Austria's work visa for the very highly qualified

Yes. The Red-White-Red Card itself requires a binding job offer from an Austrian employer. However, if you score 70 or more points on the RWR Card criteria, you can first come to Austria on a Job Seeker Visa to look for work. Once you have secured a position, you then apply for the Red-White-Red Card. The points calculation is the gateway — the job offer comes next.

Austria awards points across four categories: qualifications (university degrees, recognised diplomas, specialised education), work experience (professional years, relevant roles, international history), achievements (publications, patents, awards, significant professional projects), and language and age (German or English skills, age brackets). You need to reach 70 out of 100 points. Our free points calculator shows your current score and where you can improve.

The Red-White-Red Card calculator estimates your points against current criteria and shows where you stand. Looking for the right path for you? Get in touch with our team of immigrations experts, we can help you discover the right visa journey for you.

Some steps require in-person verification. You can use our Book a Buddy service for local appointment support.

Austria recognizes a broad range of achievements under this category. Academic publications and research papers count, as do registered patents and inventions. Significant awards in your professional field, recognition in arts or culture, and achievements in sport at a national or international level are all in scope. If you are unsure whether something qualifies, our expert review process will assess it before your application is submitted.

Both tracks ultimately require a job offer, but the path to getting there is different. The Very Highly Qualified Worker track is points-based and allows you to enter Austria on a Job Seeker Visa first, find work, and then convert to the Red-White-Red Card. The Shortage Occupations track requires a job offer upfront before you apply. If your profile is academic or research-focused and you do not yet have a job lined up, the Job Seeker Visa route into the Very Highly Qualified Worker track is likely the right starting point.

Your Red-White-Red Card is initially tied to the employer you name in your application, and is valid for 24 months. After 21 months of employment, you can apply for the RWR Card Plus, which gives you unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market and the freedom to change employers without reapplying. After five years of legal residence in Austria, you can apply for the Daueraufenthalt EU — the most stable long-term residence status available.

Yes. Once you have received your Red-White-Red Card, your spouse or registered partner and dependent children can apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus for family members, which allows them to live and work in Austria without restriction. Family reunification applications are submitted separately and processed by the same authority as your own permit.

Yes. Every application is reviewed by an Austrian immigration expert before submission. This is not an automated check — a real person goes through your documents, your points calculation, and your application form to catch errors and flag anything that could cause a delay or rejection.

Yes, at least one in-person appointment at the relevant authority is required — MA35 in Vienna, or your regional Bezirkshauptmannschaft outside Vienna. mypaperwork prepares you for this appointment and our optional Book a Buddy service connects you with a local Buddy who can accompany you in person to ensure your paperwork is accepted on the day.