Austria Increases EU Blue Card Salary Requirements

The Government of Austria announced that from January 1, 2022, the minimum annual gross salary requirement for an Austrian EU Blue Card has increased by 1.5 percent, from €65,579 to €66,593.

Key Changes
  • To qualify for an Austrian-issued EU Blue Card, a gross annual income of at least one and a half times full-time employees’ average yearly gross income is required. In 2022, that is at least € 66,593; annual salary plus special payments.
  • Other criteria include having a university degree, a job offer, as well as the labour market test, which shows that there is no equally qualified Austrian jobseeker registered with the Public Employment Service (AMS).

An EU Blue Card permits its holder to work in the country for two years or shorter to reflect the length of the employment contract. EU Blue Card holders who have worked for at last 21 months in Austria can apply for a Red-White-Red Card.

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