Live & Work in Austria as a Highly Qualified Professional
The EU Blue Card is an Austrian residence and employment permit designed for highly qualified third-country nationals who want to live and work in Austria.
It provides qualified professionals with a pathway to employment and residence in Austria and can also create opportunities for family relocation and longer-term residence.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners helps applicants assess their eligibility and coordinates the application process together with qualified legal and immigration professionals.
The EU Blue Card combines residence and employment authorization for qualifying highly skilled third-country nationals.
Unlike several categories of Austria's Red-White-Red Card, the EU Blue Card does not use a points system.
Instead, applicants must satisfy specific requirements concerning their qualifications, Austrian employment offer, salary and labour-market assessment.
To qualify for an EU Blue Card in Austria, applicants generally need to meet the following requirements.
Applicants generally need to have completed a course of study at a university or another tertiary educational institution with a minimum duration of three years.
For qualifying ICT professionals and service managers, at least three years of relevant professional experience may be accepted instead of a university qualification when the experience is comparable and was acquired within the seven years preceding the application.
Applicants must have a binding job offer in Austria for at least six months.
The proposed employment must correspond to the applicant's education or qualifying professional background.
€55,678 Gross Annual Salary (2026)
The applicable Austrian threshold is based on the average gross annual income of full-time employees. The official threshold may change from year to year.
The Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS) assesses whether an equally qualified worker registered as a job seeker is available for the position.
The applicable employment and salary requirements must also be satisfied.
Applicants do not need to collect points based on age, language ability or professional experience.
Instead, eligibility is primarily determined through the qualification, employment, salary and labour-market requirements.
No Points Test
If the employment contract is shorter, the card may instead be issued for the duration of the employment contract plus an additional three months, subject to the applicable rules.
The authorization is linked initially to the employer specified in the application.
Up to 24 Months
EU Blue Card holders can change employers, but specific procedures apply. A new EU Blue Card application may be required for the new employment.
Under current Austrian rules, a Blue Card holder may generally begin the new employment 30 days after submitting a complete application for the new EU Blue Card.
If the applicant has already been employed in Austria on an EU Blue Card for at least 12 months, the new employment may generally begin immediately after submitting the application, and the otherwise applicable labour-market assessment is waived.
Greater Freedom in the Austrian Labour Market
An EU Blue Card holder may subsequently qualify for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, which provides unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market.
21 Months During the Previous 24 Months
The EU Blue Card also provides important opportunities for family relocation. Eligible family members may be able to obtain Austrian residence rights through family reunification.
Depending on the applicable requirements, family members of EU Blue Card holders may qualify for a Red-White-Red Card Plus, providing access to the Austrian labour market.
We assess your qualifications, professional background and Austrian employment offer.
Your education or qualifying professional experience, employment contract and salary are reviewed against the current EU Blue Card requirements.
The required application documents are prepared and coordinated together with the relevant professional partners.
The competent Austrian residence authority processes the application and the AMS assesses the employment-related eligibility requirements.
If all requirements are satisfied, the competent residence authority can issue the EU Blue Card. Applicants who require a visa may need a Visa D to enter Austria and collect their residence title.
Depending on the applicant's circumstances, an application may be submitted through the competent Austrian representation abroad.
Certain applicants may also be permitted to submit their application while legally present in Austria. An Austrian employer can also submit an application on behalf of the prospective employee.
In Vienna, the competent residence authority is generally MA 35.
Foreign documents may require certified translations and, depending on the country and document, appropriate legalization or an apostille.
8 Weeks
The Austrian residence authority is generally required to decide within eight weeks. Actual processing can depend on the individual case and completeness of the documentation.
€218
Additional expenses may arise for translations, certifications, legalization, professional services or other requirements.
Generally, applicants need a qualification from a university or other tertiary educational institution based on at least three years of study. An exception exists for certain qualifying ICT professionals and service managers who can demonstrate the required relevant professional experience.
Yes. A binding qualifying Austrian job offer is required.
The binding job offer must generally be for at least six months.
The official minimum threshold for 2026 is €55,678 gross annually, based on the applicable Austrian calculation.
No. The Austrian EU Blue Card does not use a points system.
It may generally be issued for up to 24 months, subject to the duration of the employment contract and other applicable factors.
Eligible family members may have access to family reunification pathways and may, subject to the applicable requirements, qualify for a Red-White-Red Card Plus.
Qualifying EU Blue Card holders may apply for the Red-White-Red Card Plus after meeting the applicable employment requirements, including generally 21 months of qualifying employment during the preceding 24 months.
Take the Next Step Towards Working & Living in Austria
If you are a highly qualified professional with an employment opportunity in Austria, CETO can help you understand whether the EU Blue Card may be suitable for your circumstances.
