Mainly highly-qualified workers and other specific categories of workers are admitted to enter Austria for the purposes of employed work.

In general, to work in Austria, you must be in possession of the necessary residence title (or visa in case of short-term economic activities).

In some cases, you may also need to obtain a separate employment permit.

In Austria, there are various residence permits that can be obtained to carry out employed work. To obtain one of these titles, you must meet the specific conditions of the title and prove that you meet the general conditions for residence titles in Austria, in particular:

adequate accommodation corresponding to Austrian standards;
full medical insurance;
adequate means of subsistence.

The most relevant residence titles for employed workers are:

Red-White-Red – Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte)
Very highly-qualified workers, skilled workers in shortage occupations, other key-workers , Graduates of universities and colleges of higher education in Austria or self-employed key-workers.

Red-White-Red – Card plus (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus)
Holders of a Red-White-Red – Card or holders of an EU Blue Card after 24 months, holders of a Settlement Permit Researcher after two years.

EU Blue Card (Blaue Karte EU)
Highly-qualified workers who graduated according to International Classification of Education (ISCED) level 5a or 6 and who earn a salary which is at a certain level.

Settlement Permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung)
Holders of the residence title Red-White-Red – Card for self-employed key-workers after 24 months

Long-term resident – EU (Daueraufenthalt – EU)
You must have been entitled to reside in Austria during the last five years without interruption and must fulfil Module 2 of the Integration Agreement.

Temporary Residence Permit – Posted Worker (Aufenthaltsbewilligung –Betriebsentsandter)
You must have a conditional assurance (Sicherungsbescheinigung) or an employment permit as a posted worker.

Settlement Permit – Artist (Niederlassungsbewilligung – Künstler)

Your self-employed or employed activity is of a predominantly artistic character and your livelihood is covered by income earned from this activity. When you intend to be employed, an approval by the regional Public Employment Service is required.

Settlement Permit or Temporary Residence Permit – special cases of dependent gainful occupation (Niederlassungs oder Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Sonderfälle unselbständiger Erwerbstätigkeit)
You perform an activity which is exempt from the scope of application of the Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals. Depending on the type of activity you can apply for a Temporary Residence Permit or a Settlement Permit.

Settlement Permit – researcher (Niederlassungsbewilligung – Forscher)
You perform an activity for a research institution which is exempt from the scope of application of the Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals and you show a hosting agreement entered into with a research institution.

Researcher-mobility

You are already a holder of a residence permit “researcher” of another EU Member State, and your activity in Austria is to exceed 90 days, you will receive residence permit “researcher mobility” provided you perform an activity for a research institution which is exempt from the scope of application of the Act Governing the Employment of Foreign Nationals and you show a hosting agreement entered into with a research institution.

For an activity of less than 90 days (“short time mobile researcher”), you do not need a specific residence permit for Austria.

Temporary Residence Permit – ICT

You are going to be temporarily employed as a key worker in an Austrian branch of your company or group by your employer, you may obtain a residence permit entitling you to residence and taking up employment in Austria.

Mobile ICT

You are already a holder of a residence permit “ICT” of another EU Member State and your activity in Austria is to exceed 90 days, you will receive a residence permit for mobile intra-corporate transferees (long-term “mobile ICT”).

For an activity of less than 90 days, the provisions for posting of workers by EEA and Swiss companies apply (short-term “mobile ICT”). As a short-term “mobile ICT”, you do not need a specific residence permit for Austria.