Groups and individuals ranging from students to well-known researchers view Austria as an attractive country to live and work. However, rules related to residency and work visas can look complex and bureaucratic...
Read MoreGroups and individuals ranging from students to well-known researchers view Austria as an attractive country to live and work. However, rules related to residency and work visas can look complex and bureaucratic at first glance. If your company is planning an expansion to Austria with a team of foreign workers, you need to know how to obtain work visas in Austria for each person to stay compliant and successful.
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Groups and individuals ranging from students to well-known researchers view Austria as an attractive country to live and work. However, rules related to residency and work visas can look complex and bureaucratic at first glance. If your company is planning an expansion to Austria with a team of foreign workers, you need to know how to obtain work visas in Austria for each person to stay compliant and successful.
Not every foreigner who enters Austria needs a visa. For example, European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) nationals do not need a visa. However, all applicants from outside these areas must apply at the closest Austrian embassy or consulate general in person. Since Austria falls within the Schengen area of Europe, all foreigners will apply for a Schengen visa, which is broken down into further categories depending on the applicant’s situation.
Some of the types of work visas in Austria include:
Austria uses a points-based system to help determine which category applicants fall under, including very highly qualified workers, skilled workers who can fill shortages, start-up founders, graduates of local higher education institutions, self-employed key workers, and other key workers. These categories then help determine what type of visa the applicant is eligible for.
All of these categories are eligible for a Red-White-Red Card, which is what most foreigners apply for when working in Austria. Keep in mind that requirements vary based on what classification your employees fall under and what kind of visa they apply for. For example, to be considered a very highly qualified worker, individuals will need:
Additionally, the eligibility criteria points system requires other measures of proof, including:
Keep in mind that EU and EEA nationals do not require a visa and can stay for more than three months as long as they have a registration certificate and adequate financial means of living in the country or attending college. After five years of living in Austria, anyone can apply for a long-term residence certificate.
There are several options to apply for a Red-White-Red Card depending on the applicant’s skills, qualifications, and desired career path. After submitting the above requirements to the local Austrian embassy, applicants must pay a fee. For example, those needing a jobseeker visa to cover their time in Austria before applying for a full work permit will owe 120 EUR for the Red-White-Red Card.
The immigration authorities’ website lays out all the ways you can get a work visa in Austria depending on your employee’s category and desired visa. If you’re not sure which is best for your circumstances, we recommend consulting with a local immigration specialist or agency. Better yet, you can also contract a Global PEO such as Globalization Partners to handle all of this for you.
An Austria work permit does not cover residency, so all employees will need to obtain a separate residency permit option. For a temporary residence permit, they must show their work permit, statement of salary or income, and a letter from the employer. They can eventually apply for permanent residency after five years of living in the country legally.
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At this moment, Globalization Partners does not offer support processing work visas or permits in this particular location.
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