Red-White-Red Card Plus (RWR Card Plus)

The Red-White-Red (RWR) Card Plus grants you unlimited access to the Austrian labor market, meaning you can work for any employer or be self-employed. The application method depends on whether you are already in Austria or applying from abroad.

If you are switching from a standard RWR Card

If you have held a standard Red-White-Red Card and were employed for at least 21 months within the last 24 months, you can upgrade to the "Plus" card.

1. Verify Employment: Ensure your employment history meets the 21-month requirement. The Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS — Public Employment Service) will verify this internally during your application.
2. Submit Application: Apply at your local residence authority (Magistrat or Bezirkshauptmannschaft) in Austria before your current card expires.
3. Provide Documentation: Submit your passport, a recent photo, proof of accommodation (lease agreement), and proof of health insurance.
4. Receive Decision: Once the AMS confirms your employment history and the authority verifies your financial means, you will be notified to pick up your new card.

If you are a Family Member

This applies to spouses, registered partners (at least 21 years old), and unmarried minor children of RWR Card or EU Blue Card holders.

1. Language Requirement: Obtain proof of German A1 skills (the "Integration Agreement") before applying, unless you hold a university degree or your sponsor is an EU Blue Card holder or Researcher.
2. File Application:
   • From Abroad: Apply at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country.
   • In-country: If you are eligible for visa-free entry or already hold a valid residence title, you may apply at the local Magistrat or Bezirkshauptmannschaft in Austria.
3. Document Submission: You must provide a birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), and a police clearance certificate (not older than 3 months) from your home country. All foreign documents must have a certified translation and, if required, an apostille (international legalization).
4. Financial Check: The authority will verify that your family income meets the 2026 benchmarks (e.g., €1,921/month for couples).

If you are a Displaced Person from Ukraine

1. Eligibility Check: Ensure you have held a "Blue Card" (displaced person status) and were employed with full social insurance for at least 12 months within the last 24 months.
2. Submit Application: Apply at the local residence authority in your place of residence in Austria.
3. Verification: The authority will check your employment records to ensure you earned at least the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze (marginal earnings threshold).

Fees are paid in two stages: at the time of application and upon the granting of the permit.

Note: This total does not include costs for certified translations, apostilles, police clearance certificates, or the mandatory A1 German language exam.

• Official Target: The Austrian government aims for an 8-week processing time following the 2026 digitalization strategy.
• Current Reality: Expect a wait of 3 to 6 months. Processing times are generally longer in high-volume cities like Vienna (Wien).
• Document Validity: Your police clearance certificate must be no older than 3 months at the time of submission. Your passport photo must be no older than 6 months.
• Permit Validity: The first RWR Card Plus is typically issued for 1 year. If you live in Austria for 2 years and complete German A2 (Module 1 of the Integration Agreement), you can renew the card for 3 years.