Background information

In early 2024, around 81,000 Ukrainian citizens were registered in Austria. In August 2024, over 21,000 were in paid employment and over 6,016 were registered as unemployed. The head of the Public Employment Service (AMS) has thus shown contentment that employment figures had risen, but an employment rate of 30 percent would still be too low, as would the number of persons who have registered as unemployed with the AMS be. In order to increase employment opportunities for people from Ukraine, the pre-existing labour immigration programme "Red-White-Red-Card" was extended to displaced persons from Ukraine.

Content of measure

Since 21 April 2023, displaced persons from Ukraine have had free access to the Austrian labour market, meaning that they do not require a separate work permit as long as they are in the possession of an “ID card for displaced persons”, which also gives them a temporary right of residence in Austria. Free access to the labour market in that context means that employment with any employer is possible without prior approval by the AMS.

Since 1 October 2024, the "Red-White-Red Card Plus" is available also to displaced persons from Ukraine, which shows several improvements compared to having only the "ID card for displaced persons": - The RWR-Card Plus is generally valid for one year from the date of issue. After two years of settlement in Austria, a residence permit is issued for three years, proivided that Module 1 of the mandatory "Integration Agreement" is fulfilled (including proof of German language skills at level A.2). The ID card for displaced persons on the other hand, has a uniform validity date for all displaced persons. - Residence with the "Red-White-Red Card Plus" is considered a permanent residence, meaning that after five years, a "Permanent Residence – EU" residence permit may be obtained (not possible with the displaced persons' identity card). - The RWR-Card Plus provides the opportunity for family reunification (including for family members who do not have the right of residence for displaced persons and cannot obtain it). - The RWR-Card Plus provides for an entitlement to stay in Austria even after the right of residence for displaced persons has ended. The prerequisite for the application of this card is to have been in fully insured employment in Austria for at least 12 months within the past 24 months. Furthermore, "sufficient means of subsistence" (assets or income) are needed - the drawing of the basic benefit (Grundversorgung) does not qualify. For 2025, the guideline rates are: For single people: € 1,273.99 For married couples/registered partners: € 2,009.85 For each child additionally: € 196.57

Use of measure

No information on the use of the measure is available as of now; however, it is expected that around 7,000 displaced persons from Ukraine will make use of the RWR-Card Plus.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Migrants or refugees in employment	Does not apply to businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information on social partners' involvement could be identified.

Views and reactions

The Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) is in favour of the availability of the RWR-Card Plus to displaced persons fromt the Ukraine. It offers information and advice to interested persons from the target groups, but also to companies.

Sources

• 01 September 2024: Information on switching to a Red-White-Red Card plu (www.bmi.gv.at)