Key takeaways
  • Austria uses a points-based Red-White-Red Card for skilled workers and the EU Blue Card for graduates.
  • The EU Blue Card in Austria needs at least €55,678 gross a year in 2026.
  • Austria publishes a yearly list of shortage occupations, which opens an easier route for those jobs.
  • German matters for most roles; Vienna has more English speaking international employers.

Austria is a natural second country if you are already learning German for Germany. The language, CV style and interview culture are very similar, and Vienna regularly ranks among the most liveable cities in the world.

Main routesRed-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card
EU Blue Card (2026)€55,678 a year
Unemployment (Jul 2026)6.2%
LanguageGerman

The routes

  • Red-White-Red Card. A points system for very highly qualified workers, skilled workers in shortage occupations and other key workers. Points come from qualifications, experience, age and language skills, and each category has a minimum salary.
  • EU Blue Card. For graduates with a qualified job offer. In 2026 the minimum is €55,678 gross a year (VisaHQ).
  • Shortage occupations. Austria publishes a list of shortage jobs every year. If your job is on it, the skilled worker route is easier.

The official site migration.gv.at has a points calculator and the current shortage list. Use it before you apply, because thresholds change every January.

German in Austria

Most job ads outside IT and international companies ask for German. Austrian German has its own words, but the levels and exams (Goethe, telc, ÖSD) are the same. Read how much German you need.

Where to find jobs

  • AMS, the Austrian Public Employment Service, with the largest official job board.
  • karriere.at, one of the biggest private job sites in Austria.
  • LinkedIn and company career pages in Vienna, Graz, Linz and Salzburg.

Step by step from India

  1. Check your degree. Have your degree and transcripts ready, and check recognition early. Read my degree recognition guide; the same documents are useful everywhere in Europe.
  2. Rebuild your CV in the European format. Two pages, results, keywords from each ad. See the European CV guide.
  3. Search where Austrian employers post. AMS and karriere.at plus LinkedIn and company career pages. My local job portals guide explains why this matters.
  4. Contact 3 to 4 people per company. Hiring manager, a team member, the recruiter and someone with a shared background. See the networking guide.
  5. Get the contract first, then the permit. In most cases your employer starts or supports the permit process. Never pay anyone for a job offer.
  6. Resign in India only after approval. Wait until your permit or visa is granted before you hand in your notice.
Free PDF: Austria: points, shortage list and job portalDownload it free in under a minute, or send AUSTRIA to @swapnil_in_germany on Instagram.

Sources

Written by Swapnil (Samadhan Mule)

I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.