Austrian Red-White-Red Card Plus (Family Reunification)

Who it's for

Family members — spouses, registered partners and unmarried minor children — of Red-White-Red Card holders, EU Blue Card holders or permanently settled residents; and main cardholders (Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card) who have completed the required qualifying employment. Certain researchers, former Permanent Residence – EU holders and asylum-based permit holders can also qualify.

Requirements

• A qualifying sponsor (Red-White-Red Card / EU Blue Card holder or settled resident), or 21 months' qualifying employment in the last 24 months for main-card converters
• For sponsored family: the sponsoring relationship (spouse/registered partner or unmarried child under 18); the applicant must generally be 21+ for partners
• German at A1 level on a first application (with exceptions, e.g. family of highly qualified workers)
• Valid travel document, recent photo, health insurance, accommodation and adequate financial means

What you can do

• Live in Austria and work with unrestricted labour-market access (employed or self-employed)
• Join a family member who holds a qualifying Austrian residence title
• Extend to a three-year card after two years of lawful settlement and completing Integration Agreement Module 1
• Build towards long-term residence in Austria

How to apply

First-time applicants generally apply at an Austrian embassy or consulate abroad; those already resident in Austria or visa-exempt may apply directly to the local residence authority.

Family-reunification quotas may apply to some categories, so timing and documentation of the family relationship are important.

Documents

• Valid passport and recent photo
• Evidence of the family relationship (marriage/partnership or birth certificate)
• Proof of the sponsor's qualifying residence title
• German A1 certificate (where required)
• Proof of health insurance, accommodation and adequate financial means