Guide to applying for the Red-White-Red Card
General information
What is the red-white-red card?
The Red-White-Red Card gives key workers limited access to the Austrian labor market. It is issued for a limited period of 2 years.
Requirements for applying for the Red-White-Red Card:
- the Public Employment Service (AMS) cannot provide the company with equally qualified employees who are registered as jobseekers with the AMS (labor market check)
- Gross monthly salary of at least € 2,685 (as of 2020) plus special payments if you have not yet reached the age of 30
- at least € 3,222 (as at 2020) if you have already reached the age of 30
To be able to submit an application at all, at least 55 out of 90 points must be achieved in the points calculator. The following criteria are weighted and evaluated here:
- Education
- Professional experience
- German language skills
- Knowledge of English
- Age
https://www.migration.gv.at/de/service-und-links/punkterechner/
The application
Where can I apply for the Red-White-Red Card?
The Red-White-Red Card must be applied for at the respective Austrian representative authority abroad (embassy or certain consulates). With appropriate authorization, the application can also be submitted by the employer in Austria. In this case, the competent authority depends on the applicant's future place of residence.
In statutory cities such as Vienna, the magistrate is responsible. Otherwise, responsibility falls to the respective district authority.
- Competent authority (Vienna): Immigration Office MA 35
- Initial applications (Vienna): Department of Immigration Unit 1.3 - Initial Application Center
- Renewal applications (Vienna): Immigration Department - branch offices in the districts
What do I need for the application?
Foreign-language documents must be translated. The translations must be notarized. The original must also be submitted.
The following documents are required as originals and copies for the application:
- Application for a residence permit in German https://www.bmi.gv.at/302/Formulare/20171001/11Rot-Weiss-Rot-Karte-Formular.pdf
- Valid travel document
- Current biometric passport photo, but not older than six months
- Birth certificate
- If available: Marriage certificate, divorce certificate
- In principle: Proof of health insurance that covers all risks and is liable to pay benefits in Austria (presentation of the insurance policy) - in normal Austrian employment, however, this is covered by registration for social insurance
- Proof of legal entitlement to local accommodation (tenancy agreement, right of residence agreement) - the contract must be for at least 2 years!
- Proof of the amount of rent (usually included in the rental agreement) - a rent amount must be specified for right of residence agreements
- Pay slip, wage confirmation or employment contract
- Current information from the records of a creditor protection association - possibly depending on the country of origin
- Employer's declaration in accordance with the Aliens Employment Act
- Extract from the criminal record (from the country of origin)
- Papillary line impressions (fingerprint)
Depending on qualifications:
- Proof of completed vocational training with certificate
- Proof of special knowledge and skills (certificate of employment and confirmation of employment)
- If available - Proof of general university entrance qualification from an officially recognized university
- Proof of a degree with a minimum duration of three years
- Proof of professional experience commensurate with training
- Confirmation (internationally recognized language diploma or course certificate) of knowledge of German (min. A1) and English (min. A2), but the certificates must not be older than six months
How does the application process for the Red-White-Red Card work?
In the following, we describe our personal experiences in the application process. All of our applications were submitted to Vienna City Council.
- The application must be submitted in person on site.
- A number must be drawn at the immigration office for the first application check. After an initial check, another number is allocated for the relevant application office (dependent key workers). There, the application is gone through step-by-step, after which the application fee must be paid at the cash desk one floor higher (cash and ATM).
- During this time, the confirmation of submission will be prepared by the person responsible. After payment, the payment confirmation must be collected in exchange for the submission confirmation (from the responsible case handler) - you no longer need to take a number here.
- Any missing documents must be submitted in person or by e-mail. The documents still required are shown on the submission confirmation.
The submission to MA 35 is then automatically forwarded to the AMS. The AMS will contact the employer over the next few weeks in order to find equally qualified Austrian workers. If it is determined that there is no equally qualified Austrian worker, the application is sent back to MA 35 for a final check.
A decision on the issue of a Red-White-Red Card is made within 8 weeks. If all documents have been checked and approved, the applicant will be granted a positive residence permit.
What costs will I incur?
There is generally a flat fee of approximately €160.00. Additional costs are incurred for the translation and notarization of foreign-language documents.
After approval
What should I do once the application has been approved?
A fingerprint must be taken at MA 35 at the latest after the applicant has entered the country. A number must be taken again and a fee paid. After 7 to 8 working days, the card with the valid residence permit must be collected again in person. Without this and registration for social insurance, you may not start work.
After the first full month of work, the employer must send a statement from the payroll account and proof of registration for social insurance to the AMS.
Extension of the residence permit
If the residence permit is to be extended, an application for extension must be submitted at the earliest 3 months before expiry but at the latest on the day on which the residence permit expires.
However, if the application for an extension is submitted too late, the application is deemed to be the first application and the applicant will most likely have to leave Austria.
