Austria runs one of Europe’s oldest economies and pairs a high quality of life with serious professional prospects. The Austria job seeker visa is the entry ticket: it lets you live in the country while you look for work that matches your qualifications, and it converts into a work and residence permit once you have an offer. If you are weighing up immigration to Austria and want to find the right job there, read on.
What is the Austria job seeker visa?
Austria offers a job seeker visa (category D) to highly qualified people from outside the EU. It allows you to enter Austria and look for work for up to 6 months, so you can find a role that fits your skills and experience.
If you receive a suitable job offer, you can then switch to the Red-White-Red Card, which gives you longer-term permission to live and work in Austria.
Austria job seeker visa requirements
To qualify for the Austria job seeker visa, applicants must:
- Apply in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate in their country of residence or country of origin.
- Submit a complete set of documents, including proof of qualifications, work history and language ability.
- Be recognised as a Very Highly Qualified Worker.
The Austria job seeker visa points system
The points system scores education, work experience, language ability and age. You can use the official Points Calculator to estimate where you stand. To qualify, you need at least 70 points out of 100 across the criteria below:
1. Special qualifications and skills (maximum: 40 points)
| Special qualifications and skills | Points |
|---|---|
| Degree from a higher education institution | 20 points |
| Degree in a MINT (STEM) field | 30 points |
| Doctorate or postdoctoral level | 40 points |
| Gross salary in a management position in the previous year | 20 to 30 points |
| Research and innovation activity | 20 points |
| Recognised international academic awards | 20 points |
2. Work experience (maximum: 20 points)
| Work experience | Points |
|---|---|
| Relevant work experience | 2 points per year |
| Work experience in Austria | 1 point per half-year |
3. Language skills (maximum: 10 points)
| Language skills | Points |
|---|---|
| German at A1 or English at A2 | 5 points |
| German at A2 or English at B1 | 10 points (German at B1: 15 points) |
| French, Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian | B1 level: 5 points |
4. Age (maximum: 20 points)
| Applicant age | Points |
|---|---|
| Up to 35 years | 20 points |
| 36 to 40 years | 15 points |
| 41 to 45 years | 10 points |
5. Study in Austria (maximum: 10 points)
- Half of the required credits completed, or the second part of a diploma programme: 5 points
- A full diploma, bachelor’s or master’s degree completed in Austria: 10 points
- Total available: 100 points (minimum needed to qualify: 70 points)
Documents for the Austria job seeker visa
- A valid travel document
- A passport photograph (35 x 45 mm)
- Proof of health insurance (statutory cover or an equivalent policy)
- Supporting documents such as a police clearance or good-conduct certificate
- Alongside the core documents, further evidence is needed for each scoring category:
Evidence for qualification points
Vocational and technical training:
- A diploma or certificate of completed vocational training
- Proof of university entrance qualification, such as a school leaving certificate (Matura or Abitur)
University graduates:
- Proof of a completed course of at least 3 years at a university or higher education institution.
- Evidence of the standing and accreditation of that institution.
Evidence for work experience points
Testimonials and work certificates from previous employers are required to prove your experience and seniority, particularly if you have at least six months of relevant work experience in Austria.
Evidence for language points
- A course certificate or language certificate at A1, A2 or B1 in German, or A2 or B1 in English.
- The certificate must be no more than 5 years old.
- Recognised German language certificates include:
- OSD (the Austrian German Language Diploma)
- Goethe-Institut
- Telc GmbH, an international standardised test available in 10 languages
- Austrian Integration Fund (OIF)
- Accepted English certificates include Cambridge, TELC, IELTS, TOEIC and TOEFL.
Evidence for athletes and sports coaches
Professional athletes and sports coaches can apply for the Austria job seeker visa where they meet the specific criteria. With a job offer and the highly skilled criteria met, they may also qualify for the Red-White-Red Card and can score additional points for their expertise.
Important:
- All documents must be presented as originals with copies.
- Documents not in German or English need a certified translation into one of those two languages.
- In some cases you will also be asked for legalised or officially certified copies.
How to apply for the Austria job seeker visa
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Check your points and gather documents
- Score yourself against the points table
- Collect the required documents
Step 2: Book an appointment and file the application
- Book an appointment: contact the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence and arrange a slot to submit your application.
- Submit: attend on the day with all originals and copies, complete the forms and hand in the file.
- Pay the fee: settle the visa processing fee.
Step 3: Assessment and decision
- Document check: the embassy or consulate reviews the file and forwards it to the Austrian Public Employment Service, which scores the points.
- Visa issued: if approved, you receive a job seeker visa (type D) valid for 6 months.
Step 4: Job hunting in Austria
- Arrive in Austria on the visa and start looking for work in your field.
- Find a role: if you secure a suitable job while the visa is valid, you can apply for the Red-White-Red residence and work card.
Step 5: Switching to the Red-White-Red Card
- Apply: with the job offer in hand, apply at the local residence authority in Austria for the Red-White-Red Card.
- Provide documents: submit the employment contract and the related certificates.
- Receive the card: if approved, the Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and lets you live and work in Austria.
Austria job seeker visa costs
- Job seeker visa application fee: EUR 150
- Red-White-Red Card costs, once you have a job offer:
| Type of fee | Fee in EUR |
|---|---|
| Application fee | EUR 120 |
| Card issuance | EUR 20 |
| Personalisation fees | EUR 20 |
How long is the Austria job seeker visa valid?
- Job seeker visa: 6 months
- Red-White-Red Card: issued for 24 months once you have a suitable job. If the employment contract is shorter, the card is issued for the length of the contract plus three months.
Benefits of the Austria job seeker visa
- You can spend 6 months in Austria looking for a role that matches your profession.
- With a suitable job offer you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card, which permits residence and employment in Austria for 24 months.
- After 21 months of employment within the previous 24 months on a Red-White-Red Card, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus, which gives unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market.
- Family members can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus and gain free access to the labour market on the same basis.
Aval Visa on your Austria job seeker visa
The Austria job seeker route is competitive, and the file is scored before anyone reads your CV. Aval Visa works on European labour migration every day, and our team knows how the Public Employment Service applies the points table in practice.
We start with an honest points assessment, tell you where you fall short and what would lift the score, then prepare the file: qualification evidence, employment testimonials, language certificates, translations and legalisation, the embassy appointment and the application itself. We stay with you through the Red-White-Red Card stage once you have an offer. The decision belongs to the Austrian authorities. The quality of what they assess is our job. Talk to our advisers to get started.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I find out which occupations Austria is short of?
Shortage occupations are published each year by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Economy in a regulation called the Fachkraeftverordnung. Which jobs appear on it depends on conditions in the Austrian labour market and can change from year to year. - Can my family come with me?
Not during the job seeker visa itself. Once you hold the Red-White-Red Card, you can apply for family reunification for your spouse and children under 18. - Does this visa lead to permanent residence?
It can, but not in one step. After the Red-White-Red Card and 21 months of employment within the previous 24 months, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus, which gives unrestricted access to the labour market. The Card Plus is still a temporary permit. Permanent residence in Austria is the Daueraufenthalt EU status, which normally follows five years of continuous lawful residence with the income, insurance and integration conditions met.