Global immigration firm Fragomen released an alert on 21 January 2026 detailing new minimum-salary thresholds that took effect on 1 January 2026 for Austria’s key work authorisation routes. The Red-White-Red Card (points-based key-employee permit) now requires at least €3,465 gross per month—up from €3,225—while the EU Blue Card threshold has been set at €55,678 gross per year. Super key employees and executives benefiting from posting exemptions must earn €8,316 per month, an increase of almost eight percent. (fragomen.com)
The changes ripple through related programmes: the salary floor for work-authorisation-exempt executives and renowned researchers is aligned at €8,316, and employees posted to Austria from other EU/EEA countries can avoid certain notification duties if they meet the same figure. Employers must guarantee the amounts in euro and over 14 pay-instalments—even if the assignee is paid from an overseas payroll. (fragomen.com)
![Austria Lifts 2026 Salary Thresholds for Red-White-Red and EU Blue Card Permits]()
Against this backdrop, VisaHQ’s Austrian desk can help employers and assignees navigate the paperwork for Red-White-Red Cards, EU Blue Cards and posted-worker notifications, keeping track of the latest salary thresholds and ensuring applications are filed correctly. You can start an application or request a tailored document checklist at https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
For HR teams the higher figures mean budget revisions for transfers commencing after 1 January. Although companies are not obliged to uprate salaries of current Red-White-Red Card holders mid-stream, collective-bargaining increases may still apply. Failure to meet the new floor can lead to rejection or cancellation of permits and, in posted-worker cases, hefty fines under Austria’s Wage and Social Dumping Combating Act (LSD-BG).
Practical steps include auditing all 2026 relocations, updating assignment cost projections and flagging the thresholds in offer letters. Where packages fall marginally short, employers might shift variable allowances into fixed salary or absorb housing costs so that net income meets stringent subsistence requirements (€1,308.39 for singles plus €201.88 per child).
The changes ripple through related programmes: the salary floor for work-authorisation-exempt executives and renowned researchers is aligned at €8,316, and employees posted to Austria from other EU/EEA countries can avoid certain notification duties if they meet the same figure. Employers must guarantee the amounts in euro and over 14 pay-instalments—even if the assignee is paid from an overseas payroll. (fragomen.com)
Against this backdrop, VisaHQ’s Austrian desk can help employers and assignees navigate the paperwork for Red-White-Red Cards, EU Blue Cards and posted-worker notifications, keeping track of the latest salary thresholds and ensuring applications are filed correctly. You can start an application or request a tailored document checklist at https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
For HR teams the higher figures mean budget revisions for transfers commencing after 1 January. Although companies are not obliged to uprate salaries of current Red-White-Red Card holders mid-stream, collective-bargaining increases may still apply. Failure to meet the new floor can lead to rejection or cancellation of permits and, in posted-worker cases, hefty fines under Austria’s Wage and Social Dumping Combating Act (LSD-BG).
Practical steps include auditing all 2026 relocations, updating assignment cost projections and flagging the thresholds in offer letters. Where packages fall marginally short, employers might shift variable allowances into fixed salary or absorb housing costs so that net income meets stringent subsistence requirements (€1,308.39 for singles plus €201.88 per child).
