Austria Red-White-Red Card 2026 — Points System, Salary Thresholds & How to Apply

Austria's Red-White-Red Card lets skilled non-EU workers live and work there for 2 years — with PR after 5. Here's the 2026 points system, salary thresholds, and step-by-step process.

Austria has a shortage problem. In 2026, Austria lists 64 nationwide and 66 regional shortage occupations — positions where demand for workers consistently exceeds supply. Engineering, IT, healthcare, construction, and skilled trades dominate the list. To fill these gaps, Austria created the Red-White-Red Card: a points-based work and residence permit for skilled non-EU nationals.

The card is worth understanding for a specific reason: it is less known than Germany's EU Blue Card or Opportunity Card, competition for it is lower, and Austria's quality of life consistently ranks among the highest in Europe. Vienna has topped the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index for six consecutive years. Salaries are competitive. The pathway to permanent residence is five years.

If you work in engineering, IT, medicine, skilled trades, or have a strong academic background, the Red-White-Red Card deserves serious consideration alongside Germany's options.

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What the Red-White-Red Card Is

The Red-White-Red Card is Austria's main immigration route for skilled workers from outside the EU, EEA, and Switzerland. It gives you the right to live and work in Austria for up to 24 months, tied to a specific employer. After 21 months of qualifying employment, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus — which gives unlimited labour market access and is not employer-tied. After five years of legal residence, you can apply for permanent EU settlement status.

Unlike Germany's EU Blue Card (which is a single-threshold salary requirement), the Red-White-Red Card uses a points system. Your age, education, work experience, language skills, and Austrian connections all contribute to your score. This structure means that a younger applicant with strong language skills can qualify even without a postgraduate degree, and a more experienced applicant can compensate for weaker language scores with professional track record.

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The Five Card Categories

1. Very Highly Qualified Workers
For academics, senior researchers, and professionals with exceptional credentials. Requires 70 points. No job offer required to apply — you can enter on a Job Seeker Visa for 6 months and find employment inside Austria. Once you have a job offer, you apply for the card. Minimum salary: €3,225/month gross (the general key employee threshold; the Very Highly Qualified category itself does not have a separate floor but the job offer must meet collective bargaining minimums).

2. Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
For workers in Austria's listed shortage occupations. Requires 55 points. No labour market test — Austria has already determined demand exists for your occupation. No set minimum salary beyond the relevant collective bargaining agreement for your occupation.

3. Other Key Workers
For skilled professionals in non-shortage roles. Requires 55 points. Subject to a labour market test — the Public Employment Service (AMS) must confirm no suitable EU/EEA candidate is available. Minimum salary: €3,465 gross per month (2026).

4. Graduates of Austrian Universities
For international students who completed a degree at an Austrian university. Simplified process — the Austrian degree itself counts heavily toward the points requirement.

5. Start-up Founders
For entrepreneurs establishing innovative businesses in Austria. Requires a viable business plan, secured funding, and a letter of support from a recognised Austrian start-up initiative.

Most internationally-based applicants pursue categories 1, 2, or 3.

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The 2026 Points System

Points are awarded across five categories. The minimum required score is 55 points (categories 2 and 3) or 70 points (category 1 and Job Seeker Visa).

Education (maximum 30 points)

Work experience (maximum 20 points)

Note: As of recent updates, points are awarded per 6-month period of experience rather than annually — check the current AMS guidelines for precise calculation.

Language skills (maximum 15 points)

You can combine German and English points up to the maximum of 15. German skills are more heavily weighted.

Age (maximum 20 points)

Austria-specific bonus points (maximum 15 points)

Prior Austrian studies: up to 15 points. Prior work experience in Austria: up to 10 points. These points primarily benefit people who have already been in Austria.

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2026 Salary Thresholds — Updated January 2026

From 1 January 2026, the Red-White-Red Card requires at least €3,465 gross per month for the Other Key Workers category, while the EU Blue Card threshold is €55,678 annually.

Super-key employees and executives benefiting from posting exemptions must earn €8,316 per month.

Salaries in Austria are paid in 14 instalments — 12 monthly payments plus two special payments (Weihnachtsgeld and Urlaubsgeld). When an employer quotes a monthly salary, clarify whether this includes the special payments divided across 12 months or is the base monthly amount only. The visa threshold applies to gross monthly salary across all 14 payments — verify with your employer that their offer meets this correctly.

For shortage occupation workers: No separate minimum salary floor — your salary must meet the collective bargaining agreement (Kollektivvertrag, KV) for your specific occupation and classification. Austrian KV rates vary by sector. An IT professional's KV minimum is significantly higher than a construction worker's. Confirm your collective bargaining category with your employer before applying.

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Sample Score Calculations

Profile A — Pakistani IT engineer, 32 years old:
Bachelor's in Computer Science (STEM degree): 30 points. 4 years work experience: 15 points. English C1: 10 points. Age 30–39: 15 points. Total: 70 points. Eligible for: Very Highly Qualified Workers (Job Seeker Visa + all card categories).

Profile B — Pakistani civil engineer, 28 years old, limited English:
Bachelor's in Civil Engineering: 30 points. 2 years experience: 10 points. English B2: 5 points. Age under 30: 20 points. Total: 65 points. Eligible for: Shortage Occupations category (civil engineering is on the shortage list), Other Key Workers with labour market test.

Profile C — Experienced professional, 46 years old:
Master's degree in Management: 25 points. 8 years experience: 20 points. German A2: 10 points. Age 45+: 0 points. Total: 55 points. Borderline eligible — qualifies for categories requiring 55 points. Adding German B1 would add 5 more points as buffer.

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Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1 — Calculate your points
Use the official AMS points calculator on workinaustria.com before doing anything else. If you score below 55, identify which categories you can improve (language test is the fastest — German A2 to B1 adds 5 points).

Step 2 — Find an Austrian employer (or apply for Job Seeker Visa)
For categories 2 and 3, you need a job offer before applying. Austrian employers post vacancies on AMS.at, Karriere.at, LinkedIn Austria, and StepStone Austria. Many Austrian IT and engineering companies recruit internationally. The Job Seeker Visa (for Very Highly Qualified applicants with 70+ points) allows you to enter Austria for 6 months to search for work without a pre-existing offer.

Step 3 — Gather documents
Valid passport (minimum 3 months validity beyond intended stay). Birth certificate with Apostille. Police clearance certificate from all countries of residence in the past 5 years — for Pakistan, obtain from NADRA/local police authority and get MOFA Apostille stamp. See the HEC Attestation & MOFA Process Guide for the Apostille process. Educational certificates with Apostille and certified German translation. Employment certificates proving work experience. Language proficiency certificates (Goethe-Institut for German, IELTS/TOEFL for English). Signed job offer/employment contract from Austrian employer (for categories 2 and 3). Proof of accommodation in Austria.

Step 4 — Submit application
Apply at the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence. In Pakistan: Austrian Embassy in Islamabad. Submit the signed application form plus all supporting documents in originals and one copy each. Application fee: approximately €160.

Step 5 — AMS assessment
The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) reviews your application to verify your points score, salary compliance, and (for Other Key Workers) whether no suitable EU candidate is available. AMS sends its decision to the residence authority.

Step 6 — Residence authority issues the card
If AMS approves, the competent Austrian residence authority issues the Red-White-Red Card. You are notified by the Austrian Embassy. If subject to a visa requirement (Pakistani passport holders require an Austrian entry visa), you receive a category D visa to travel to Austria and collect your card.

Processing time: Approximately 6–12 weeks from complete application submission.

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Austria vs Germany — Which Is Right for You?

Both countries offer EU Blue Cards and skilled worker pathways. The key differences:

Germany's EU Blue Card offers faster PR (21 months for shortage occupations) — a significant advantage for those who want permanent residence quickly. Austria's RWR Card accepts a broader range of qualifications through its points system and has lower salary thresholds.

For the Germany options comparison, see the EU Blue Card Germany guide and Germany Opportunity Card 2026.

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After the Card — Red-White-Red Card Plus and Permanent Residence

After 21 months of qualifying employment on your Red-White-Red Card, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus. This gives you unlimited labour market access — you can change employers, work for multiple employers, or become self-employed without additional permits. The Plus card is valid for 3 years and renewable.

After 5 years of legal residence (RWR Card + RWR Card Plus), you can apply for the Daueraufenthalt-EU — the EU long-term residence permit. This gives you permanent settlement rights in Austria and the right to move to and work in other EU countries (with those countries' own procedures). Austrian citizenship becomes possible after 10 years of legal residence, reduced to 6 years for exceptional integration.

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Cost of Living in Vienna

Vienna is expensive by Eastern European standards, cheaper than Zurich or London, and broadly comparable to Munich. For anyone considering relocating from Germany, the cost-of-living difference is minimal. See the Cost of Living in Germany 2026 guide for a direct comparison.

Monthly living costs for a working professional in Vienna:

• Shared flat (WG): €600–900/month
• Private 1-bedroom apartment: €1,000–1,500 city centre
• Groceries: €250–350/month
• Transport (Wiener Linien annual pass): €365/year (€30.42/month — one of the best-value public transport deals in Europe)
• Health insurance: included in employment (employer + employee social contributions)

At a salary of €3,465/month gross, net take-home after Austrian taxes and social contributions runs approximately €2,200–2,400/month. In a WG in Vienna, this covers living costs with savings of €700–1,000/month.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Austria recognise Pakistani university degrees?
Austrian universities and immigration authorities assess foreign degrees individually. A Pakistani university degree is generally recognised for immigration purposes — what matters is that it is from an HEC-recognised institution and is relevant to the role you are applying for. The Anabin database (German recognition database) lists many Pakistani universities. If your university is not listed or has a lower rating, a Statement of Comparability from the Austrian authorities (NARIC/ENIC) may be required. See the Countries That Accept Pakistani Degrees Without Equivalency guide.

Is German language required?
Not strictly — English proficiency alone scores 5–10 points. But German adds up to 15 points, which can make the difference between meeting the 55-point threshold or not. Even German A2 (basic level) adds 10 points. German language investment is worthwhile if you are borderline on points.

Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse and dependent children can apply for family reunification after you have your RWR Card and a registered address in Austria. A single applicant must retain at least €1,273.99 after deductions, rising to €2,009.85 for a couple plus €196.57 per child — this net income test is used to assess your ability to support dependants. Your spouse receives a residence permit and full labour market access (they can work without a separate work permit).

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Internal links: EU Blue Card Germany · Germany Opportunity Card 2026 · Cost of Living in Germany 2026 · Germany Chancenkarte vs Job Seeker Visa · HEC Attestation & MOFA Process Pakistan 2026 · Countries That Accept Pakistani Degrees Without Equivalency · Best Expat Health Insurance 2026

Salary thresholds update annually on 1 January. Always verify current figures at migration.gv.at or workinaustria.com before applying. This article reflects February 2026 data.