The Red-White-Red Card: How the Austria Nursing Visa Works

What the Red-White-Red Card is

The Red-White-Red Card is a combined work and residence permit for qualified workers from outside the EU. It is generally issued for up to 24 months and, at first, ties you to the specific Austrian employer who offered you the job. It is Austria's main, purpose-built route for bringing in skilled professionals like nurses.

Nursing is a shortage occupation - and that helps you

Every year Austria publishes a list of shortage occupations, and nursing is on it. This matters because for shortage occupations, the labour-market test (checking whether a local could do the job) is waived - which makes the process faster and more predictable. The shortage is working in your favour.

The points system

The Red-White-Red Card uses a points system. For a shortage occupation you typically need to reach at least 55 points, awarded across factors like your qualification, work experience, German language level and age. The better your profile across these, the more comfortably you clear the threshold.

From Red-White-Red Card to Red-White-Red Card Plus

The first card ties you to one employer - but that is temporary. After you have worked the required period (broadly, 21 months out of your first 24), you can move to the Red-White-Red Card Plus, which gives you unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market. In other words, your freedom grows as you settle.

Your family can come too

Austria's route is family-friendly. Direct family members - your spouse or registered partner and minor children - can join you, generally through the Red-White-Red Card Plus, which also allows them to work. So this is a route for building a life together, not just a solo work posting.

How the card connects to recognition

Two things work together for a nurse: the Red-White-Red Card (your right to live and work) and recognition / Nostrifikation (your right to practise the regulated nursing role). You need a binding job offer and your qualification handled correctly. They are separate processes that fit together into one journey - which is exactly the kind of sequencing we help you plan.