From 1 December 2025, third-country nationals who live just outside Austria but work in border districts such as Tirol, Salzburg or Carinthia will have access to a bespoke immigration category: the “Residence Permit – Cross-Border Commuter” (Aufenthaltstitel Grenzgänger). Regulations published on 26 November carve out a simpler path than the full Red-White-Red Card.
Eligibility hinges on three pillars: an unrestricted long-term residence title in a neighbouring country; a primary home outside Austria; and a binding employment contract with an Austrian employer located in a designated frontier district or statutory city. The Public Employment Service (AMS) will still issue a labour-market opinion, but only for the local district, cutting processing times.
![Austria Creates Dedicated Frontier-Worker Permit for Third-Country Commuters]()
Initial validity is up to two years, with renewals for five. Holders may not relocate their main residence to Austria without switching into a different permit type. Students, posted workers and seasonal staff are excluded.
The move responds to lobbying from businesses along the Italian and Slovak borders, where labour shortages are acute yet daily commuting is common. By streamlining paperwork, Austria hopes to attract specialised technicians and healthcare staff who are currently put off by the Red-White-Red bureaucracy.
Employers should review cross-border payroll and social-security obligations: although salaries will be taxed in Austria, social-security contributions often remain payable in the country of residence under EU Regulation 883/2004, requiring an A1 certificate.
Eligibility hinges on three pillars: an unrestricted long-term residence title in a neighbouring country; a primary home outside Austria; and a binding employment contract with an Austrian employer located in a designated frontier district or statutory city. The Public Employment Service (AMS) will still issue a labour-market opinion, but only for the local district, cutting processing times.
Initial validity is up to two years, with renewals for five. Holders may not relocate their main residence to Austria without switching into a different permit type. Students, posted workers and seasonal staff are excluded.
The move responds to lobbying from businesses along the Italian and Slovak borders, where labour shortages are acute yet daily commuting is common. By streamlining paperwork, Austria hopes to attract specialised technicians and healthcare staff who are currently put off by the Red-White-Red bureaucracy.
Employers should review cross-border payroll and social-security obligations: although salaries will be taxed in Austria, social-security contributions often remain payable in the country of residence under EU Regulation 883/2004, requiring an A1 certificate.
