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The Red-White-Red-Card Plus
The Red-White-Red Card Plus is a residence permit for skilled workers from third countries who have been living and working in Austria for at least 21 months when they apply.
It enables third-country nationals and their families to stay long-term in Austria.
FAQ
Answers to the Red-White-Red Card Plus
Have you lived in Austria for two years with a Red-White-Red Card Plus? After applying for an extension, your card is valid for three years. You can apply three months before your card expires.
Have you lived in Austria for five years and are the holder of a Red-White-Red Card or an EU Blue Card, have a settlement permit for researchers, or a Red-White-Red Card Plus? Then you have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in Austria.
- Family members of third-country nationals with valid permanent residence in the EU if quota places are available
- Family members of third-country nationals with a valid settlement permit
- Brexit: Family members of third-country nationals with residence permits under Article 50 EUV
- Third-country nationals who had a permanent residence in the EU, have stayed outside the EU or the European Economic Area for a long time, or have received permanent residence in another EU country
As a cardholder, you get free access to the Austrian labor market. You can work as an employee, be self-employed, and are not tied to any particular employer.
The validity period of the Red-White-Red Card Plus varies depending on the target group and can be up to three years. In any case, it is valid as long as your passport is as well.
How can talscope help me?
By publishing your job position in talscope.at you can be sure that very highly qualified specialists from a third country will see your job position and will apply for your job.
Our matching index and personality tests will help you to qualify them before the interview.
Red-White-Red Card Plus
Different target groups
The Red-White-Red Card Plus as an extension of residence permits
The Red-White-Red Card Plus is a residence permit for foreign skilled workers who have been living and working in Austria for at least 21 months.
Who can extend their residence permit with the Red-White-Red Card Plus?
- Holders of a red-white-red card with the exception of a red-white-red card for self-employed key workers
- Holders of an EU Blue Card
- Persons who have held a research residence permit for two years
Where do I have to apply for an extension of the Red-White-Red Card Plus?
- You submit your application to the responsible Immigration, Citizenship, and Registry Office, depending on your residence in Austria
- You apply for an extension within the first three months before your current residence permit expires
- A legal representative can apply for children under the age of six
- You can wait for your renewal application to be processed in Austria and continue to work and live here. If you urgently need to travel during this time, the authorities will issue you an emergency vignette. The emergency vignette is valid for three months and is printed in your passport as a Schengen visa
Checklist: All documents for the Red-White-Red Card Plus at a glance
- You can download the application form right here under this link. Just set a tick at "extension".
- You need a valid passport as proof of identity. Also, have personal documents such as birth or marriage certificates ready
- A passport photo meeting EU criteria and no older than six months
- Proof of your accommodation in Austria through confirmations of registration, rental agreement, rental payments, etc.
- Proof of your health insurance in Austria
- Proof of a secure livelihood, for example through your payslips
- Integration/language certificate of level A2, at most two years old
- When extending a residence permit, many authorities require a KSV (Austrian credit protection association) extract that provides information on whether you have current loans in Austria
When do I have to present the A2 integration certificate for an extension?
- If you previously had an EU Blue Card or a settlement permit for researchers and apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus after two years, which will be valid for three years.
- If you previously had a Red-White Card Plus and apply for another Red-White-Red Card Plus after two years, which will then be valid for three years.
When do I not have to present a German A2 or integration certificate A2 for the extension?
- You previously had a Red-White-Red Card and are now applying for a Red-White-Red Card Plus after two years. The new card will now be valid for three years
- You have completed your studies at a recognized university abroad. In this case, you can show your university diploma to the Immigration, Citizenship, and Registry Office instead of the certificate. Field of study and language are not criteria. It must be a recognized university, however, and the diploma must be verified in German or English
- You have already submitted an A2 or B1 integration certificate for previous applications
- You have an integration certificate B1
- Have completed a course of study in Austria, passed the Matura, or have the Austrian general university entrance qualification
- You apply for a Red-White-Red Card Plus for a child under the age of 14 or a child who is older than 14 years of age, attends a school in Austria, and has a positive German grade in the last school report card
The Red-White-Red Card Plus for relatives of skilled workers from third countries
The Red-White-Red Card Plus is a residence permit for third-country national family members of skilled workers with certain residence permits.
What residence permit does my family member need so that I can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus?
- Red-White-Red Card
- Blue card EU
- Settlement permit researcher
- Red-White-Red Card Plus if they previously had a Red-White-Red Card, an EU Blue Card, or a researcher settlement permit
- Long-term residence in the EU if they previously held a Red-White-Red Card, an EU Blue Card, or a researcher settlement permit
It is possible for family members to either immigrate to Austria with the skilled worker or join them later. The Austrian employer can submit the applications for the skilled worker and their family members to the responsible authorities in Austria simultaneously.
Your Red-White-Red Card Plus is valid for the same length as the skilled worker's residence permit.
Family members are spouses and registered partners, as well as minor children. Children over 18 do not receive a residence permit from their parents and must apply for their own residence permit in Austria as a student or through professional activity.
Checklist: All documents for the Red-White-Red Card Plus at a glance
- Application form
- A valid passport as proof of identity
- A passport photo meeting EU criteria and no older than six months
- Personal documents:
- Birth certificate for children's applications
- A criminal record certificate for all family members over 14, no more than three months old
- Marriage certificate or certificate of registered partnership
- German certificate A1 for all family members older than 14 years. The certificate must not be older than one year at the time of submission. Recognized certificates: ÖIF, ÖSD, TELC, and Goethe-Institut
If the skilled worker of the family has one of the following residence permits, the relatives do not have to present a German certificate for their first Red-White-Red Card Plus:
- Red-White-Red Card for exceptionally highly qualified people
- EU Blue Card
- Settlement permit for researchers
- Red-White-Red Card Plus, if the skilled worker previously had a Red-White-Red Card for exceptionally highly qualified people, an EU Blue Card, or a researcher's settlement permit
- Permanent residence in the EU if the skilled worker previously had a Red-White-Red Card for exceptionally highly qualified people, an EU Blue Card, or a settlement permit for researchers
- You have completed your studies at a recognized university abroad. In this case, you can show your university diploma to the residence authority instead of the certificate. Field of study and language are not criteria. It must be a recognized university, and the diploma must be verified in German or English. You can find more information about verifications here.
What other evidence also needs to be provided?
1. Housing
- If you live in a rented house or apartment, you can present your rental contract as proof of long-term accommodation.
- If you have bought a house or an apartment in Austria, you need to submit a current extract from the land register record.
- Hotel reservations cannot be accepted.
- Another criterion is sufficient living space for all family members.
2. Health insurance in Austria
If the third-country national specialist is insured through their employer with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (ÖGK), the family can also be insured with them.
3. Criminal record(s)
Depending on your country of residence, one or more criminal record certification documents may be required for your application. The criminal record must not exceed three months when you apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus.
In general, there are three possibilities:
- You are from a third country and have been living in your home country for more than six months, such as a New Zealander living in New Zealand. In this case, only the criminal record from this country is required
- You come from a third country and have been living in another third country that is not your home country for more than six months, such as a Chilean living in Canada. In this case, you will generally need to provide criminal record certificates from both countries
- You are from a third country and have been living in a country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or an EU country for more than six months, such as an Albanian living in Sweden. In this case, only the criminal record certificate from the relevant EEA or EU country needs to be presented
Any fees incurred are to be paid directly on-site upon submission.
Moreover, sworn translators must translate documents not written in German or English. The department may also require documents such as a birth certificate or criminal record to be verified (notarized) for better verification.
You can read the initial information on document verification here.
All information for your entry as a family member of a skilled worker can be found in our guidelines for the application process, EU Blue Card or in the respective categories of the Red-White-Red Cards.
