Author: Dr. Alexander Raidl

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.

People who a holding a second citizenship apart from an Austrian, primarily men, often ask themselves what the consequences might be if they complete their military service in another country. This question will be answered here.

All male Austrian citizens between the ages of 17 and 50 are liable for military service in Austria. As part of this compulsory service, conscripts are required to complete 6 months of basic service by their 35th birthday. Alternatively, conscripts can also complete 9 months of civilian service.

If conscripts have another citizenship in addition to Austrian citizenship, they do not have to perform military or civilian service in Austria if they have already completed their service in another country and there is an intergovernmental agreement between that country and Austria on exemption from military service in Austria.

However, if an Austrian citizen voluntarily enters military service in a foreign country, their Austrian citizenship must be revoked for this reason. Compulsory recruitment or legally compulsory service (as in Austria) are not considered voluntary entry. However, if someone voluntarily extends their service beyond what is legally required, this also leads to the loss of Austrian citizenship. In such a case, revocation is mandatory, even if it results in the person concerned becoming stateless. In some countries, however, citizenship can also be acquired by completing voluntary service for a certain period of time, for example in the Foreign Legion in France.

In practice, this provision is particularly relevant for dual citizens. However, simply completing compulsory service in a country other than Austria does not lead to the loss of Austrian citizenship. This would only be the case if the person voluntarily commits to service beyond the minimum required by law. In this context, the specific legal provisions on compulsory military service in the other country must be taken into account.

For many people who have been living in Austria for a long time and are well integrated, the question arises as to whether it makes sense to apply for Austrian citizenship and/or a ‘permanent residence EU’ residence title. The answer to which option is better depends on numerous individual factors that cannot be answered in general terms. The overview provided here is intended to offer initial guidance in making a decision.

Xi is a wealthy citizen of the People’s Republic of China and is looking for a way to obtain a second citizenship in a European country. During his research on the Internet, he finds information that Austrian citizenship can be obtained by investing at least €4 million in Austria. When he asks for more information and asks to which account he should transfer this amount and when he can pick up his Austrian passport, he has the sobering realisation that it is not that easy after all. So what is the truth behind the rumour that you can buy Austrian citizenship?

Exceptional achievements in the special interest of the Republic of Austria

The Austrian Citizenship Act provides for the possibility that, by decision of the Austrian Federal Government, citizenship can be granted to persons who have made extraordinary achievements in the special interest of the Republic of Austria or who can be expected to make such extraordinary achievements in the future. The advantage of acquiring Austrian citizenship on the basis of this provision is that it is not necessary to prove either a specific period of residence in Austria or a specific knowledge of German. In addition, unlike with the regular granting of citizenship, you can also retain your previous citizenship.

Such extraordinary achievements can be in the scientific, economic, sporting or artistic field. You can find more information here.

However, Austrian citizenship cannot be bought, like a product or service. However, it is possible to obtain Austrian citizenship as an investor if it can be proven that the applicant is the owner of a company or holds a management position in a company that has a high economic performance, creates jobs in Austria, attracts further investment in Austria and/or is also known abroad and strengthens Austria’s foreign trade relations.

Investment alone is not enough to buy Austrian citizenship

To summarise, this means that you cannot obtain Austrian citizenship simply because you invest a certain amount of money in Austria. You have to prove that your investments have significantly promoted Austria’s economic interests and that you have done more than just act as an investor.

Xi is therefore disappointed to realise that the information that he can obtain Austrian citizenship simply by investing at least € 4 million in Austria is false. Although a high investment increases the chances of obtaining Austrian citizenship on the basis of extraordinary achievements, it is not enough on its own. It is therefore not possible to buy Austrian citizenship, it can only be earned on the basis of outstanding achievements in the interests of the country.

From 1 October 2024, displaced persons from Ukraine can obtain a Red-White-Red Card Plus. This residence permit includes unrestricted access to the Austrian labour market for both employed and self-employed work and is a prerequisite for obtaining an EU permanent residence permit.

What are the requirements for obtaining a Red-White-Red Card Plus as a displaced person from Ukraine?

Persons who reside in Austria as displaced persons from Ukraine (blue card) can obtain a Red-White-Red Card Plus if they fulfil the general requirements for obtaining a residence permit, can provide proof of German language skills at A1 level and have been insured for at least 12 months in the last 24 months in a fully insured employment relationship or as a self-employed person. You are fully insured if you earn more than € 518.44 per month as an employee and € 6,221.28 per year as a self-employed person (values for 2024).

The general requirements for obtaining a Red-White-Red Card Plus are
a) A sufficiently secure livelihood: for this purpose, the monthly disposable net income, after deduction of fixed costs for rent or debts, must reach a certain minimum threshold (in 2024 this is € 1,217.96 for single persons and € 1,921.46 for married couples, with an additional € 187.93 per child). As long as you receive basic care (e.g. from Caritas), your livelihood is not sufficiently secured.
b) Health insurance in Austria: This is automatically the case if you are legally employed in Austria.
c) Legal entitlement to adequate accommodation for yourself and your family.
d) No threat to public order and security.

The knowledge of German at A1 level required for the issue of the Red-White-Red Card Plus must be proven by a recognised language certificate (Austrian Language Diploma – ÖSD, Goethe Institute, Telc GmbH, Austrian Integration Fund ÖIF).

The Red-White-Red Card Plus is initially only issued for one year. Those who fulfil Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (German language skills at A2 level) can receive the card for 3 years.

In principle, the period of validity of the card is linked to the validity of the Ukrainian passport. However, an exception can be applied for male Ukrainian citizens who are unable to extend their passport outside Ukraine.

In addition, it is expressly confirmed that in the case of an application for a Red-White-Red Card Plus for displaced persons, the periods already completed with an ID card for displaced persons are considered as legal residence. These periods can therefore also be counted towards the periods of residence required for an EU permanent residence permit.

How to apply

The application for a Red-White-Red Card Plus will be submitted to the competent immigration authority (in Vienna MA 35) from 1 October 2024. You can already book your application appointment in Vienna at Support Referate Einwanderung.