"Red-White-Red Card plus" – Application

The "red-white-red card plus" entitles third-country nationals (persons who are not EU citizens, other EEA citizens or Swiss nationals) to settle and work (in a self-employed or employed capacity) anywhere in Austria for a limited period of time.

It may be issued in the following cases:

In the event of the renewal of a "red-white-red card":

Provided that the third-country national:

• has already held a "red-white-red card" for two years and
• he/she has been employed for 21 months of the last 24 months under the conditions governing the authorisation or that he/she
• has already held a "red-white-red card" for start-up founders for two years and
• a written notification has been obtained from the state office of the AMS (pursuant to Section 24 paragraph 4 of the AuslBG) by the authority.

In the event of renewal of the "EU blue card" (including after a transfer from an "EU blue card" from another Member State to an Austrian "EU blue card"):

Provided that the third-country national:

• has already held an (Austrian) "EU blue card" for two years and
• he/she has been employed for 21 months of the last 24 months under the conditions governing the authorisation.

In the event of the renewal of the 'residence permit – researcher':

Provided that the third-country national:

• has already held  "residence permit – researcher" for two years

In cases of family reunification, to third-country nationals who:

• are family members of holders of a "red-white-red card"
• are family members of holders of "EU blue card"
• are family members of holders of a "long-term residence permit – EU" provided that a quota place is available.
• are family members of persons entitled to asylum, provided that certain legal provisions do not apply and a quota place is available (a quota place is not required if the sponsor previously held a "Red-White-Red – Card" or an "EU Blue Card").
• are family members of holders of a ‘Red-White-Red Card Plus’, provided that a quota place is available (a quota place is not required if the sponsor previously held a "Red-White-Red – Card"),
• are family members of holders of a settlement permit to other relatives (section 43 (1) NAG), a "settlement permit – special cases of employment", provided that such settlement is based on scientific activity or was granted to a senior executive,  or a "settlement permit – researcher”.
• are family members of holders of a residence card or permanent residence card, provided that a quota place is available
• are family members of holders of a residence permit – article 50 'TEU', provided that the latter have been granted the residence permit solely as family members of holders of an ‘residence permit – article 50 TEU’ , where a quota place is available;
• are family members of holders of a 'long-term residence – EU' from another Member State are considered as such if the third-country national who is reuniting the family now holds a 'red-white-red – card'. In the case of a spouse or registered partner, a valid marriage or registered partnership with the person bringing the family together must be in force at the time of settlement.
• In such cases, applications must be submitted within three months of entry, and the authorities must reach a decision within four months. However, such applications do not entitle the applicant to a stay in Austria lasting longer than three months. 
• are family members of holders of an 'EU blue card'  issued by another Member State who have been issued an "EU blue card" in Austria and of holders of a residence title "Red-White-Red - Card plus" or 'long-term resident – EU', in each case as former holders of a residence title "EU blue card", issued in Austria, provided that they meet the general requirements for issuance, with the exception of the legal right to accommodation in accordance with local practice and sufficient means of subsistence, and prove that they have already resided in the other Member State as family members of the holder of the residence title "EU blue card".
  Note: In these cases, the settlement authority must decide on the application within 30 days.

In other cases, e.g. to third country nationals

• who held a 'long-term resident – EU' residence permit which lapsed as a result of too long a stay outside the EEA or became invalid as a result of too long a stay outside Austria or through the acquisition of a "long-term resident – EU" residence permit from another Member State.
• for whom Austrian citizenship by descent was wrongly assumed and to whom citizenship cannot be granted retroactively on account of their intention to obtain citizenship fraudulently. In such cases, the "red-white-red card plus" must automatically be issued upon application, unless the conditions for issuing a "long-term resident – EU" residence permit are already met.
• who held a 'residence permit – family member'  if they have been living in Austria for two years, can demonstrate that they have integrated well, and a quota place is available.
• In cases of a transfer of residence permit on reasonable grounds under the Asylgesetz (Law on asylum).
• In the case of minors who are not accompanied by an adult who is their legal guardian or who are not merely temporarily in the care of foster parents or the public youth welfare organisation.
• For displaced persons from Ukraine who have been in gainful employment above the marginal earnings threshold for at least twelve months and who meet the requirements of Module 1 of the Integration Agreement

The general conditions for the issue of residence permit and the relevant specific conditions for issue must be met.

In principle, when submitting a first application for a "red-white-red card plus’, third-country nationals must prove knowledge of German. There are, however, exceptions.

There are no deadlines for submitting applications.

For the application:

First applications for a residence permit: The relevant Austrian representative authority (BMEIA) abroad (embassy or specific consulates)

The competence of the representative authority depends on the applicant's place of residence.

Renewal requests (i.e. transfer from another residence permit or renewal of a "Red-White-Red Card plus"): The competent settlement authority in Austria, depending on the place of residence of the applicant

For the domestic application and issuing the residence permit:

The local settlement authority for the third-country national intended place of residence:

• in Lower Austria

  • for applications subject to quotas: the Office of the Lower Austrian Provinicial Government
  • for certain applications for family reunification (with current or former holders of a ‘red-white-red card’ or an ‘EU blue card’): the Office of the Lower Austrian Provinicial Government
  • for all other applications: the District Authority or the Municipal Administration
• in all other federal states:
  • The District Authority
  • In Chartered Cities: the Municipal Administration 
    • In Vienna: the Municipal District Office 35 (City of Vienna)
    • In Graz: the Office of the Styrian Provincial Government

In the case of an application abroad:

The third-country national must submit her/his application for a residence permit in person and abroad before entering Austria to the Austrian representative authority (BMEIA) (embassy or consulate).

The representative authority checks that the application is complete and correct and forwards it to the competent settlement authority in Austria. The latter verifies whether the conditions for issuing the residence permit are met.

If the conditions are met and the settlement authority approves the application, it then notifies the Austrian representative authority abroad and, where appropriate, instructs it to issue a visa. The representative authority informs the applicant accordingly. The entry visa must be applied for within three months of being notified by the diplomatic mission that the application is likely to be approved, and the residence permit must be collected from the relevant domestic authority within a further three months (= 6 months).

The third-country national may then enter Austria with the valid visa or, where there is no visa requirement, without a visa and collect the residence permit in person from the competent settlement authority. In the case of an initial application, work may only be pursued after receipt of the residence permit.

In the case of a domestic application:

Detailed information on the circumstances in which the application can be submitted in Austria can also be found on oesterreich.gv.at.

The third-country national must apply for the "red-white-red card plus" in person at the competent establishment authority in Austria. The latter verifies whether the applicant meets the conditions for issuing the residence permit.

Some residence authorities offer the option of booking an appointment (online, by telephone or by email). In any case, booking an appointment is required at some residence authorities. You can find further information directly on the relevant authority’s website.

If the conditions for issuing the "red-white-red card plus" are met, the settlement authority informs the applicant that the residence permit can be collected in person. In the case of an initial application, work may only be pursued after receipt of the residence permit. If the proceedings take longer than the permitted period of lawful residence, the person concerned must in any event leave the country. In such cases, the residence permit will be issued once the person has re-entered the country lawfully.

For information on the duration of an individual procedure, please contact the competent Austrian settlement authority. The length of the procedure depends in particular on the type of residence permit and on whether the documentation is complete.

In the event of an application for renewal

General information on applications for the renewal of residence permits can also be found at oesterreich.gv.at.

• Valid travel document (e.g. passport)
  In the case of family members of holders of a "EU blue card" of another Member State who have been granted a "EU blue card" in Austria and of holders of a residence title "Red-White-Red - Card plus" or "Long-term resident – EU", in each case as former holders of a residence title "EU blue card" granted in Austria as mentioned above, a certified copy of the valid travel document shall suffice.
• Photograph no older than half a year (size: 45 x 35 mm)
• If required: Marriage certificate, certificate of partnership,  birth certificate, adoption certificate, proof or certificate of family relationship
• Possibly  proof of legal entitlement to adequate accommodation, such as letting agreements, preliminary letting agreements or title deeds
• Possibly proof of health insurance covering all risks
• Possibly proof of a secure livelihood (in particular pay slips; pay certificates; employment contracts; confirmation of pension, retirement or other insurance benefits; proof of sufficient investment capital or own assets)

Not accepted: proof of social benefits to which entitlement would arise only after the issue of a residence permit, in particular welfare benefits or the equalisation supplement.

• Family members: in addition
  • Proof that the third-country national reuniting the family holds an appropriate residence permit
• If required, proof of knowledge of German
• Additional documentation may be required in individual cases. These often include a criminal record extract or similar document from the applicant’s country of residence and a current self-declaration from the records of a debt protection association relating to the applicant or the person seeking family reunification.

• Application fee: 218 Euro 

• Information brochure on the calculation of maintenance in the NAG ( BMI)^{German text}
• Certification (BMEIA)^{German text}
• List of expert witnesses and court interpreters (BMJ)^{German text}
• informationen on switching to a "Red-White-Red – Card plus" for displaced persons from Ukraine (BMI)^{German text}

• sections 41a, 46, 56  paragraph 3 of the Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG)
• Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz-Durchführungsverordnung (NAG-DV)
• sections 20d, 20e of the Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz (AuslBG)

Forms and explactations can be found on the Website of the BMI (Deutsch or English).