Very Highly Qualified Workers

As a Highly Qualified Worker from a third country, you have the following options:

• If you do not yet have a job offer, you can come to Austria to look for work for six months on a Job-Seeker Visa.
• You may apply for a Red-White-Red card with the competent Austrian representation in your home country or your country of residence, provided that you have received an employment offer.
• You can apply for a Red-White-Red card with the competent residence authority in Austria after legal entry and during legal stay. 

Reaching a minimum of 70 points according to the following list of criteria is a prerequisite for a Job Seeker Visa and for a Red-White-Red card:

Where to file the application for a Job Seeker Visa?

You have to apply for the Job Seeker Visa (category D visa) personally at the competent Austrian representation (embassy or consulate) in your home country or your country of residence. Application forms are available at the Austrian representative authority. You will receive a Job Seeker Visa if the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice - AMS) confirms to the Austrian representative authority that you have reached the points required for admission.

If you entered Austria under a visa-free regime, you do not need a Job Seeker Visa. If you find a job matching your qualification during your lawful visa-free stay, you may apply for the Red-White-Red Card during this period here in Austria.

What happens when I receive an employment offer?

If you receive an employment offer (work contract) during the validity period of your visa, you may apply for a Red-White-Red Card with the competent residence authority in Austria (Provincial Governor/Landeshauptmann/Landeshauptfrau, authorised Regional Administrative Authority/Bezirkshauptmannschaft, Local Administrative Authority/Magistrat).

You may apply personally for the Red-White-Red Card for "Very Highly Qualified Workers" with the competent Austrian representation authority (embassy or consulate in your home country or your country of residence). Your potential employer may file the application with the competent residence authority in Austria (Provincial Governor, authorised Regional Administrative Authority or Local Administrative Authority). An employer’s declaration (Arbeitgebererklärung) with specific details concerning your future place of employment has to be submitted along with the application.

Please Note:

If you want to make use of legal representation in your legal procedure, please make sure that your Austrian representative is licensed to do so. Otherwise your representative cannot be accepted by the Austrian authorities.

Which documents to submit?

To apply for the Job Seeker Visa, you have to submit the following documents:

• Valid travel document (e.g. passport)
• Photo (dimensions: 45x35mm) which is not older than six months
• Proof of locally customary accommodation (e.g. lease contracts, preliminary agreement on tenancy rights or ownership evidence)
• Proof of health insurance covering all risks (compulsory health insurance or equivalent insurance policy)
• Proof of adequate means of subsistence (payslips, pay certificates, employment contracts, insurance benefit certificates, evidence of retirement or other pension or insurance benefits, investment capital or sufficient own assets)

You have to submit the following documents for examination of the individual criteria under the points system (see above):

1.      Special qualifications and skills

Graduation

• Document furnishing proof of successful completion of a four-year programme at a university or another institution of tertiary education
• Document reflecting the status of the university or other institution of tertiary education
• Document furnishing proof of successful completion of a programme in a MINT subject (= mathematics, informatics, natural sciences, technology)
• Document furnishing proof of habilitation

Gross annual salary in a senior management position

• Tax assessment notice or pay certificate
• Confirmation by the previous employer that you worked in a senior management position
• Proof that the company is listed on the stock exchange or positive report from the competent Austrian foreign trade office about its activities or business segment

Research and innovation activities

• Proof of scientific publications, stating titles and sources
• Certificate issued by a university or research institution that you worked in R&D or academic scientific teaching
• Proof of patent application(s) through extracts from national or regional patent registers

Recognised awards and prizes

• Document proving the conferral of the award or prize

2.    Work experience

• Testimonials and work certificates

3.    Language skills

• Language diploma or language course certificate at the A1 or A2 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The certificate should not be older than five years.
  German language diplomas and certificates may in particular be obtained from the following institutions: ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, Telc GmbH, Austrian Integration Fund (ÖIF)
  The following diplomas and certificates in particular are recognised as evidence of proficiency in English: Cambridge Certificate, TELC, IELTS diploma, TOEIC diploma, TOEFL diploma.

4.    Studies in Austria

• Course record book and related examination certificates
• Document reflecting the successful completion of a programme of studies in Austria

Please note:

You have to submit originals and copies of the above-mentioned documents. If the documents are not available in German or English, translations into German or English must be provided. The Austrian representation will examine documents for completeness and send them to the AMS for assessment and awarding of points. Upon request you have to furnish legalized versions of documents.

When will a Red-White-Red Card be issued?

The primary requirement for a Red-White-Red Card is a concrete employment offer. This employment must match your qualification while offering adequate pay. If these requirements are met, the AMS issues a positive evaluation and you will receive the Red-White-Red Card provided that the general requirements under Austrian settlement and residence law are met as well (except accommodation and income).

As a holder of a Red-White-Red Card, you are entitled to fixed-term settlement and employment by the employer specified in your application. The Red-White-Red Card is generally issued for a period of 24 months. You can also work self-employed, if this employment is subsidiary to your paid employment and all other legal requirements are fulfilled.

When will a Red-White-Red Card plus be issued?

As a Very Highly Qualified Person holding a Red-White-Red Card, you may apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus at the competent residence authority in Austria (Provincial Governor, authorised Regional Administrative Authority or Local Administrative Authority) if you were employed in accordance with the eligibility criteria for a minimum of 21 months during the preceding 24 months, to be assessed by the AMS.

If you are a holder of a Red-White-Red Card plus, you are entitled to fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour market access. You can find more information on the Red-White-Red Card plus here.

Further information and useful links

Fees

• Jobseeker Visa: € 150
• Red-White-Red Card:
• Application: € 120
• Granting: € 20
• Costs of personalisation (fingerprints, scan of photography and signature): € 20

Forms 

• Application forms (German)
• Application form for the Jobseeker Visa and criteria data sheet (English)

Laws and provisions

• Settlement and Residence Act (German)
• Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals (pdf - 649 KB; English)
• Visa requirements (German)
• General information on visas (English)

Links

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (English)
• Austrian consular representations (English)
• Professional Recognition in Austria
• Contact point (recognition of qualifications)