Relocation and Japa

Legal ways for Africans to move to Austria

The routes Austria's government runs itself, each linked to its official page. Fees and the money you must show are copied from that page, with the date we read it. You apply yourself. You never need an agent.

Never pay an agent

Every route below is applied for on the government's own website. Fees go to the government only. Anyone who asks you to pay them for a visa, a job offer or a lottery win is not to be trusted. Check a message or offer.

Routes into Austria

2 routes into Austria.

Job seeker visa Austria

Red-White-Red Card and job-seeker visa for very highly qualified workers

Run by Austrian representations abroad, residence authorities and the Public Employment Service (AMS); information from migration.gv.at (Federal Government)

Graduates of four-year degree programmes who score 70 of 100 points. Without a job offer you can get a six-month job-seeker visa. With a job offer you apply for the card.

Job offer: Not required for the job-seeker visa. Required for the Red-White-Red Card, matching your qualification with adequate pay.
Language: Points for German or English at A1 (5) or A2 (10), and for French, Spanish or Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian at B1 (5). Not compulsory.
Education: Points system. A higher education programme of at least four years earns 20 points, 30 in MINT subjects, 40 for a PhD or habilitation.
Work experience: Points system. 1 point per six months of work experience, up to 20 points.
Government fee: Job-seeker visa EUR 195. Red-White-Red Card application fee EUR 218.
Processing time: Not stated on the official page
Money you must show: Proof of adequate means of subsistence for the job-seeker visa. No amount stated on the official page.
When and to whom you pay: At the Austrian embassy or consulate, or at the residence authority in Austria, when you apply.

Read the official page

Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says

Read on migration.gv.at on 2026-10-18: "you must score at least 70 points"; "a job-seeker visa , valid for six months, to look for work"; "Jobseeker Visa: € 195"; "Application fee: € 218".

Work visa Austria

Red-White-Red Card for skilled workers in shortage occupations

Run by Austrian representations abroad, residence authorities and the Public Employment Service (AMS); information from migration.gv.at (Federal Government)

Trained workers in an occupation on Austria's yearly shortage list who have a binding job offer and score 55 of 90 points.

Job offer: Required. A binding job offer paying at least the legal or collective agreement minimum.
Language: Points for German at A1 (5), A2 (10) or B1 (15), English at A2 (5) or B1 (10), and other languages at B1 (5). Not compulsory.
Education: Completed vocational training in a shortage occupation, comparable to a multi-year Austrian apprenticeship. Some occupations need a degree.
Work experience: Points system. 1 point per six months of matching work, 2 points per six months in Austria, up to 20 points.
Government fee: EUR 218 application fee
Processing time: Not stated on the official page
Money you must show: Not stated on the official page
When and to whom you pay: At the Austrian embassy or consulate, or at the residence authority in Austria, when you apply.

Read the official page

Checked on 18 October 2026. What the page says

Read on migration.gv.at on 2026-10-18: "you reach a minimum of 55 points"; "you have received a binding job offer in Austria"; "Application fee: € 218".

How to keep your money safe

Never pay an agent, a consultant or a "visa officer" on WhatsApp or Telegram. Every route here is applied for on the government's own website.
A real employer never asks you to pay for a job offer, a sponsorship certificate or a visa deposit.
Government fees are paid to the government itself, on its own website or at its embassy. Never into a person's bank account or mobile money.
Check the web address. Canada uses canada.ca, the UK uses gov.uk, the US uses .gov. A look-alike address is a fake.
Nobody can promise you a visa or win you a lottery. The US visa lottery is free to enter on its own website.