The new year 2025 will again bring changes to the shortage occupation list, adjustments to the minimum financial reference rates and increases in the minimum salaries for Red-White-Red Cards and EU Blue Cards:
Third-country nationals who have completed vocational training in a so-called shortage occupation and achieve the required minimum number of points can receive a Red-White-Red Card in the shortage occupation. In the Skilled Labor Ordinance 2025 some shortage occupations were now excluded, such as business administrators, insurance brokers, social workers and beauticians. However, some of these professions can now be found in the regional shortage occupation lists.
Technicians with various specializations, doctors, restaurant cooks, graduate engineers, (non-)qualified nurses and public transport drivers (for buses and tramways) are still on the shortage occupations list.
In 2025, a gross annual salary of EUR 3,679.00 is required to apply for the EU Blue Card residence permit and a gross monthly salary of EUR 3,225.00 gross (plus special payments) will be necessary to apply for the Red-White-Red Card for key workers.
To obtain a residence permit, third-country nationals generally must have a fixed and regular income that enables them to live without drawing on public welfare benefits. The amount of this income must correspond to the following reference rates for the year 2025 (in accordance with the General Act on Social Security “ASVG”):
| “ASVG” reference rates | |
| Single persons | EUR 1,273.99 |
| Married couples | EUR 2,009.85 |
| Every child | EUR 196.57 |
The quotas for seasonal workers were also reissued for 2025 and provide for a quota for third-country nationals of 4,985 in the economic sector of tourism and one of 3,377 in the agriculture and forestry sector.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Valentina Arnez
Partner, Attorney at Law (Arnez Rechtsanwalts GmbH*) & Immigration Expert
Stefan Lang
Manager & Immigration Expert
* Please note that Arnez Rechtsanwalts GmbH is cooperating with the Vialto Partners network and is a member to the Vienna Bar Association, registered as an independent legal entity under Commercial register No. FN 596972a.
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