Moving to Austria: Relocation Guide

Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland:

Since Austria is part of the Schengen Area, EU, EEA,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ and Swiss citizens can live and work in Austria without visas or permits.

Citizens of Privileged Countries:

In addition, citizens of many other countries can visit Austria for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa. This includes nationals from the UK, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the UAE, and many more. However, citizens from these countries seeking to migrate to Austria; work in Austria, or have a business trip there, must obtain work permits and visas​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Short-term artistic activity:

Certain types of work-related activities don’t require a visa or permit because they’re exempt. In Austria, you do not require a visa or permit if you’re a musician, performer, or broadcaster and in Austria for up to four weeks. This includes those involved in film, TV or radio, including the technical production team. The organizer needs to notify the local public employment service no later than the first day of work in Austria.

Before you can move employees to Austria, several administrative tasks must be completed.

First, you must evaluate the various visas and find the one that best aligns with the employee's qualifications and the nature of their work in Austria. The Red-White-Red Card covers multiple scenarios, but you must pick the correct subcategory.

Next, prepare a formal job contract for the employee. Include the job title, duties, start date, contract duration, and salary details (since some visas like the Very Highly Qualified Worker has minimum requirements). This contract is an essential component of most visa applications.

To initiate the application process, submit all application paperwork to Austrian authorities. You'll need to provide proof of your company's operations and financial stability. The employee should have all their documents together at this stage. For detailed information, see the section "Preparing the documents" below.

After the application and all required documents are submitted, processing can take several weeks or months. Make sure to factor this wait time into your relocation timeline.

The Red-White-Red Card application process operates on a points-based system, which provides a mechanism for evaluating the employee's qualifications. Factors like education, experience, age, and language skills help determine eligibility. Each subcategory of the Red-White-Red card has a minimum threshold of points required for approval.

For the EU Blue Card, a recognized university degree with a minimum of three years of study is mandatory. In most cases, this is the only explicit qualification requirement for the EU Blue Card. However, applicants in certain regulated professions might be subject to further qualification assessments.

Is a formal assessment required?

In general, there is no formal assessment process for the Red-White-Red Card or the EU Blue Card. However, employees working within some regulated professions may need documentation that backs up their qualifications. This includes doctors, attorneys, engineers, and other professions where education and licences are typically required.

If Austrian authorities do call for a formal assessment, collect the employee's relevant documents: diplomas, transcripts, certifications, or work records. In many cases, these documents must be translated into German for consideration (check the Austrian Embassy's translation requirements). If approved, the employee will receive a certificate of equivalence, confirming their ability to work in regulated fields.

So, which documents are required for immigration to Austria? Here are the core documents employees need to prepare before starting the visa application process:

• A valid passport that is valid for longer than the intended stay
• Recent passport-style photographs
• Birth certificate
• Police clearance certificate
• Detailed job contract (See the above section, "How to get a work visa or permit for Austria")

For applications that require proof of qualifications, the employee should collect these documents:

• Diplomas and university transcripts
• Professional certifications
• Documentation of work experience, including letters of reference
• Proof of German language skills, if required for the visa
• Family documents, such as marriage and birth certificates, if applicable

Documents not in German or English typically require certified translations. Refer to published guidance for each visa type.

The Red-White-Red Card functions as both a work permit and a residence permit. Employees who are approved for the card are allowed to reside in Austria for the length of their employment contract—as long as their passport is valid for at least the same duration.

Austrian immigration authorities will even add up to three months of Red-White-Card validity to give a small buffer around the dates of an employment contract—if their passport will remain valid for that period.
Here's a couple of examples to illustrate how this works:

• If your employee's contract is for two years, and their passport is valid for the next three years, their Red-White-Red Card will likely be valid for two years and three months.
• However, if the employee's contract is for three years but their passport expires in two years, their Red-White-Red will likely only be valid for two years.

Similarly, EU Blue Card, ICT Card, and Mobile ICT Card holders are allowed to reside in Austria for as long as their card is valid.

Spouses, registered partners, and dependent children of visa holders are eligible for family member residence permits.

After your employee gets their visa at the Austrian embassy of their home country and arrives in Austria, they must make a registration appointment with Austria's Immigration and Residence Authority. At that appointment, they will have their fingerprints taken and provide documents to immigration authorities.

Here are the documents employees should prepare in advance of their appointment:

• Passports for the employee and any family members also registering.
• Birth certificates may be required for all registering individuals.
• Marriage certificates or licenses, if applicable.
• Rental agreement or other proof of accommodation.

Documents that aren't in German or English will need a certified translation ahead of time.