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.
