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Austria Job Seeker Visa

TeamAckoJun 5, 2024

Scenic beauty, breathtaking landscapes, immortal music! You would be forgiven if you mistook Austria for a paradise.

Austria has one of the most advanced economies in Europe. No wonder, professionals from all walks of life are looking to it as their future destination.

Now you have a chance to raise your quality of life and give your future generations a brighter future in Austria. This is because Austria is taking initiatives to attract talented professionals through special initiatives. One such step is the Austria Job Seeker Visa.

Here’s how you can get it for yourself and your family.

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Contents

What is the Austria Job Seeker?
Everything About Red-White-Red Card
Red-White-Red Card Plus
Austria Job Seeker Visa Eligibility
Validity Of Austria Job Seeker Visa
Extension of Austria Job Seeker Visa
Austria Job Seeker Visa Requirements
Austria Job Seeker Visa Processing Time
Austria Job Seeker Visa Cost
How To Apply For Austria Job Seeker Visa
When Does Austria Job Seeker Visa Get Rejected?
What to Do If Austria Job Seeker Visa Gets Rejected?
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Austria Job Seeker?

The Austria Job Seeker Visa represents the first step towards getting a job in Austria. Once you have it, you will have to search for a job within six months. Practically, it is a residence visa which allows you to look for a job. If you fail to find a job in six months, you will have to leave the country.

Getting the visa and the job, however, is only the first step to working in Austria. The second step is to apply for a Red-White-Red card. Once you find a job which suits your qualifications, you will be eligible for a Red-White-Red card.

This card represents the sequel to the Austria Job Seeker Visa. It is valid for two years and permits you to be employed by one specific employer. So you will have to renew it if you get a new employer.

Everything About Red-White-Red Card

The Red-White-Red card functions as a residence permit and employment permit. Getting it is the next goal after securing an Austria job seeker visa. It serves as a sanction for employment with a particular employer. If you change your employer, you will again have to apply for the Red-White-Red card. It is valid for 2 years.

The following categories of professionals are eligible for the Red-White-Red card.

Very Highly Qualified Workers
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
Other Key Workers
Graduates of Austrian Universities and Colleges of Higher Education
Regular Workers in Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry
Self-employed Key Workers
Start-up Founders

Red-White-Red Card Plus

With a Red-White-Red card plus, you will have unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. In other words, you will not be restricted to one employer, and be able to change your employer without having to renew your Red-White-Red card.

Those who have been employed for at least 21 months in the previous 24 months under the Red-White-Red card are eligible to apply for the Red-White-Red card plus.

Family members of Red-White-Red card holders can straightaway apply for the Red-White-Red card plus.

Austria Job Seeker Visa Eligibility

The Austria Job Seeker Visa is exclusively meant for ‘Very Highly Qualified Workers’. Austria uses a points system to decide the eligibility for the Red-White-Red card. You have to reach a minimum of 70 points to qualify as a ‘Very Highly Qualified Worker’.

In this table, you will find the details of the points criteria.

Eligibility criteria for Austria Job Seeker Visa	Points
Qualifications and skills necessary	Maximum points possible: 40
Graduation from a programme which lasted at least four years	20
- if subjects are mathematics, informatics, natural sciences or technology (MINT subjects)	30
- Post-doctoral qualification or PhD	40
Gross pay during senior managerial role - Rs. 45,41,850 to 54,50,220 - Rs. 54,50,220 to 63,58,590 - More than Rs. 63,58,590	20 25 30
Work involving research and innovation (Publications, patent applications)	20
Awards and prizes	20
Work experience	Maximum points possible: 20
Points per year of work experience Work experience of six months in Austria	2 10
Language skills	Maximum points possible: 10
Basic German or English language skills (A1 level)	5
German or English language skills for intensified basic use (A2 level)	10
French language skills (B1 level)	5
Spanish language skills (B1 level)	5
Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian language skills (B1 level)	5
Age	Maximum points possible: 20
Up to 35 years of age Up to 40 years of age up to 45 years of age	20 15 10
Studies in Austria	Maximum points possible: 10
Second section of diploma course(Diplomstudium) or 50% of the necessary total ECTS points	5
Finished diploma programme (Diplomstudium) or Bachelor’s and Master’s degree	10
Total points possible:	100
Required minimum:	70

If you want a Red-White-Red card under any category other than ‘Very Highly Qualified Workers’, you can check if you are eligible from the official points calculator.

Validity Of Austria Job Seeker Visa

The Austria job seeker visa is valid for six months. As it is meant for ‘Very Highly Qualified Workers’, they are required to get a job and then apply for a Red-White-Red card for a stay of up to 2 years.

Extension of Austria Job Seeker Visa

If you have been employed under a Red-White-Red card for 21 of the previous 24 months, then you can apply for a Red-White-Red card plus which will be valid for three years.

You should apply for an extension three months before your Red-White-Red card expires.

Austria Job Seeker Visa Requirements

Once you have made up your mind to apply for the Austria Job Seeker Visa, you will have to submit certain documents for a successful application. Here you will find a list of documents that you must keep handy.

Filled up application form, consent form, disclaimer, and declaration and undertaking properly.
Passport which will be valid for at least three months from the date of your departure from Austria. It must have two blank pages.
Birth certificate or an equivalent substitute.
Two photographs not older than six months. It should have dimensions of 45 x 35 mm.
Proof of accommodation.
Health insurance with coverage of well above Rs. 27,18,930. It should include potential rescue and return costs. Once you get your Red-White-Red card, you will be covered by Austrian statutory insurance.
You must prove that you can afford the expenses in Austria. For this, you can furnish salary slips, employment contracts, certificates of insurance benefits, or investment capital.
Statement of tax returns.
Documents proving your educational qualifications. You should have graduated from a university course with a minimum duration of four years.
Work experience-related testimonials and work certificates.
Documents about awards and prizes you have won.
Proof of language skills.

Austria Job Seeker Visa Processing Time

It should take about 15 days for your Austria Job Seeker Visa application to be processed. It can take up to 45 days depending on how much scrutiny your application is subjected to.

The Austrian authorities usually take about 8 weeks to process applications for the Red-White-Red card. It depends on the completeness of the application as well as the resources at the authority’s command.

Austria Job Seeker Visa Cost

The ultimate goal of applying for the Austria Job Seeker Visa is to secure a Red-White-Red card. Hence, we have provided the fees for the Job Seeker Visa, Red-White-Red card, and the VFS service fee.

Visa/Application Process	Fees
Job Seeker Visa	Rs. 13,589
Red-White-Red card	Rs. 14,495
VFS Service Fee	Rs. 1,762

The fees mentioned in the above table are subject to fluctuations in the exchange rate. The actual fees you pay can be different from the ones provided above.

How To Apply For Austria Job Seeker Visa

After preparing your documents you can start the application process for the Austria job seeker visa. Here are the steps you need to follow.

Step 1: Create an account on the website of the VFS application centre.

Step 2: Book an appointment at your nearest VFS centre. You can also choose to submit your application from the comfort of your home.

Step 3: You will be informed about the appointment date and time via email.

Step 4: Submit your application form along with all the relevant documents on the date of the appointment.

Step 5: You should be notified by the embassy or VFS after your application has been processed.

When Does Austria Job Seeker Visa Get Rejected?

Sometimes, the visa authorities may not be satisfied with your visa application. Here are some reasons they may reject your visa application.

If you fail to submit an up-to-date passport, if it is damaged, or if it will expire within three months of your departure from Austria, then the visa authorities will reject your visa application.
Not having adequate medical insurance will cause your application to be rejected.
Insufficient evidence for being able to sustain yourself financially in Austria will lead to rejection.
The photographs you submit must match international standards. Otherwise, your application will stand rejected.
Your application must be submitted at least 15 days before your date of travel. If you submit your application within 15 days of your travelling date, then your application will be rejected.

What to Do If Austria Job Seeker Visa Gets Rejected?

If you find that your application has been rejected, you could consider the following measures as your next steps.

You can contact the Austrian embassy in New Delhi or the local consulate regarding the reason for the rejection of your application.
Apply again with your latest documents. You must apply at least 15 days before your trip.
Ensure that you enter all the details correctly in your application form.
The photograph you submit must satisfy the international standards for such applications.
You should have medical insurance of well above Rs. 27,18,930.
Maintain your financial statements in such a way that the authorities will be convinced of your ability to fund your expenses in Austria.

Overall, in this article we have covered all the necessary details you need to know about the Austria Job Seeker Visa. From the documents you will need to the processing time, we have got you covered. Figure out the sort of job you would be eligible for and plan your trip accordingly to apply for the appropriate job seeking visa for Austria.

Here’s some friendly advice. Before you confirm your Austria trip, buy a health travel insurance package. For the Austria Job Seeker Visa, you must have medical insurance of well above Rs. 27,18,930. Insurance will keep you safe, give you peace of mind, and protect you against unfortunate financial tragedies.

Once you have medical travel insurance, you will have taken another step closer to getting your dream job in Austria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some commonly asked questions about Austria Job Seeker Visa.

What is the Austria Job Seeker Visa?

Austria provides a special and exclusive visa called the ‘Job Seeker Visa’ to attract ‘Very Highly Qualified Workers’. With it, you can look for a job in Austria within six months. After that, you can apply for a ‘Red-White-Red card’ which will allow you to stay in Austria for up to 2 years.

What is the Red-White-Red card?

The Red-White-Red card works as a combination of a residence permit and employment permit. It is valid for 2 years and allows you to work for a particular employer. If you change your employer, then you will again have to apply for the Red-White-Red card

What is the Red-White-Red card plus?

It is an extension of the Red-White-Red card. With it, you can have unrestricted access to the Austrian job market. In other words, you will not be tied to one employer. You will be able to change your employer without being forced to renew your Red-White-Red card.

Who is eligible for a Red-White-Red card?

The eligibility for the Red-White-Red card is decided by a point system. Under the ‘Very Highly Qualified Workers’ category, you are expected to score a minimum score of 70. You can find the calculation details on the official website.

Which groups of professionals are eligible for the Red-White-Red card?

The Red–White–Red card is open to the following categories of people.

Very Highly Qualified Workers
Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations
Other Key Workers
Graduates of Austrian Universities and Colleges of Higher Education
Regular Workers in Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry
Self-employed Key Workers
Start-up Founders

Will I get a refund if my Austria job seeker visa application is rejected?

No, there is no provision for a refund if your application gets rejected.

How many months before the trip should I apply for an Austria job seeker visa?

The Austrian visa officials recommend that you apply at least one month before your planned trip. In any case, you should apply at least 15 days before your planned trip. If less than 15 days are remaining for your trip from the date of your application, then your application along with all the relevant documents will be returned to the visa application centre.

Is it mandatory for Indians to get medical insurance for an Austria job seeker visa?

Yes, as per the official website you should have medical insurance of well above Rs. 27,18,930 for the Austria job seeker visa.

What would I need to do to change my employer?

If you are on a Red-White-Red card, then you will have to apply for a new Red-White-Red card. On the other hand, if you have a Red-White-Red card plus, you are free to change your employer.

How should I hunt for jobs in Austria?

You can browse the internet for suitable jobs. The official website recommends some key sources for job-hunting such as Oberösterreichische Nachrichten, Kleine Zeitung, Die Presse, Tiroler Tageszeitung and more.