Residence permit for qualified workers and their families:

• The RWR Card is an immigration program based on a point grading system (qualifications, experience, foreign language skills, age, study in Austria) and the candidate’s ability to immigrate to Austria. The card is issued for a period of 24 months and gives the right to employment with the employer, on the basis of the contract with which the card was issued. After the deadline has expired, RWR Card Plus can be requested, providing free access to the Austrian labor market,
• RWR Card Plus are issued to family members of specialists, ensuring their free access to the labor market. Requires confirmation of knowledge of German before entering,
• The EU Blue Card is an immigration program for highly qualified professionals and their families. The card is issued for a period of 24 months, after which RWR Card Plus can be requested.

Conditions for obtaining a residence permit:

• sufficient financial resources,
• housing in Austria (long term rental or property),
• medical insurance,
• no threat to public order and security,
• RWR Card for highly qualified specialists.

Two options are possible:

• in the presence of a proposal from the employer and subject to a score of 70 points - the direct execution of the card,
• in the absence of a proposal from the employer and subject to a score of 70 points - obtaining a 6-month visa for finding a job. If within 6 months the applicant finds a job that corresponds to his qualifications, applicant is issued an RWR Card. Additional labor market check is not performed.

RWR Card for specialists in demand professions.

The following conditions are required:

• completed special education in one of the scarce professions,
• availability of a proposal from the employer, providing for a minimum wage,
• a set of required minimum points (55 out of 90).

RWR Card for other highly qualified key professionals.

The following conditions are required:

• availability of an offer from the employer, providing for the required minimum wage. For key employees older than 30 years: 3,078 euro (2018) gross (monthly payment plus special payments - holiday and Christmas supplement). For key employees under the age of 30: 2,565 euro (2018),
• a set of required minimum points (50 out of 75),
• additional labor market check.

RWR Card for key professionals - individual entrepreneurs.

The following conditions are required:

• Investments of at least 100 thousand dollars,
• creation of new or preservation of existing jobs.

RWR Card for key professionals - founders of startups.

The following conditions are required:

• a set of minimum points (50 out of 85),
• activity: development of innovative products, services, methods or technologies and their introduction into the market,
• providing a business plan for the creation and operation of the enterprise,
• active management of the enterprise by the applicant,
• confirmation of the availability of capital in the amount of 50 thousand euro (at least half of its own funds).

In two years, founders of startups can receive RWR Card plus if the following requirements are met:

• employment of at least two full-time employees,
• the actual implementation of significant personal influence on the management of the enterprise,
• Achievement of annual turnover in the amount of not less than 200 thousand euro or securing financing in the amount of not less than 100 thousand euro,
• actual proposal or development of an innovative product or service.

EU Blue Card for highly qualified professionals.

The following conditions are required:

• the presence of a higher education with a study period of not less than three years,
• availability of a proposal from an employer with a validity of at least one year, which implies a qualification corresponding to the education of the applicant,
• that the person confirms that his salary will not be lower than the legal minimum wage,
• minimum wage for 2018: at least 60 thousand 948 euro, which is about 4 353 euro of gross monthly income,
• additional labor market check.

Family members of RWR Card and EU Blue Card holders. They may apply for the so-called RWR Card Plus.

Wherein:

• there are no restrictions (quotas) for immigration of family members,
• immigrant family members get free access to the labor market,
• before entering the country, these persons are required to confirm their knowledge of the German language at level A1,
• the requirement for confirmation of knowledge of the German language before entry does not apply to family members of particularly highly qualified specialists and holders of the EU Blue Card.