Apply for a work visa in Austria: All information at a glance

You want to work in Austria and have already received an offer from an Austrian employer? Congratulations! Now, you're wondering whether you need a visa for Austria as a non-EU citizen and how the application process for a work visa works? The most important information upfront: All non-EU citizens need a combined work and residence permit for all types of employment - even for an Au-pair job.

In our article, you'll learn what you need to consider when applying for a work visa for Austria and what requirements you need to meet to ensure that nothing stands in the way of your job in Austria.

Who needs a work visa for Austria?

• EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens: Do not need a visa to work in Austria. However, they must register with the competent domestic authority if they stay and work in Austria for more than 3 months.
• Third-country nationals (Non-EU/Non-Schengen citizens): Need a work visa for Austria or a residence permit for all types of employment. They must register with the registration office 3 days after entering Austria.

Which work visa for Austria should I apply for?

Basically, unless there are some exceptions, you cannot start working with the normal visa categories C and D. Below, we list the exceptions for work visas for Austria, which need to be explicitly applied for.

1. Visa for temporary employment

If you only want to work in Austria for a short time (up to 6 months), for example as a seasonal worker, you can apply for a so-called "Visa for temporary employment" as a D-visa. The work visa for short-term employment can be applied for by:

• Temporarily self-employed individuals
• Temporarily employed individuals
• Employees under § 5 of the AuslBG (seasonal workers)
• Interns (§ 2 Abs. 4 Z 13a), for whom a confirmation of notification is required

2. Work visa for Austria in the Working Holiday Program

Austria has signed Working Holiday agreements with New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Israel, Canada, Chile, Australia, and Argentina (as of 2020). People from these countries between 18 and 30 years old can work in Austria for up to 12 months. However, the same employer cannot be the same for more than 6 months. The Working Holiday Visa must be applied for abroad at the competent Austrian embassy and is marked as Visa D "WHP". This work visa for Austria costs €150.

3. Visa for job search in Austria

If you haven’t found a permanent job in Austria yet, you can apply for a Visa D for job search at the Austrian embassy in your home country. With a job search visa, you can stay in Austria for up to 6 months and apply for jobs locally. If you find a job during this time, you can apply for a "Red-White-Red Card".

4. Work visa for researchers

With a visa for up to 6 months for researchers or a residence permit for researchers for a longer period, you can pursue specific scientific employment. This applies to scientific work for an Austrian research institution at a specific academic level with an admission agreement.

When do I need a residence permit for Austria, and which one?

If you want to work and live in Austria for more than 6 months, a work visa for Austria will no longer suffice. Visas for Austria are generally issued only for stays of up to 6 months. On the Austrian government’s website, you can find a list of all residence permits and settlement approvals that you can apply for in Austria. Below, we mention the most important residence permits for employment purposes.

1. Residence permit for job-seeking graduates

If you have just finished your studies, you can extend the "residence permit for students" for 12 months to search for a job in Austria. The requirement is a completed bachelor’s or diploma degree at an Austrian university, or you are in the second phase of a master’s, doctoral, or PhD program.

2. Residence permit for Austria: “Red-White-Red Card”

If you come from a third country (a state outside the EU) and want to live and work in Austria for a longer period, you will need the residence permit for employment, the so-called "Red-White-Red Card". The work permit with the Red-White-Red card is typically issued for 24 months. It allows temporary settlement and employment with a specific employer. Individuals who are exempt from a visa to enter Austria can also apply for the "Red-White-Red Card" during their stay in Austria if they can provide an employment contract.

3. Residence permit for Austria: “Red-White-Red Card Plus”

Family members of a person settled in Austria can apply for a Red-White-Red – Card Plus and have unrestricted access to the labor market (self-employed or employed). Family members include: spouses (over 21 years), registered partners (over 21 years), minor unmarried children, including adoptive or stepchildren.

4. Residence permit for Austria: “Blue Card EU”

To obtain the “Blue Card EU” residence permit, you must have at least a 3-year degree and an employment contract for at least 1 year in Austria. Additionally, your salary must meet the legal minimum threshold, and it will be checked whether no equally qualified job seeker can be placed in your position. With the “Blue Card EU”, you can work for a specific employer and stay in Austria for 24 months. If you already have a valid residence permit, you can also apply directly in Austria.

Red-White-Red Card: Who can apply for it?

The residence permit "Red-White-Red Card" is not only intended for highly qualified and other key workers but also allows other foreign workers to take up employment if they can prove qualified training in a shortage occupation. German language skills are also important. All application forms for the work visa can be found on the page of the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

You can apply for the “Red-White-Red Card” if you belong to the following groups of people:

• Highly qualified individuals
• Skilled workers in shortage occupations
• Other key workers
• Graduates of an Austrian university
• Self-employed key workers
• Start-up founders

A points catalog defines the criteria for each group. The most important criteria are: qualification, professional experience, age, language skills, an adequate job offer, and minimum wage. If you want to apply for a "Red-White-Red Card", you need to reach a minimum number of points. Information about the individual criteria can be found on the page Migration.gv.at, as well as the current list of regional and nationwide shortage occupations.

What requirements do I need to meet for a work visa for Austria?

Third-country nationals who wish to stay and work in Austria for less than 6 months can apply for one of the following work visas for Austria:

• Visa for temporary employment
• Visa for job search in Austria
• Work visa Austria in the Working-Holiday Program
• Visas for researchers

In general, you will always need the following documents for a visa application:

1. Valid travel document
2. Visa application form
3. 2 passport photos (portrait format 35 x 45 mm) according to the passport photo criteria
4. Proof of a Schengen travel health insurance covering all risks and valid for the entire duration of your trip
5. Proof of sufficient financial means to support the trip and be able to return (e.g. with pay slips)
6. Proof of your planned trip (round-trip ticket, hotel bookings, booking receipts)
7. Original proof of employment
8. If applicable, invitation letter if you are not staying in hotels but with friends or family residing in Austria
9. No ban on residence or an alert from a Schengen state against you

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and you should always check with the Austrian representation abroad for further formalities.

What requirements must I fulfill for a residence permit in Austria?

Non-EU nationals who wish to stay and work in Austria for more than 6 months generally require a residence permit and must meet certain requirements.

1. Secured livelihood: You must be able to show the following minimum monthly income (as of 2020):
   • For single persons: 966.65 Euro
   • For married couples: 1,524.99 Euro
   • For each child: an additional 149.15 €
      
2. Health insurance: You must have health insurance during your stay in Austria that is valid in Austria and covers all risks. Once you are employed, you are automatically covered by health insurance. However, you will need health insurance for the time before or after employment.
    
3. Accommodation: You must submit a rental agreement for an apartment.
    
4. Work permit: For a work visa/residence permit, you need a work permit from your future employer before applying. This also applies to Au-pair jobs.

Step-by-step guide to the work visa for Austria

1. Artists employed for less than six months and posted workers require a work permit from the future employer in Austria before entering (a so-called "security certificate"). The employment permit in Austria is issued exclusively by the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS). Once you have received the work permit, you can apply for a residence title or visa for Austria.
    
2. If you need a residence permit in Austria and are not allowed to enter without a visa, apply for a D-visa for entry after receiving a positive decision.
    
3. The application can only be submitted at an Austrian embassy or consulate. A work visa for Austria cannot be applied for with external service providers, a representative embassy of another Schengen state, or an Austrian honorary consulate.
    
4. Ensure that you have a valid passport, issued in the last 10 years, containing 2 free pages and valid for at least 3 months after departure from Austria.
    
5. Gather all necessary documents and paperwork for your application.
    
6. Schedule an appointment at the visa office of the Austrian embassy or consulate for submitting the visa application.
    
7. Submit your application in person with all required documents.
    
8. Pay the visa or application fee.
    
9. Wait for the decision on whether your application has been accepted or not.

How can AXA help with my work visa application for Austria?

You must be covered by health insurance for your entire stay in Austria. If you take up a socially insured job in Austria, you are automatically covered by health insurance, but you may not be covered before or after employment. For the application of a D-visa for entry into Austria or for a visa for job search, you must provide proof of health insurance for Austria and the Schengen Area. AXA offers Schengen travel insurance for your visa applications online in just a few clicks. You can get your health and travel insurance with AXA from 22 € per week. A certificate proving your insurance will be sent to you immediately by email. AXA travel insurances are accepted in all embassies and consulates of Schengen countries.

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Who is allowed to work in Austria?

EU and EEA citizens, as well as Swiss citizens, can freely access the Austrian labor market. Non-EU citizens require a combined work and residence permit for all types of employment, including Au-pair positions. If the intended duration of stay is less than 6 months (e.g., for seasonal workers or interns), a work visa for Austria and an additional work permit are required.

How do I get a work visa for Austria?

Non-EU nationals can apply for a visa to start work or residence permits at the Austrian Embassy in their home country. Certain groups of people already in Austria (students/researchers/etc.) can also apply for a residence permit locally.

How much does a work visa for Austria cost?

For a D-visa to take up temporary employment or to search for work, you must pay 150 Euro for persons over 6 years old and 75 Euro for persons under 6 years old. The application for a residence title costs 120 Euro for adults and 75 Euro for children under 6 years old. Additionally, you will have to pay 20 Euro for biometric data collection when applying for a residence title.