As of 1 December 2025, third-country nationals who live just across Austria’s borders can apply for the brand-new “Residence Permit – Cross-Border Commuter” (Aufenthaltstitel Grenzgänger). Anchored in §12e of the amended Aliens’ Employment Act, the permit lets non-EU residents of Slovakia, Czechia, Hungary and Slovenia commute daily to designated Austrian districts without relocating their main home. Officials expect only about 250 approvals in year one, underscoring the scheme’s targeted nature.
Eligibility rests on three pillars: (1) an unrestricted long-term residence title in the neighbour state, (2) a primary home outside Austria and (3) a binding employment contract with an Austrian employer located in a border district such as Innsbruck, Salzburg or Villach. The Public Employment Service (AMS) must certify a local labour shortage before any permit is granted, keeping the labour-market test firmly in place.
![Austria Launches ‘Residence Permit – Cross-Border Commuter’ for Non-EU Frontier Workers]()
For employers the new route plugs a painful gap. Until now, non-EU frontier workers had to juggle short-term work approvals and the Schengen 90/180-day rule. The dedicated commuter title aligns Austria with Germany, France and Switzerland, all of which offer similar passes to relieve cross-border labour bottlenecks in manufacturing and logistics corridors.
Corporate mobility teams should revise relocation matrices: junior engineers living in Bratislava or Brno may qualify for the commuter permit rather than a full Red-White-Red Card, trimming relocation costs. However, overnight stays in Austria trigger a mandatory police registration within three days; failure to comply can result in fines up to €1 000.
Eligibility rests on three pillars: (1) an unrestricted long-term residence title in the neighbour state, (2) a primary home outside Austria and (3) a binding employment contract with an Austrian employer located in a border district such as Innsbruck, Salzburg or Villach. The Public Employment Service (AMS) must certify a local labour shortage before any permit is granted, keeping the labour-market test firmly in place.
For employers the new route plugs a painful gap. Until now, non-EU frontier workers had to juggle short-term work approvals and the Schengen 90/180-day rule. The dedicated commuter title aligns Austria with Germany, France and Switzerland, all of which offer similar passes to relieve cross-border labour bottlenecks in manufacturing and logistics corridors.
Corporate mobility teams should revise relocation matrices: junior engineers living in Bratislava or Brno may qualify for the commuter permit rather than a full Red-White-Red Card, trimming relocation costs. However, overnight stays in Austria trigger a mandatory police registration within three days; failure to comply can result in fines up to €1 000.
