“Plus” Means Power: Why the Upgrade Matters

Ask any of my clients sipping a Mélange in the first district: the basic Red-White-Red Card is the entry ticket—useful, but limiting. Twelve months later, the Red-White-Red Card Plus (RWR+ for short) unlocks nearly unrestricted labour market access, smoother family reunification and—whisper it—sets you on the golden path to a long-term residence permit (Daueraufenthalt-EU).

Yet the upgrade is not automatic. Austrian immigration law rewards those who plan ahead, collect paperwork with Teutonic rigour and, just as crucially, watch their salary slips. In this guide I’ll map out a proven, data-driven strategy for going “Plus” with minimal drama and zero Schnitzel-induced stress.

1. Eligibility After Your First Card

The 21-Month Rule (and the Little-Known 12-Month Shortcut)

Under §41a Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz (NAG), you may apply for the RWR+ if you have:

1. Completed at least 21 of the previous 24 months in Austria on a valid Red-White-Red Card and
2. Been covered by statutory health insurance and
3. Produced “adequate” accommodation.

That’s the textbook reading. But two lesser-known exceptions speed things up:

• Blue Card Switchers – If you entered on an EU Blue Card and then shifted to a Red-White-Red Card, those earlier Blue Card months count. Quite a few software engineers in the Seestadt district thank me for this nugget.

• Graduates of Austrian Universities – Under §41a(9), holders of the “Job Seeker Visa for Graduates” can fold the student-time buffer into their 12-month employment period, effectively shaving nine months off the clock. (For a bigger comparison of post-study routes, see our “Germany vs. Austria Residency After Graduation” deep dive.)

Call-out: Keep every Meldezettel and insurance confirmation. The MA 35 loves nothing more than a stamped A4 sheet.

Document Checklist I Hand Clients Before Month 18

• Original and copy of passport
• Original Red-White-Red Card
• Latest Jahreslohnzettel (annual salary statement)
• Sozialversicherungszeiten (printout from the Austrian social security portal, “MeineSV”)
• Mietvertrag + latest utility bill
• Letter of good standing from employer (stating unlimited contract, job title, salary)

If you’re missing even one of these, the file lands in the infamous MA 35 “black hole” and resurfaces weeks later with a polite—but firm—request for clarification.

2. Salary Thresholds: Crunching the Numbers

The Myth of “Any Salary Will Do”

Contrary to blog gossip, you must still satisfy the salary threshold tied to your original category when upgrading. The 2024 numbers published by the Federal Ministry of Labour are:

• Very Highly Qualified Workers – €5,030 gross / month
• Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations – €3,110 gross / month
• Graduates of Austrian Institutions – €2,773 gross / month
• Other Key Workers – 50 % of the ASVG maximum contribution basis (currently €2,835)

The plus card doesn’t retroactively forgive a dip in income. A one-off bonus that pushed you above the limit last year won’t save you if your base salary slipped this year. My accounting colleagues refer to this as “the February Surprise”.

Strategy: The “13th Salary Buffer”

Austria’s 13th and 14th salary payments (Urlaubs- and Weihnachtsgeld) are only prorated towards your annual gross. To blunt seasonal fluctuations:

1. Set up an automatic monthly transfer into a high-yield EUR savings bucket.
2. If January’s payroll shows a dip, inject the “buffer” as a voluntary employee contribution to keep each month above threshold.
3. Keep HR in the loop—payroll can reclassify the top-up as Überstundenpauschale (overtime allowance) to avoid contract amendments.

Yes, it sounds like overkill. So did wearing FFP2 masks outdoors, yet Vienna did it anyway.

3. Family Reunification: Timing Is Everything

The Domino Effect of Your Upgrade

Once you hold the RWR+, your spouse and minor children gain the right to family reunification under more flexible quotas. In practice this eliminates the “quota freeze” blues that haunt first-time applicants each January.

Timeline cheatsheet:

1. You file RWR+ (Month 21)
2. Spouse files “Family Reunification to RWR+ Holder” (Month 22)
3. Kids’ applications piggyback (same appointment)

Because the MA 35 processes requests chronologically, bundling the family dossier saves months. In one case, we combined four files in a single plastic sleeve; the clerk called it “eine schöne Mappe”—highest Viennese praise.

Pitfalls My Office Sees Weekly

• Third-Country Marriages Not Yet Registered in Austria – You need judicial recognition (Ehefähigkeitsprüfung) before the spouse can apply. This can add 8–12 weeks.
• German Language A1 Certificate – Required for the spouse unless exempt (university degrees in German suffice). Book the ÖIF exam early; slots vanish before Christmas.
• Income Requirement Multiplier – Household income must cover living costs for everyone. Use the formula:
€1,217.96 for the couple + €187.86 per child (2024).

I’ve witnessed otherwise airtight applications flounder over a missing €120. Keep a spreadsheet.

4. Permanent Residence Perks: The Long Game

From RWR+ to Daueraufenthalt-EU in 5 Steps

1. 60 Months of Continuous Legal Stay – Includes time on Red-White-Red and RWR+.
2. German at B1 Level – Österreichisches Integrationsfonds test or equivalent.
3. Module 2 Integration Exam – Civics, legal system, rights & obligations.
4. Stable & Regular Income – Above social benefit thresholds for 36 out of 60 months.
5. No Serious Criminal Record – Traffic fines don’t count, relax.

What changes once you cross this finish line?

• Unrestricted labour market access EU-wide (with notification obligations).
• Bank mortgages become easier—some lenders shave 0.2 % off fixed rates.
• No annual extension headaches; the card lasts five years.

Real-Life Example: The Cloud Architect Turned Snowboard Instructor

A client started in Vienna with a Very Highly Qualified RWR, shifted to RWR+ after 21 months, then spent winters coding remotely from Tyrol while teaching snowboard classes three mornings a week—perfectly legal under the “any occupation” freedom of the plus card. Five years later he scored Daueraufenthalt-EU and is currently weighing a move to Bavaria—proof that the Austrian path can keep doors open across the DACH region.

(He also upgraded his ski pass, but that’s outside my remit.)

5. Frequently Overlooked Tactics

5.1. Bank Statements as Proof of Income

MA 35 occasionally questions salary consistency. Presenting stamped bank statements pre-empts queries. I recommend a colour-coded Excel sheet cross-referenced to each payslip—judges and clerks love visual proof.

5.2. Using the “Hauptwohnsitz-Bestätigung”

Landlords often balk at providing a Meldezettel extension letter. A Hauptwohnsitz-Bestätigung from the district authority is just as valid and usually processed in 15 minutes—minus queue time behind the dog registration desk.

5.3. Filing Via the Bezirkshauptmannschaft (Outside Vienna)

If you live in Lower Austria but work in Vienna, you may file in St. Pölten. Processing times average 4–5 weeks versus Vienna’s 8–12. Check jurisdiction before picking a dentist address for your Meldezettel.

6. Key Differences Between Red-White-Red and Red-White-Red Plus

For a refresher on initial categories and points system, browse our comprehensive Red-White-Red overview.

7. Timeline Planner: A Visual Roadmap

Month 0      Month 12           Month 21              Year 5
│            │                  │                     │
├── Employment under RWR ───────┼── Apply for RWR+ ───┼── Daueraufenthalt-EU
│            │                  │                     │
└─ Optional category switch ────┴─ Family joins ──────┴─ Citizenship track?

Feel free to screenshot; your future self will thank you.

8. Q&A Lightning Round

Q: Can I freelance on the side once I have the RWR+?
A: Yes, but register the nebenberufliche Selbstständigkeit with the Wirtschaftskammer and SVA. Taxes wait for no one.

Q: My salary dipped below threshold for two months during parental leave. Am I doomed?
A: Not necessarily—parental leave counts as “equivalent” social-insurance coverage. Provide AMS confirmation.

Q: Does the RWR+ keep its validity if I accept a job in Germany?
A: Up to six uninterrupted months outside Austria are permissible. Longer absences risk cancellation unless you can show compelling reasons (study, corporate transfer, family care).

Final Thoughts From Your Viennese Counsel

Upgrading to the Red-White-Red Card Plus is less about bureaucracy and more about choreography: time the salary, line up documents, synchronise family applications. Execute the dance correctly and Austria rewards you with freedom, stability and—eventually—a five-year residence card that feels as light as Apfelstrudel fresh out of the oven.

Not sure where your personal puzzle pieces fit? Let BorderPilot crunch the data for you. Start your free relocation plan today and waltz toward that coveted “Plus” with confidence.