Visa and immigration to Austria

Austria still is the second richest country in the European Union after Luxembourg. Outside the EU only the Norwegians and the Swiss are doing better than Austria.
With reference to the latest data from the European Union statistics, Eurostat , Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita in Purchasing Power Standard (PPS) ranged from 47% to 264% of the EU average (100%).
That is why Austria is one of the more popular countries in EU for immigration, relocation and doing business.
Feod Group offers initial consultations with immigration advisors who will:

• Identify any and all Immigration Benefits/Visas for which clients may be eligible;
• Identify alternative visas or methods to relocate your family to Austria;
• Provide an accurate description of the visa process which includes the time frame required to receive the visa;
• Inform clients of the applicable fees to be charged by the Government entities for different benefits/visas;
• Provide a list of quality services and fee structure that Feod Group can perform for clients.

Your application for long term D visa will be fully supervised by accredited Austrian advocate and represented in Austrian Embassy.
Feod Group assists and supports your residence permit application upon your arrival to Austria, residence permit renewal and extension, permanent residence application and citizenship.
Our professionals will provide you with legal and business support related to your property rental or purchase, company registration and accountancy, hiring personnel, schooling for your children and other ancillary services.
Feod Group provides you with visa and immigration support for the following residency categories:

Settlement Permit – Gainful Employment Excepted

Third-country nationals wishing to settle in Austria without gainful employment (e.g. pensioners, financially independent individuals) may obtain a residence title “Settlement Permit – Gainful Employment Excepted“.
This residence title may be granted to third-country nationals, if:

• They fulfill the general requirements for granting such an entitlement;
• A quota under the quota system is available (only a limited number of settlement permits can be granted each year);
• They have a regular monthly income (e.g. Austrian or foreign pensions, profits from enterprises abroad, income from assets, savings or company shares) equaling twice the amount of the standard rates of the General Social Insurance Act (ASVG).

Red-White-Red Card

The Red-White-Red Card is issued for a period of twelve months and entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and employment by a specified employer.
The following persons are eligible for a 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 ;
• Self-employed key workers.

Red-White-Red Card plus

This card entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour market access.
The following persons are eligible for a Red-White-Red Card plus:

• Оlders of a Red-White-Red Card if they were employed in accordance with the requirements decisive for admission for a minimum of ten months within the preceding twelve months;
• Family members of Red-White-Red Card holders and holders of EU Blue Cards;
• Family members of foreign citizens permanently settled in Austria;
• Family members are defined as: spouses, registered partners, minor children, including adopted children and stepchildren (up to the age of 18).
• At the time of filing the application, spouses and registered partners must be at least 21 years of age.

EU Blue Card

Third-country nationals shall obtain a residence title “EU Blue Card“ if they have met the general requirements (with the exception of the evidence of a legal title to an accommodation and the evidence of means of secure subsistence) and submit a written confirmation from the Public Employment Service (AMS). This written confirmation shall state that the third-country national has met the criteria for being considered a key worker. It will be issued under the following circumstances:

• The applicant can prove the completion of a course of study at a university or another tertiary educational institution with a minimum duration of three years;
• The applicant can prove that he/she has received a binding job offer for a highly qualified employment for at least one year (the employment must correspond to the applicant’s education);
• He/she can prove that he/she will earn a gross income equalling one and a half times the average gross annual income of a full-time employee in Austria (in 2014: annual gross salary of at least € 55,975.50 that is about € 3,998 gross per month);
• The labour market test (Arbeitsmarktprüfung) shows that there is no Austrian worker or no non-Austrian worker (already integrated in the Austrian labour market) registered with the AMS available for the job.

The competent local authority shall take a decision upon granting an application for a “EU Blue Card” within eight weeks.

Family reunification

Family members in the context of the Settlement and Residence Act are:

• Spouses;
• Registered partners and;
• Unmarried minors including adoptive and step children.
• Spouses and registered partners must be 21 years of age or older when applying.
• Other dependants are:
• Relatives, also of spouses or registered partners in direct ascending line, if they receive actual maintenance;
• Life partners providing evidence of a long-term relationship in their country of origin and receiving actual maintenance;
• Other relatives under certain circumstances.

Students and graduates

Foreign students of Austrian universities may work during their studies subject to obtaining employment permits.

After successful completion of a programme of studies in Austria, a Diploma programme (Diplomstudium) at least from the second part onward or a Master’s programme at an Austrian university, University of Applied Sciences or accredited private university, may reside in Austria for a further six months for the purpose of searching for employment.

It is possible for students to switch from “Student Stay Permit” to Red-White-Red Card. Graduates may reside in Austria for a further six months to search for employment if they have obtained confirmation from the competent residence authority.