 2026, the Red-White-Red Card Other Key Workers category requires a minimum gross monthly salary of EUR 3,465. The EU Blue Card requires EUR 55,678 gross per year (approx. EUR 4,640/month). Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations only need to meet the applicable collective bargaining agreement — no fixed minimum salary.

How do I get permanent residence in Austria?

The main pathway is the Daueraufenthalt-EU (Long-Term Resident EU) after 5 years of continuous lawful residence. This requires passing German language at B1 level (Integration Agreement Module 2), meeting income thresholds (EUR 1,308.39/month single in 2026), and having health insurance and accommodation. The permit costs EUR 275 and is valid for 5 years, renewable indefinitely.

How do I check my eligibility for Austrian visas?

Use VisaMatch's free eligibility checker. Enter your nationality, age, occupation, income, and education. You'll see every Austrian permit you qualify for, with links to official government sources at migration.gv.at and bmeia.gv.at.

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