Working in Austria: Work Visa & Permit Guide for Foreign Workers (2026)
7 min read · Updated August 14, 2026
By Bogdan
In short
To work in Austria you need a job offer, a work permit under Austria's national rules, and a long-stay (type D) visa. Note the annual quota that governs most permits. Highly-qualified workers can instead use the EU Blue Card, with a salary floor of eU Blue Card 2026: at least €55,678 gross/year. The RWR Card has no single figure but requires pay at least at the collective-agreement level, with salary bands scoring points. There is also a route to move first and look for work: Very Highly Qualified workers who reach 70 points can get a 6-month jobseeker visa to look for work in Austria, then switch to the RWR Card once hired. Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh are all visa-required third-country nationals — none are visa-exempt, and a tourist Schengen visa never allows work.
How work permits in Austria work
The Red-White-Red (RWR) Card is a points-based, employer-sponsored residence-and-work permit, with categories such as Very Highly Qualified Workers, Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations and Other Key Workers. The residence authority forwards the application to the public employment service (AMS), which scores the points and checks pay; after two years it converts to the RWR Card plus, leading to settlement. The EU Blue Card is an alternative for the highly qualified.
The authority you ultimately deal with is the Austrian Migration Platform (migration.gv.at). The RWR Card and EU Blue Card are points/salary based with no annual quota; only seasonal work in tourism and agriculture is quota-limited.
The routes, and the EU Blue Card
Beyond the standard national work permit, highly-qualified workers can use the EU Blue Card. In Austria the Blue Card salary floor is eU Blue Card 2026: at least €55,678 gross/year. The RWR Card has no single figure but requires pay at least at the collective-agreement level, with salary bands scoring points.
Austria also offers a way in without a prior job offer. Very Highly Qualified workers who reach 70 points can get a 6-month jobseeker visa to look for work in Austria, then switch to the RWR Card once hired.
For lower-skilled seasonal work: seasonal work in tourism and agriculture is quota-based (Kontingent) with an AMS labour-market test: up to 6 months per permit and 9 months within any 12.
Salary, language and recognising your qualifications
- Salary: the Blue Card floor is eU Blue Card 2026: at least €55,678 gross/year. The RWR Card has no single figure but requires pay at least at the collective-agreement level, with salary bands scoring points.
- Language: german is the working language but not strictly required for the skilled/Blue Card routes; German or English A1/A2 scores points in the RWR test, and no language test applies to the EU Blue Card.
- Qualifications: there is no automatic EU-wide recognition — get your degree or diploma assessed through ENIC-NARIC Austria (OeAD) / AST advice centres, and formally recognised before working in a regulated profession. Start early; it is often the hidden bottleneck.
Which jobs hire foreign workers in Austria
The sectors that actually recruit non-EU workers in Austria are tourism / hospitality, skilled trades, it / technology, healthcare & nursing and engineering. Typical end-to-end timing: the residence authority generally decides an RWR Card application within about 8 weeks; the AMS scores the points and confirms pay before the permit issues. Apply at the Austrian embassy/consulate or, if lawfully in Austria, the residence authority.
How to get a work permit for Austria, step by step
- 1
Get a job offer
Secure a concrete offer from a Austrian employer — the whole process depends on it, unless you use the job-seeker route above.
- 2
The employer secures the permit
Your employer files for the work permit with the Austrian Migration Platform (migration.gv.at), within the annual quota, usually after a labour-market test.
- 3
Get your qualifications recognised
Have your qualification assessed through ENIC-NARIC Austria (OeAD) / AST advice centres — mandatory for regulated professions.
- 4
Apply for the long-stay (type D) visa
Apply at the Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for your country, then travel once it is issued.
- 5
Collect your residence permit
After arrival, register locally and collect your combined residence-and-work permit or Blue Card.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to earn for an EU Blue Card in Austria?
The Blue Card salary floor in Austria is eU Blue Card 2026: at least €55,678 gross/year. The RWR Card has no single figure but requires pay at least at the collective-agreement level, with salary bands scoring points. Thresholds change yearly, so confirm the current figure with the Austrian Migration Platform (migration.gv.at) before you rely on it.
Is there a quota for work permits in Austria?
The RWR Card and EU Blue Card are points/salary based with no annual quota; only seasonal work in tourism and agriculture is quota-limited.
Do I need to speak German is the working language but not strictly required for the skilled/Blue Card routes?
German is the working language but not strictly required for the skilled/Blue Card routes; German or English A1/A2 scores points in the RWR test, and no language test applies to the EU Blue Card.
How long does it take to get a work permit for Austria?
The residence authority generally decides an RWR Card application within about 8 weeks; the AMS scores the points and confirms pay before the permit issues. Apply at the Austrian embassy/consulate or, if lawfully in Austria, the residence authority.
Sources
This is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules vary by EU country and change often — always confirm with the destination country's official immigration authority and your own country's emigration body before acting.
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