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EU Blue Card

AustriaWork

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

The EU Blue Card is for a third-country citizen with a university or other tertiary course of at least three years. For ICT professionals and service managers, the source states an alternative based on at least three years of relevant professional experience comparable to that degree.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page is an official route summary; verify current legal text and the applicant's individual facts before approval.
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    As a third-country citizen you may be granted an EU Blue Card, if you
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    have completed a course of study at a university or other tertiary educational institution with a minimum duration of three years (exception: for Information and communications technology professionals

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

A binding job offer in Austria is required, and the employment must correspond to the applicant's education. The application also requires an employer's declaration confirming the employment conditions.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page is an official route summary; verify current legal text and the applicant's individual facts before approval.
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    have received a binding job offer in Austria and the employment corresponds to your education,
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    Along with the application an employer’s declaration (Arbeitgebererklärung) has to be submitted, which is a written confirmation of the company on the conditions of employment of your job.

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

A salary at least equal to the average gross annual income of full-time employees (€55,678 in 2026, including special payments) is required, together with a labour-market test finding no equally qualified registered jobseeker. There is no points system.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page is an official route summary; verify current legal text and the applicant's individual facts before approval.
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    will earn at least the average gross annual income of full-time employees (in 2026: at least € 55,678; annual salery plus special payments),
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    and the labour market test (Arbeitsmarktprüfung) shows that there is no equally qualified worker registered as a jobseeker with the Public Employment Service (AMS) available for the job.
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    For EU Blue Card applicants there is no points system.

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

The EU Blue Card entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and employment with the specific employer. Subsidiary self-employment is possible only if the additional employment is subsidiary and all other legal requirements are met. The official source does not state a family-accompaniment rule for this route.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page is an official route summary; verify current legal text and the applicant's individual facts before approval.
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    The EU Blue Card entitles you to fixed-term settlement and employment with a specific employer. It is issued for a validity of 24 months. You can also work self-employed, if this additional employment is subsidiary to your main employment and all other legal requirements are fulfilled.

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

The EU Blue Card is valid for 24 months. A holder employed under the EU Blue Card for at least 21 months during the preceding 24 months may apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus, which provides unlimited labour-market access.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page is an official route summary; verify current legal text and the applicant's individual facts before approval.
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    It is issued for a validity of 24 months.
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    if you were employed in accordance with the eligibility criteria for the EU Blue Card for at least 21 months during the preceding 24 months.
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    The Red-White-Red Card plus entitles you to fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour market access (not limited to a specific employer).

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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