Austria’s Chamber of Commerce (WKÖ) and the Korean Embassy jointly staged the 3rd Korea–Austria Economic Cooperation Forum on 3 November 2025 at Parkring 12 in central Vienna. The event focused on digital health, life-sciences and med-tech partnerships and drew more than 200 Korean executives and researchers—double last year’s attendance.
To facilitate travel, the Austrian Embassy in Seoul operated an expedited visa window, pledging 48-hour turn-around for C-type business visas filed before 20 October. According to WKÖ’s AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA unit, every delegate received a personalised visa-support letter referencing the forum’s BMeiA event code, a practice the chamber says it will replicate for other high-tech delegations.
![Vienna hosts 3rd Korea–Austria Economic Cooperation Forum, easing visa logistics for Asian delegates]()
Speakers emphasised Austria’s 12-month Working Holiday quota for Korean nationals and the recent decision to waive the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) requirement for Austrian visitors until 31 December 2025, moves expected to boost two-way mobility. Companies such as Samsung Biologics and Vienna-based Evercyte signed memoranda of understanding that include short-term staff exchanges and on-site training in Graz.
For Austrian employers, the forum highlighted the potential to hire Korean engineers via the Red-White-Red Card “Shortage Occupation” track; ABA — Work in Austria reported a 25 percent year-on-year rise in Korean RWR applicants. Immigration advisers recommend filing applications in Q1 2026 before provincial quotas reset.
The next bilateral business mission is scheduled for Seoul in May 2026, with WKÖ planning to negotiate charter flight blocks or group rail fares to cut travel costs for SMEs. Mobility teams should monitor forthcoming guidance on VAT reclaim rules for conference expenses incurred in Austria.
To facilitate travel, the Austrian Embassy in Seoul operated an expedited visa window, pledging 48-hour turn-around for C-type business visas filed before 20 October. According to WKÖ’s AUSSENWIRTSCHAFT AUSTRIA unit, every delegate received a personalised visa-support letter referencing the forum’s BMeiA event code, a practice the chamber says it will replicate for other high-tech delegations.
Speakers emphasised Austria’s 12-month Working Holiday quota for Korean nationals and the recent decision to waive the Korea Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) requirement for Austrian visitors until 31 December 2025, moves expected to boost two-way mobility. Companies such as Samsung Biologics and Vienna-based Evercyte signed memoranda of understanding that include short-term staff exchanges and on-site training in Graz.
For Austrian employers, the forum highlighted the potential to hire Korean engineers via the Red-White-Red Card “Shortage Occupation” track; ABA — Work in Austria reported a 25 percent year-on-year rise in Korean RWR applicants. Immigration advisers recommend filing applications in Q1 2026 before provincial quotas reset.
The next bilateral business mission is scheduled for Seoul in May 2026, with WKÖ planning to negotiate charter flight blocks or group rail fares to cut travel costs for SMEs. Mobility teams should monitor forthcoming guidance on VAT reclaim rules for conference expenses incurred in Austria.
