AustriaResidence permit (skilled worker)

Blue Card in Austria

The Blue Card is intended for highly qualified specialists from third countries who have received a job offer in Austria. It is a visa that gives the right to work in line with your qualification for a fixed period. The programme is open to university graduates and also to information-technology specialists with documented experience. After working successfully under the contract you can move to a card with full access to the labour market.

Visa term

Up to 2 years (or the term of the contract plus 3 months), renewed for 3 years

Threshold

An annual salary above the Austrian average (about EUR 45,595 for 2023, indexed)

Processing time

Usually up to 90 days, in practice 1-3 months

Work

The right to work under the contract; a change of employer requires approval

Source: migration.gv.at — Blaue Karte EU

Which specialist the programme suits

The Blue Card is designed for particular categories of worker. Choose your situation below.

University graduate

You completed a university course of at least 3 years
You have received a job offer in your field
Your annual salary is above the average
You plan to stay for 24 months or more

ICT specialist

At least 3 years of experience in information technology within the last 7 years
The qualification is recognised as equivalent to higher education
A contract with an Austrian employer
The salary meets the minimum threshold

Already working in Austria

You are currently in Austria on another visa
You have received a job offer in your field
You can apply to the local authority for your place of residence
You do not need to leave the country to arrange it

When this programme will not suit you

Education of less than 3 years, or none at all

Red-White-Red Card (a card on different criteria), temporary work visas

A salary below the set minimum

Red-White-Red Card, standard work visas

A contract of less than 6 months

A visa for temporary work, other types of visa

The work does not match the level of qualification

Other programmes, considered case by case

What it costs

Application feeThe state fee for processing a Blaue Karte EU application	218 EUR

Paid separately

Health insurance — The document must be provided, but it is paid for separately by the applicant
Translation of documents — If documents are in a foreign language, a professional translation is required at the applicant's expense

Documents to gather

To apply for the Blaue Karte EU you need to prepare the following documents in the original and in copy. All documents in foreign languages must be translated professionally.

Passport or another valid travel document
Biometric photograph 45x35 mm, no older than 6 months
Educational document (bachelor's, master's or specialist degree) with confirmation of the 3-year minimum of study
For ICT specialists: a certificate of 3 years of professional experience in information technology gained within the last 7 years
An employment contract with an employer in Austria for at least 6 months, in line with the legislation on the employment of foreign nationals
Proof of health insurance
Documents on family status (marriage certificate, birth certificates of children where applicable)
Criminal record certificate (recommended, no older than 3 months at the time of application)

How the process runs

Obtaining the Blaue Karte EU consists of several stages, each of which requires particular conditions to be checked.

1
Collecting documents and preparing
2-4 weeks
The applicant collects all the required documents in the original, obtains translations into German, arranges health insurance and an employment contract with an employer in Austria.
2
Submitting the application
1 day
The application is lodged either with the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or (if you are already in Austria) with the competent authority for your place of residence (Landeshauptmann or Magistrat). A visa fee may be charged when lodging at a consulate.
3
Checking the qualification and the labour market
2-8 weeks
The Austrian employment service (AMS) checks the applicant's education, whether the contract and salary level meet the minimum requirements, and carries out a labour market test. Additional documents may be requested at this stage.
4
Issue of the card
1-2 weeks
After a positive decision by the AMS the competent authority issues the Blaue Karte EU itself. The card is valid for 24 months and is issued for work with a specific employer.
5
Option to upgrade
After 21 months of work
After working for at least 21 months within the 24 months the card is valid, the applicant can apply for the Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte plus, which gives full access to the labour market and greater flexibility.

Timelines and rights

Residence

Live in the country for a significant part of the time

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Blue Card	Red-White-Red Card	Financially independent person
Visa term	Up to 2 years (or the term of the contract plus 3 months), renewed for 3 years	Usually 24 months tied to the employer, then the RWR Karte plus	Usually 1 year, renewed annually
Grounds	High qualification + contract	Skilled workers / start-up founders	Financial independence
Work	The right to work under the contract; a change of employer requires approval	Work with a specific employer; after the RWR+ the labour market is open	The category excludes paid activity

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After about 5 years — Daueraufenthalt EU

Route to citizenship

Usually 10 years (down to 6 with integration), a test and German

Frequently asked questions about Blue Card

What is the minimum salary for the Blaue Karte EU in 2026?

The minimum gross annual income is EUR 55,678 for 2026. This amount is indexed every year and is tied to the average salary in Austria. If the annual income includes premiums or bonuses, they must be stated in the employment contract.

What is the Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte plus and how do you obtain it after the Blaue Karte EU?

The Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte plus (red-white-red card plus) is a card that gives full access to the Austrian labour market. After working for at least 21 months under a Blaue Karte EU contract (within its 24-month validity) the applicant can apply for the upgrade. It allows you to change employer without approval from the authorities.

Can I apply for the Blaue Karte EU if I already work in Austria on another visa?

Yes. If you are lawfully in Austria on another type of visa, you can apply for the Blaue Karte EU. In that case the application goes not to the embassy but to the competent authority in Austria for your place of residence (Landeshauptmann or the local Magistrat). You do not need to leave the country.

What alternatives to education exist for information-technology specialists?

If you have no higher education but work in information technology, you can apply for the Blaue Karte EU with a document showing at least 3 years of professional experience in ICT gained within the 7 years before the application. The experience must be evidenced by documents.

What is the minimum term of employment contract required for the Blaue Karte EU?

The employment contract must be concluded for at least 6 months. The contract must comply with Austrian legislation on the employment of foreign nationals and set out clear terms, including salary, position and place of work.

Other ways to move to Austria

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Austria.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 8 August 2026.