Criteria-Based Immigration in Austria

The key workers quota will be replaced by the new model. In the future, labor migration from third countries will be possible through several immigration pathways. In the process, personal criteria such as qualifications, work experience, age, and language abilities will be relevant on one hand. On the other hand, depending on the pathway, labour market-related criteria such as job opportunities, minimum salary, mandatory labour market test, and/or shortage professions are crucial.

Austria thereby does not only gain attractiveness for qualified immigrants and therefore competitive strength, but also from the very beginning opens its doors to successful integration. A higher rate of labor participation, an increase in educational tendencies, as well as the improvement of qualifications within the framework of family reunification can be expected.

Target groups of the Rot-Weiß-Rot-Card:

The following groups of immigrants can acquire a Rot-Weiß-Rot-Card:

• Particularly highly qualified immigrants
  As of July 2011 highly qualified third country nationals receive the opportunity to find employment in the Austrian labor market through the six-month-long "Job-Seeker-Visa". Aside from personal criteria, there are no other labor market constraints. 
• Qualified employees in shortage professions
  Qualified employees in an "shortage profession" require not only the fulfillment of personal criteria, but also a job offer before migration as well as a salary according to the respective minimum wage contract plus customary overpay. 
• Other key workers
  To be allowed to immigrate through this pathway, aside from proof of a job offer, a mandatory labour market test must be passed. For younger individuals, a smaller minimum wage is provided, for older individuals a higher one. 
• Family members
  The family members of the immigrants from all three pathways can immigrate free of quota restrictions and work with unlimited labour market access. Family members of highly qualified people also do not need to demonstrate any knowledge of German before arrival. 
• Students and Graduates of Universities in Austria
  Students from third countries in advanced studies at a university in Austria may work up to 20 hours per week. Third country graduates who have successfully completed the second part of their course or Master's degree studies at a university in Austria may after the expiry of their residence permit reside for a further six months for the purpose of searching for employment. With this permit, they can take up employment as soon as possible in the corresponding profession of their training.

Language Abilities

People who immigrate on the Rot-Weiß-Rot-Card are exempt from the mandatory pre-departure language test. Prior knowledge of German or English, however, increases their number of points. Family members, excluding those of highly qualified individuals, have to prove successfully completed language tests in German at a low level. At the latest when applying for the residence permit "EC Permanent Residence", all immigrants must demonstrate some knowledge of German.

Policy Procedure

1. The foreigner must provide his/her application for the first issue of a residence permit personally and before entry into Austria at the Austrian representative authority abroad (embassy, consulate). 
2. The representative authority will verify the completeness and correctness of the application and forward it to the appropriate settlement authorities in Austria. The appropriate settlement authorities will verify whether the requirements for the granting of the residence permit are satisfied.  
3. If the requirements are fulfilled and the settlement authorities successfully finalize the process, they will notify the Austrian representative authority abroad and commission the visa, if applicable. 
4. With the valid visa or, if there is no visa requirement, without a visa (visa-free), the foreigner can enter Austria and collect the residence permit personally from the appropriate settlement authorities.

Next Steps

In order for the immigration system to succeed, from the standpoint of the Federation, beyond laws, the political accompanying measures are crucial. In the realm of integration and raising awareness, strategies need to be developed from the start.

• In the future, highly mobile, globally sought-after individuals should be able to inform themselves about Austria in their countries of origin. A migration portal is being planned by the relevant ministries under http://www.migration.gv.at/. 
• A next step is the support of immigrants and their families upon arrival. 
• To better incorporate the advantages of the new system within the Austrian population, openness and international thinking is required.

Related Links

BMASK - Federal Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Consumer Protection

BMI - Federal Ministry of the Interior

WKO - Austria Federal Economic Chamber