The Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) is Austria’s work and residence permit for skilled workers from outside the EU, and for most software developers it is the main way to work in Vienna. Software engineers are on Austria’s 2026 shortage occupation list, so with a matching qualification you need 55 of 90 points and a job offer that pays at least the collective agreement minimum. The card costs €218 and is usually issued for 24 months. If your salary is high enough, the EU Blue Card (at least €55,678 a year in 2026) is an alternative.
This guide explains the Red-White-Red Card routes for developers, the points tables, the steps and what the Vienna tech job market looks like for English speakers. It is general information, not legal advice. Rules and minimums change every year; check migration.gv.at before you apply.
Which permit fits a software developer?
Austria has several routes. These are the ones that matter for developers (migration.gv.at):
| Route | Job offer needed? | Points needed | Salary rule (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-White-Red Card: skilled worker in a shortage occupation | Yes | 55 of 90 | At least the legal or collective agreement minimum |
| Red-White-Red Card: other key worker | Yes | 55 of 90 | At least €3,465 gross a month, plus a labour market test |
| Red-White-Red Card: very highly qualified worker | No, you can come with a 6-month job seeker visa | 70 | “Adequate pay”; no fixed minimum |
| EU Blue Card | Yes | No points | At least €55,678 gross a year |
The EU Blue Card in Austria is covered in our EU Blue Card guide, so this guide focuses on the Red-White-Red Card.
Red-White-Red Card for shortage occupations
Each year Austria publishes a list of nationwide shortage occupations. The 2026 list includes a long list of IT jobs, among them software engineers, software developers, application developers, web programmers, data scientists, IT architects, system engineers, database administrators and software testers (migration.gv.at, shortage occupations 2026).
Note how the list is written: the IT jobs appear in two groups, “technicians with higher education (Ing.) for data processing” and “graduate engineers (DI) for data processing”. In other words, the list expects a technical qualification, such as an engineering degree or a higher technical college diploma. The Public Employment Service (AMS) checks whether your training matches.
Requirements
You need (migration.gv.at):
- completed training in the shortage occupation,
- a binding job offer from an Austrian employer, paying at least the legal or collective agreement minimum (and any extra the company usually pays),
- at least 55 points.
You don’t need formal recognition of your degree unless the profession is regulated, which software development is not.
Points table for shortage occupations
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed training in the shortage occupation | 30 |
| Work experience matching your qualification | 1 per half-year, 2 per half-year in Austria (max 20) |
| German | A1: 5, A2: 10, B1: 15 |
| English | A2: 5, B1: 10 |
| French, Spanish, or Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian at B1 | 5 each |
| Age | under 30: 15; under 40: 10; under 50: 5 |
| Bonus: English is the company’s main language | +5 |
Language points are capped at 25 in total. The minimum is 55 out of 90, plus the English bonus (migration.gv.at). Language certificates should be no older than five years.
Example: a 32-year-old software engineer with a computer science degree, 6 years of experience, English at B2 and no German, joining a company that works in English: training 30 + experience 12 + English 10 + age 10 + English-company bonus 5 = 67 points. That clears 55 comfortably. Note that English counts for at most 10 points, whether you are at B1 or C2.
Red-White-Red Card for other key workers
If your qualification does not match the shortage list, this route may fit. The employer must pay at least €3,465 gross a month in 2026, and the AMS runs a labour market test to check that no equally qualified registered jobseeker is available (migration.gv.at).
The points table is similar. Qualifications count up to 30 points: 20 for vocational training or special skills, 25 for university entrance qualification, 30 for a completed degree programme of at least three years. Experience, languages and age count as in the table above, and you again need 55 points.
Red-White-Red Card for very highly qualified workers
This is the only route that does not start with a job offer. You need 70 points (migration.gv.at):
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification: 4-year degree / degree in a STEM (MINT) subject / PhD | 20 / 30 / 40 (max 40) |
| Previous senior management salary, research, patents or awards | up to 30 or 20 each (within the 40 max) |
| Work experience | 1 per half-year (max 20) |
| German or English | A1: 5, A2: 10 (max 10) |
| Age | under 35: 20; under 40: 15; under 45: 10 |
| Studies in Austria | 5 or 10 |
If you have the points, you can get a job seeker visa for six months (fee €195), then apply for the Red-White-Red Card once you have a job that matches your qualifications and pays adequately.
Example: a 30-year-old with a computer science master’s (STEM, 30 points), 5 years of experience (10), English at A2 or better (10) and age under 35 (20) reaches exactly 70.
How to apply, how long it lasts, what it costs
- Get a job offer (except for the very highly qualified route).
- Apply either at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your country, or let your employer apply for you at the residence authority in Austria. In Vienna that is the City of Vienna’s MA 35; in Graz, the Styrian Provincial Government. The employer submits an employer’s declaration with the application (migration.gv.at).
- The AMS checks your points, qualification and pay and reports to the residence authority, which issues the card if the other conditions, such as health insurance, are met.
| Item | Detail (2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | €218 |
| Job seeker visa (very highly qualified) | €195 |
| Validity | usually 24 months |
| Changing employer | you may start provisionally after a 45-day waiting period, counted from a complete application |
The Red-White-Red Card plus
After working for at least 21 of the last 24 months on a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card under its conditions, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Card plus. It gives you access to the whole labour market, not tied to one employer, including self-employment. It is valid for one year, or three years if you have lived legally in Austria for at least two years and completed Module 1 of the Integration Agreement. The fee is €218 (migration.gv.at).
Software developer jobs in Vienna for English speakers
On Germany Dev Jobs on 16 October 2026 we listed 132 English-speaking tech jobs in Vienna, 4% of all jobs on the board, plus 16 in Graz and 17 in Linz. Employers with Vienna jobs listed that day included Bitpanda, Tether, Sportradar, UBIMET, mySugr and Roche. Around 16% of the Vienna jobs were fully remote, and two mentioned visa sponsorship, at fiskaly and Sentry. Job counts change daily.
Austria’s market for English-speaking tech jobs is much smaller than Berlin’s (1,125) or Munich’s (775). If you are open to both countries, read our guides to the best German cities for tech jobs and the German tech job market in 2026.
What developers earn in Austria
The IT collective agreement (IT-KV) sets minimum monthly salaries, paid 14 times a year. For the job family ST1, which includes software development, the minimums from 1 January 2026 are €3,104 for career starters, €3,267 at entry stage, €3,954 at standard stage and €4,476 at experienced stage. For ST2, more specialised development roles, they are €4,061, €4,611 and €5,444 (WKO, IT-KV 2026). Employers can pay more.
In job ads on our board that stated a salary, the median in Vienna was €60,000 a year (52 ads) in our October 2026 report, against €97,500 in Berlin. Most posted Vienna salaries were between €48,000 and €108,000.
On the same gross salary, you keep more in Austria than in Germany, because the 13th and 14th salaries are taxed at lower rates. For a single employee in Vienna, our calculator shows €41,025 a year net from €60,000 gross, against €37,561 in Germany. Our take-home pay guide compares €60k, €80k and €100k in both countries, and the tax basics guide explains Austrian tax.
What it costs to live in Vienna
Statistics Austria’s 2025 housing survey shows an average rent in Vienna of €10.6 per m² including running costs, or €694.3 per flat a month; without running costs it was €7.9 per m² (Statistics Austria). These averages include long-running contracts. Across Austria, contracts less than two years old averaged €12.4 per m² including running costs, so newcomers should expect to pay more than the city average (Statistics Austria). Statistics Austria updates these figures every quarter (Statistics Austria).
For comparison, Munich’s average asking rent for re-let flats was €22.93 per m² net cold in the first half of 2026; see the cost of living in Munich.
IT jobs in Austria for foreigners: practical tips
- Check the route before you apply. Ask the employer whether it will support a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card application, and whether it will file the application in Austria for you.
- Use the English bonus. If the company’s working language is English, make sure this is stated in your application: it is worth 5 points.
- Get your language certificates in order. English counts only up to B1 (10 points); German adds up to 15 more and helps day to day.
- Register your address. In Austria you must register within three days of moving in; our relocation checklist has the steps.
- Compare with Germany. Germany’s Opportunity Card lets you search for a job for up to a year without an offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Red-White-Red Card?
It is Austria’s combined residence and work permit for skilled workers from outside the EU. It is usually issued for 24 months and tied to a specific employer. Developers can qualify as shortage occupation workers, other key workers or very highly qualified workers, each with its own points table.
Are software developers on Austria’s shortage occupation list in 2026?
Yes. The 2026 nationwide list includes software engineers, software developers, application developers, web programmers, data scientists, IT architects and other IT roles, listed under technicians with higher education and graduate engineers for data processing. You need a matching qualification and 55 points.
How many points do I need for the Red-White-Red Card?
55 out of 90 for shortage occupations and other key workers, and 70 for very highly qualified workers. Points come from your qualification, work experience, languages and age; companies whose main language is English add a 5-point bonus.
What is the minimum salary for the Red-White-Red Card in 2026?
It depends on the route. For shortage occupations, at least the legal or collective agreement minimum. For other key workers, at least €3,465 gross a month. Very highly qualified workers need adequate pay, with no fixed minimum. The EU Blue Card needs at least €55,678 a year.
What is the Red-White-Red Card plus?
A follow-up permit you can get after working at least 21 of the last 24 months on a Red-White-Red Card or EU Blue Card. It lets you work for any employer or be self-employed. The fee is €218.
Can I get a developer job in Vienna without German?
Yes, at companies that work in English. On 16 October 2026 we listed 132 English-speaking tech jobs in Vienna. German is not required for the Red-White-Red Card if you have enough points from other criteria, but it adds points and helps in daily life.
Next steps
- Browse English-speaking tech jobs in Vienna.
- See jobs with visa sponsorship and use the visa salary check.
- Read the EU Blue Card guide for the Austrian Blue Card.