Austria's points-based Red-White-Red Card system, the EU Blue Card salary route, and the AMS shortage-occupation list — who decides, what the thresholds are, and how the categories differ.
Overview
Austria operates a criteria-based immigration system for skilled third-country workers centred on the Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte (Red-White-Red Card, RWR Card), introduced in 2011 and significantly reformed in 2022. The RWR Card is a combined residence and work permit, valid for two years, issued by the competent settlement authority (Niederlassungsbehörde) in each of Austria's nine Bundesländer. Three points-based sub-categories exist: Very Highly Qualified Workers (minimum 70 points), Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations (minimum 55 points, occupation must be on the AMS Mangelberufsliste), and Other Key Workers (minimum 55 points, salary ≥ €3,465/month). Separately, the EU Blue Card targets highly qualified workers with salary ≥ €55,678/year (2026). All routes require a concrete job offer (or, for Very Highly Qualified Workers, a six-month Job Seeker Visa first). The Federal Employment Service (AMS — Arbeitsmarktservice) conducts the labour market test where required. EU/EEA/Swiss nationals have unrestricted free movement. Verified against migration.gv.at and oesterreich.gv.at as of June 2026.
RWR Card — Points Criteria by Category
| Criterion | Very Highly Qualified | Skilled Shortage | Other Key Workers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum points required | 70 / 100 | 55 / 90 | 55 / 90 |
| Salary minimum (gross/month) | No fixed minimum* | Collective agreement rate | €3,465 (2026) |
| Labour market test (AMS) | Not required | Not required (shortage list) | Required |
| Job offer required | No (Job Seeker Visa first) | Yes | Yes |
| Education points (max) | Up to 30 (MINT degree) | Up to 25 (university) | Up to 25 (university) |
| Work experience points (max) | Up to 20 (10+ years) | Up to 20 (6+ years) | Up to 20 (6+ years) |
| Language skills (max) | Up to 10 (German/English C1) | Up to 10 (German/English) | Up to 10 (German/English) |
| Age points (max) | Up to 20 (under 30) | Up to 15 (under 30) | Up to 15 (under 30) |
EU Blue Card and Other Permanent Routes
- EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU): Requires a university degree (at least 3 years of study) or equivalent and a binding job offer for at least 6 months with gross annual salary ≥ €55,678 (2026). Valid for 2 years, renewable. Labour market test by AMS required. After 21 months in Austria (or 33 months for lower-salary STEM/shortage roles) holders may move to other EU Blue Card countries.
- Niederlassungsbewilligung (Settlement Permit): For third-country nationals not qualifying for employment-linked routes — financially self-sufficient persons, artists, researchers not covered by the RWR Card, and family members. No points system; assessed individually by the Niederlassungsbehörde.
- RWR Card Plus: Issued after 2 years on the RWR Card; valid for 3 years and grants unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market (not tied to a specific employer). Also available to certain family members of RWR Card holders.
- Daueraufenthalt-EU (EU Long-Term Residence): Available after 5 years of continuous legal residence; requires German A2 level (fulfilled via Integration Agreement Module 1) and financial self-sufficiency. Grants near-permanent status.
- Austrian citizenship: After 10 years of legal residence (reducible to 6 years for special integration achievements, or 30 years for exceptional contributions); requires B1 German, financial self-sufficiency, and renunciation of other citizenships in most cases under the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985.
AMS Shortage Occupations List (Mangelberufsliste)
- Austria-wide shortage occupations: The Fachkräfteverordnung 2022 designated 66 occupations as Austria-wide shortage professions, including IT specialists, engineers, nurses, physicians, and construction trades. Workers in these occupations qualify for the RWR Card without a labour market test.
- Regional shortage occupations: An additional 59 occupations are listed as shortage occupations in specific Bundesländer only; the AMS publishes the regional list annually based on local labour market data.
- Shortage occupations for highly qualified: A separate sub-list covers shortage occupations requiring tertiary qualifications (e.g. specialist physicians, senior IT architects); these attract additional points under the Skilled Workers criteria.
- Annual AMS review: The lists are reviewed each year by AMS and updated via ministerial ordinance. Applicants should verify the current Mangelberufsliste on migration.gv.at before applying, as occupations are added and removed.
- Job Seeker Visa (Jobsuchervisum): Very Highly Qualified applicants who score ≥ 70 points may enter Austria for up to 6 months to find employment before converting to an RWR Card. This visa is applied for at the Austrian embassy in the country of residence.
Application Process and Deciding Authorities
- First application (from abroad): Apply at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence; the embassy forwards the file to the competent Niederlassungsbehörde (settlement authority) in the intended Bundesland — in Vienna, this is MA 35 (Magistratsabteilung 35 — Einwanderung und Staatsbürgerschaft).
- Decision-making authority: The Niederlassungsbehörde in each Bundesland decides on all RWR Card, EU Blue Card and Niederlassungsbewilligung applications. AMS provides the binding labour market assessment for routes that require one.
- Processing times: The NAG requires the authority to decide within 6 months of a complete application. In practice, RWR Card processing for Shortage Occupations has been running 4–8 weeks in Vienna; other categories vary.
- Annual immigration quota: Austria sets an annual Niederlassungsverordnung (Settlement Ordinance) capping new third-country permits by category each year. RWR Card for Shortage Occupations is outside the quota cap; other routes are subject to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Red-White-Red Card points system work — what gets you to 70 or 55 points?
Points are awarded across four categories: education (up to 30 points for Very Highly Qualified, 25 for other categories — e.g. a MINT subject degree scores 30 points), work experience (up to 20 points — 10+ years experience in the field scores maximum), language skills (up to 10 points each for German and English at C1 level), and age (up to 20 points for under-30 applicants in the Very Highly Qualified category, scaled down with age). The official migration.gv.at points calculator lets applicants compute their score before applying. A score of 70 unlocks the Very Highly Qualified route; 55 unlocks the Skilled Workers and Other Key Workers routes.
What is the difference between the RWR Card and the EU Blue Card in Austria?
Both permit work and residence. The EU Blue Card targets applicants with a university degree who have a job offer paying at least €55,678 gross annually (2026) — there is no points test, but a labour market test by AMS is required. The RWR Card uses a points system with three sub-categories; Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations avoid the labour market test entirely. The EU Blue Card offers a faster path to EU-wide mobility (21 months for high earners). Both are issued for 2 years initially and lead to the RWR Card Plus. The choice often comes down to salary level and whether the occupation is on the AMS shortage list.
Which occupations are on Austria's 2026 shortage list and bypass the labour market test?
The Fachkräfteverordnung 2022 lists 66 Austria-wide shortage occupations including IT specialists, software developers, electrical engineers, civil engineers, specialists in medical and nursing professions, physicians (general practice and specialties), construction trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers), and chefs in tourism. An additional 59 occupations are shortage only in specific Bundesländer. The AMS reviews and updates the list annually. Current lists are published on migration.gv.at under 'Austria-wide shortage occupations' and 'Regional shortage occupations'. Workers in listed occupations applying for the RWR Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations need 55 points and no AMS labour market test.
Can I come to Austria without a job offer to look for work?
Yes, if you score at least 70 points on the Very Highly Qualified Workers criteria. You may apply for a Job Seeker Visa (Jobsuchervisum) at the Austrian embassy in your home country, which allows a 6-month stay in Austria to find employment. If you receive a qualifying job offer within that period, you apply for the RWR Card from within Austria. The Job Seeker Visa does not permit you to take up employment — only to seek it. If no qualifying offer materialises within 6 months, you must leave and the visa cannot be extended.
Who in Vienna processes my Red-White-Red Card application?
For Vienna, the competent settlement authority is MA 35 — Magistratsabteilung 35 (Einwanderung und Staatsbürgerschaft), operating from its offices in Vienna's 1st district. First-time applicants apply at the Austrian embassy in their home country, which forwards the file to MA 35. Renewals and RWR Card Plus applications are submitted directly at MA 35. The AMS Wien office provides the binding labour market assessment for routes that require one. Outside Vienna, each Bundesland has its own Niederlassungsbehörde (typically the provincial government).
How long can I stay in Austria as an EU Blue Card holder before applying for permanent residence?
After 5 years of continuous legal residence in Austria (including time on the EU Blue Card), you may apply for Daueraufenthalt-EU (EU Long-Term Residence Permit). You must demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, health insurance, and German language knowledge at A2 level (Integration Agreement Module 1 completion). Separately, after 10 years of legal residence you may apply for Austrian citizenship — reduced to 6 years if you have exceptional integration achievements (e.g. outstanding professional or cultural contributions), subject to the Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985.