# Austria Work Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist > The Austrian work visa checklist for Indians in 2026: D visa documents for jobs up to 6 months, Red-White-Red Card and EU Blue Card criteria, fees and where to apply. _Published: 2026-10-31 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1145_ ## TL;DR For work of 91 days to 6 months, Indians lodge a Long Term (D) work visa at VFS with the employer's AMS permission, paying EUR 195 / INR 21,260. Jobs longer than 6 months need a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card (EUR 218), filed in person at the Austrian Embassy New Delhi or by the employer in Austria. ## Key takeaways - The D work visa (91 days to 6 months) needs an AMS permission obtained by the Austrian employer. - D visa fee: EUR 195 / INR 21,260 for adults, plus the VFS service charge of INR 2479. - Red-White-Red Cards and the EU Blue Card cost EUR 218 and take about eight weeks in total. - EU Blue Card salary floor for 2026: EUR 55,678 gross a year; Other Key Workers: EUR 3,465 gross a month. - Residence permits and job seeker visas are lodged in person at the Embassy, not at VFS. **According to the Austrian Embassy New Delhi and VFS, work of 91 days to 6 months needs a Long Term (D) work visa backed by your employer's AMS permission (EUR 195 / INR 21,260 at VFS). Longer jobs need a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card (EUR 218), filed at the Embassy or by your employer in Austria.** ## Article Austria has no single 'work visa'. The checklist you need depends on how long the job lasts and whether you qualify for a points-based card. Get the route right first; the documents follow from it. Everything here is as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist visas and general fees, see our Austria visa guide for Indians. ### Which Austrian work route matches your job? Your situationRouteWhere to applyFeeShort work stay (Schengen short-term visa)Short Term (C) Work VisaVFSEUR 90 / INR 9810Job of 91 days to 6 monthsLong Term (D) Work visaVFSEUR 195 / INR 21,260Skilled job over 6 months, points-basedRed-White-Red Card (Very Highly Qualified, Shortage Occupations or Other Key Workers)Embassy in person, or employer at the residence authority in AustriaEUR 218Graduate with a high-paying job offerEU Blue CardEmbassy in person, or employer in AustriaEUR 218Very highly qualified, no job offer yetJob seeker visa (D, 6 months)Embassy in personEUR 195Aged 18 to 30, holiday with workWorking Holiday Programme visa (up to 12 months)EmbassyEUR 195Au pair aged 18 to under 28Au-pair residence permitEmbassyEUR 218VFS handles visas of up to 6 months. Residence permits for longer stays, job seeker visas and work-programme visas are applied for in person at the Embassy, whose consular department works Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 12:00, by prior appointment only. ### What documents does the D work visa need? The VFS work checklist combines the general Schengen-style file with two work-specific items: - AMS permission obtained by the Austrian employer from the Austrian Labour Market Authority, for example an Einzelsicherungsbescheinigung, Entsendebewilligung or Anzeigebestätigung. - Employer's letter of support and/or a copy of the work contract. - National Visa Category (D) form, completed in English or German and signed, plus the signed VFS Declaration and Undertaking. - Passport valid at least three months after leaving the Schengen area, with two blank pages, issued within the previous 10 years and without handwritten changes; copies of its pages and of previous Schengen visas. - One ICAO photo of 35-45 mm on a plain light background, no more than 6 months old. - Cover letter with purpose, duration, transport and accommodation; round-trip flight reservation and proof of accommodation. - Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 from a company on the approved list of Indian insurers. - Original bank statements for the last three months, stamped and signed by the bank, and ITR with barcode for the last 2 years. - Biometrics in person, unless collected in the last 59 months. The adult fee is EUR 195 (INR 21,260, as published by VFS India in October 2026), and the same applies to children aged 6 to 12; children under 6 pay EUR 97 (INR 10,580). The VFS service charge is INR 2479. Both are non-refundable, and the INR amounts change with the exchange rate at every month end. Processing usually takes 15 working days from the date all documents are submitted. ### What do the Red-White-Red Card routes require? For jobs over 6 months, Austria uses points-based cards assessed by the AMS. The criteria below are from the Austrian Federal Government's migration platform. - Very Highly Qualified Workers: at least 70 of 100 points. A degree of at least 4 years earns 20 points (30 for MINT subjects, 40 for a PhD); age under 35 earns 20; German or English at A2 earns 10. The card is valid 24 months for the named employer. - Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations: completed vocational training in an occupation on the annual shortage list, a binding job offer at least at the legal or collective-agreement minimum, and at least 55 of 90 points. - Other Key Workers: gross monthly pay of at least EUR 3,465 (2026), an AMS labour market test and at least 55 of 90 points. - EU Blue Card: a degree of at least 3 years, a gross annual salary of at least EUR 55,678 (2026, including special payments) and a labour market test; no points system. Each card costs EUR 218 from 1 January 2026, and the migration platform estimates about eight weeks for the entire process, depending on how complete the documents are. ### Can you go to Austria to look for work first? Two routes allow it. The job seeker visa is a 6-month D visa for very highly qualified people, lodged in person at the Embassy, with proof of accommodation, health insurance and means of subsistence; it costs EUR 195 and is granted once the AMS confirms your points. The Working Holiday Programme visa lets Indians aged 18 to 30 stay up to 12 months and take any job without a work permit; it also costs EUR 195, is not refunded if refused, and only one Working Holiday stay per country is allowed. ### Checklist mistakes that delay Austrian work visas - Booking a VFS appointment before the employer holds the AMS permission. - Taking a Red-White-Red Card or Blue Card file to VFS; those go to the Embassy in person or through the employer in Austria. - Buying insurance from a company outside the approved Indian list, which is not accepted since 1 January 2026. - Submitting ITRs without the barcode or bank statements without the bank's stamp. - Applying from India while you habitually live elsewhere; the Embassy only processes applicants resident in its territory. Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). Message us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or through our contact page. ### Frequently asked questions #### Do I need German for an Austrian work permit? German is not compulsory for the Red-White-Red Cards, but it earns points. For Shortage Occupations, German at A1, A2 or B1 earns 5, 10 or 15 points, and English at A2 or B1 earns 5 or 10, with 5 extra points if English is the company's main language. Au pairs need German at A1 before starting. #### Can international students work in Austria? Yes, within limits. Holders of a Student residence permit can work up to 20 hours a week with an employment permit that the employer applies for at the AMS, without a labour market test. #### How long is an Austrian Red-White-Red Card valid? The migration platform says the Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and is tied to the named employer for that period. #### Can an Indian au pair work in Austria? Yes, with an au-pair residence permit applied for at the Austrian Embassy New Delhi. You must be at least 18 and under 28, have German at A1, and the host family must obtain an AMS confirmation; pay must be at least EUR 551.10 a month for employment starting from 1 January 2026. ## FAQ ### Do I need German for an Austrian work permit? German is not compulsory for the Red-White-Red Cards, but it earns points. For Shortage Occupations, German at A1, A2 or B1 earns 5, 10 or 15 points, and English at A2 or B1 earns 5 or 10, with 5 extra points if English is the company's main language. Au pairs need German at A1 before starting. ### Can international students work in Austria? Yes, within limits. Holders of a Student residence permit can work up to 20 hours a week with an employment permit that the employer applies for at the AMS, without a labour market test. ### How long is an Austrian Red-White-Red Card valid? The migration platform says the Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and is tied to the named employer for that period. ### Can an Indian au pair work in Austria? Yes, with an au-pair residence permit applied for at the Austrian Embassy New Delhi. You must be at least 18 and under 28, have German at A1, and the host family must obtain an AMS confirmation; pay must be at least EUR 551.10 a month for employment starting from 1 January 2026. ## Sources 1. [VFS/Austria - Work checklist](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/austria/india/english/pdf/Visa-for-Work-Purpose-Checklist-Apr-26.pdf) — VFS Global for the Austrian Embassy New Delhi 2. [Migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government - EU Blue Card](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/eubluecard/) — Austrian Federal Government (migration.gv.at) 3. [Migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government - FAQ](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/faq/) — Austrian Federal Government (migration.gv.at) 4. [Austrian Embassy New Delhi - Settlement and Residence](https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/austrian-embassy-new-delhi/travels-to-austria/entry-and-residence/settlement-and-residence) — Austrian Embassy New Delhi (BMEIA)