Austria Other Key Workers Red-White-Red Card in 2026

The Other Key Worker category provides an employer-specific RWR Card for qualified third-country nationals whose job does not need to be on the shortage list but meets a statutory salary floor, points test and AMS labour-market test.

Who this route is for

  • Receive an Austrian employment offer with at least €3,465 gross per month in 2026, plus special payments.
  • Reach at least 55 points under the Other Key Worker grid.
  • Pass the AMS labour-market test: no equally qualified registered jobseeker can be placed in the position.
  • Meet the residence-title requirements and provide the employer declaration and supporting evidence.

2026 requirements that matter

The 55-point grid considers qualification, relevant experience, language ability and age. The €3,465 figure is a route-specific 2026 statutory minimum and should not be copied onto other Austrian permits. Collective-agreement or market-pay rules may still require a higher figure for a particular role.

Austria’s general residence framework also requires attention to identity documents, health insurance and any route-specific accommodation or subsistence rules. The Federal Ministry of the Interior publishes 2026 general reference rates of €1,308.39 for a single person, €2,064.12 for a married/registered couple and €201.88 for each child, but it also states that proof of those general subsistence amounts is not required in the same way for the Red-White-Red Card and EU Blue Card. Route-specific pay or capital rules must therefore be kept separate from the general reference rates.

How the application works

The applicant or eligible employer submits the application, and AMS assesses the employment criteria. The migration portal currently lists an €218 application fee. Visa-required applicants may need a Visa D to enter Austria after approval and collect the residence title.

Foreign documents may need translations and, depending on the document and authority, legalized versions. Many first residence applications also require a recent criminal-record extract. Requirements can vary by the applicant’s nationality, lawful location and the competent provincial residence authority.

Validity, work rights and transition

The RWR Card is generally issued for 24 months and is tied to the authorized employment. After at least 21 months of qualifying employment during the previous 24 months, a holder can generally seek an RWR Card plus.

Long-term settlement is a separate stage. Austria’s official family/settlement guidance states that Long-term Resident – EU can generally be sought after five years of lawful uninterrupted settlement when the general requirements are met and Module 2 of the Integration Agreement is completed. Do not treat that later title as automatic on the day an initial permit reaches five years.

Fees and processing time

Official Austrian pages publish application fees by title and visa. Where this guide quotes a figure, it is the amount shown by the competent federal portal for 2026. Additional document, translation, legalization, Visa D or local administrative costs can arise. Austria does not publish one guaranteed processing time that applies to every applicant in this route; completeness, AMS review where required, provincial authority workload and requests for additional evidence can affect timing.

Common mistakes

Do not confuse this category with the EU Blue Card or shortage-occupation route. They use different qualification, salary and labour-market rules even though each can support skilled employment.

A residence title also does not settle tax residence. Austria’s Federal Ministry of Finance applies tax rules based on residence/domicile and habitual presence; after six months of stay, unlimited Austrian tax liability arises in any event with retroactive effect, while a home available for recurring use can create tax consequences earlier.

Related Austria pathways

Return to the Austria visa and residence hub, compare European destinations, or review the relevant visa-type guide. See Austria highly qualified worker visa. See Austria shortage occupation visa. See Austria EU Blue Card.

Verified against Austrian federal sources on 16 September 2026.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Austria