Red-White-Red Card and Job Loss – Legislative Changes

Following the last major changes in 2022, a number of new regulations relating to the Red-White-Red Card have been in force since August 2026. Previously, holders of a Red-White-Red Card who lost their jobs had to wait for a new Red-White-Red Card to be issued before they could take up employment with a new employer. With the legislative amendment that came into force in August 2026, there is now finally a statutory deadline within which a decision on the application to change the purpose of the card must be made. Otherwise, the employee may take up the new employment even without a new Red-White-Red Card. In addition, if you lose your job, there is now a fixed six-month period in which to look for work

Procedure for changing the purpose of a Red-White-Red Card

Red-White-Red Cards are valid only for employment with a specific employer, who must be explicitly named in the application and is also listed on the residence permit. Until now, upon termination of employment, the immigration authorities were obliged to immediately initiate proceedings to revoke the Red-White-Red Card. However, the authorities’ practice in this regard was usually very lenient, granting applicants up to six months to find a new job and apply for a new Red-White-Red Card.

Six months to look for a job after losing one

This administrative practice has now finally been enshrined in law, clearly stipulating that Red-White-Red Card holders who become unemployed and report this to the immigration authorities without undue delay have six months to find a new job and apply for a new Red-White-Red Card before revocation proceedings may be initiated.

Commencement of new employment even without a new Red-White-Red Card

If a Red-White-Red Card holder finds a new employer following the termination of their previous employment or job loss, they are no longer required to wait until a new Red-White-Red Card has been issued before commencing employment. If the Immigration Authority does not issue the new Red-White-Red Card within 45 days of the applicant notifying the Immigration Authority of their planned employment with a new employer, employment may provisionally commence even without a new Red-White-Red Card.