What you need to prepare for your application
Red-White-Red - Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers
Red-White-Red - Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers
Thank you for providing us with detailed information about your current situation and your plans regarding the immigration to Austria. We are happy to support you with all upcoming steps!
Immigration process orientation
Application form
You need to fill in and sign this application form. Please choose the option "(1) Red-White-Red – Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers".
Documents from your side
In order to obtain your residence permit, you need to submit a variety of documents. Some of them are related to your personal status, others to your qualifications.
Personal documents
- Passport, valid for a minimum of 2.5 years
Your residence permit will otherwise only be valid until the expiry date of your passport. - One EU passport sized photo, not older than 6 months (with invoice)
- Application form
- Police clearance certificate, not older than 3 months
- {translate.from} {contryOfResidenceName}
- {translate.from} {nationalityName}
Please note that personal documents that are not in English or German need to be translated by a court-certified translator. Depending on the country the documents were issued in, they must also have verifications. Find out more about verificationsverifications ()!
You do not need to send any original personal documents to Austria for your employer to submit your application generally. The only exception usually is the original application form and the original passport photo. You will need to present your original personal documents once you immigrate to Austria.
Qualifications-related documents
- Up to date CV (optional)
- Proof of education (university diploma, transcript of records, etc.)
- Work confirmation letters
In order to be recognized by the Austrian authorities, a work confirmation letter must include the exact start date, end date (if applies) and position. - Language certificates
Please contact us directly to find out which skill level you need to prove in order to obtain your residence permit. Please note that language certificates are usually only recognized when they are not older than five years. English certificates are generally only recognised when the are Cambridge Certificates, TELC Certificates, IELTS Diplomas, TOEIC Diplomas, or TOEFL Diplomas. German certificates are generally only recognised when being issued by ÖSD, Goethe-Institut, Telc GmbH, or Österreichischer Integrationsfonds.
Documents you may ususally hand in later via email
- Verifications and/or translations for your personal documents
- Renewed passport if your current one is not valid for about 2.5 years or longer
Please note that you can only hand in those documents later on if your employer submits your application in Austria! Should you submit your application in your country of residence, this option does not exist.
Documents from your future employer
The Austrian authorities will not only evaluate your documents but also documents from your future Austrian employer's side.
- Employer's Declaration ("Arbeitgebererklärung")
Arbeitgebererklärung - Job description, detailed (either as a separate document or in the Employer's Declaration)
- Information on your classification according to the applicable collective bargaining agreement (details may be included in the Employer’s Declaration; alternatively: submission of the work contract)
Your employer has questions regarding the application for a work permit? We are happy to support your employer in preparing the documents needed from the employer's side and to answer any questions that come up.
Family members
Do you plan on immigrating with family members?
Only spouses, civil partners and children under 18 years can immigrate to Austria with you. Older children must have a separate purpose of immigration, e.g., study at an Austrian university or work for a company in Austria.
We are happy to support both you and your family in your immigration processes to Austria! Please contact us directly, including the information on your family, so we can assist you in a customised manner. As ABA Work in Austria has an official mandate by the Austrian Government, all our services are free of charge.
You stated that you do not plan on immigrating to Austria with any family members. Please know that immigrating with family members is not a disadvantage in an immigration process. It merely means that you may need to present additional documents. Your decision can have an influence on the best residence permit for you, though. This is because certain residence permits imply favorable rules for family members.
Submitting the application
You cannot submit your application until you have decided your future residence in Austria! This is because your future residence decides which Austrian authority will process your application. Also, please keep in mind that you will need to register as a residentregister as a resident () upon immigrating to Austria and before picking up your permit. This means that you will need to look for appropriate housing during your process.
In general, you have more options when it comes to submitting your application.
The employer submits your application
Option 1: Your future employer submits your application on your behalf to the Immigration and Residence Authority in Austria for {postalCodeAndCity}. Depending on where you plan on living, this is possible in person and/or via email and/or via postal services.
We strongly recommend Option 1 because of the faster processing time!
You submit the application
Option 2: You submit your application in {countryOfResidence} to the Austrian Embassy/Consulate. Your application must be complete in that case. Only then will your file be sent to Austria via diplomatic postal services.
Option 3: You can also personally submit the application with the Immigration and Residence Authority in Austria for {postalCodeAndCity}.
Do you have questions that have not been covered?
Our experts offer support before, during and after immigration and permit extension processes. We are happy to answer all your questions and to support you, your family and your future Austrian employer every step of the way. As ABA Work in Austria has an official mandate by the Austrian Government, all our services are free of charge.
