Austria's Red-White-Red Card: what German A1–B1 and English are worth in points
Austria's Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte) admits workers on points. For skilled workers in shortage occupations and for other key workers, you need 55 of 90, and language is worth up to 25 of them: German A1, A2 and B1 give 5, 10 and 15, English A2 and B1 give 5 and 10.
Everything below is read from the law itself, the Employment of Foreign Nationals Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz, AuslBG), annexes A to D, in the consolidated version on the federal legal information system (RIS) dated 12 November 2026. Where a reading or a sum is ours, it says so.
Shortage occupations and other key workers (annexes B and C)
The language points are the same in both annexes, capped at 25:
German A1: 5. German A2: 10. German B1: 15.
English A2: 5. English B1: 10.
French B1, Spanish B1, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian B1: 5 each.
Our reading: the German lines are steps on one scale, so B1 gives 15, not 5 + 10 + 15. German and English are separate lines, so German B1 plus English B1 reaches the 25 cap.
5 extra points for English if English is the main language of the company you will work for (both annexes).
The rest of the table. Shortage occupation (annex B): a completed vocational training in the shortage occupation 30; experience 1 point per half-year, 2 per half-year in Austria, up to 20; age up to 30: 15, up to 40: 10, up to 50: 5. Other key workers (annex C): training or special skills 20, university entrance qualification 25, a degree of at least three years 30; experience as in B; age up to 30: 15, up to 40: 10 (no points over 40); 20 extra points for professional athletes and coaches.
Minimum: 55 points, out of 90 in both annexes.
Where German moves you over the line
These examples are our own arithmetic from annex B:
34 years old, trained in a shortage occupation, five years' experience abroad, English B1 only: 30 + 10 (experience) + 10 (age) + 10 (English) = 60. Over the line.
Same person at 42, no German: 30 + 10 + 5 (age) + 10 = 55. Exactly on the line. German A2 adds 10: 65.
Same person at 42 with three years' experience and no English: 30 + 6 + 5 = 41. German B1 (15) gives 56.
In annex C, someone over 40 gets no age points at all, so for an older key worker German B1 and English B1 together (25) can be most of the margin.
Very highly qualified workers (annex A)
Here language is capped at 10: German or English A1: 5, A2: 10; French, Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian B1: 5 each.
Our reading: A2 in either German or English already gives the full 10.
The other lines: a degree of at least four years 20 (30 in a STEM subject, 40 with a habilitation or PhD), up to 30 for last year's salary in a senior position, 20 for research or innovation, 20 for awards, experience up to 20, age up to 35: 20, up to 40: 15, up to 45: 10, and up to 10 for studies in Austria. Minimum: 70 of 100.
Start-up founders (annex D)
Language is capped at 15, and this is the one table with higher levels: German A2: 5; German B1 or B2: 10; German C1: 15; English B2: 10; French, Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian B1: 5 each.
Minimum: 50 of 85.
Which certificate proves it
The annexes set the levels, not the certificates. Check which language certificates the Austrian authority or your embassy accepts before you book a test. Our guides to the ÖSD exams and Goethe, telc and ÖSD levels cover the usual German ones.
After the card: the ÖIF describes its B1 integration exam as recognised proof for the Daueraufenthalt – EU permit and for Austrian citizenship, which asks German at B1 (see Austria's citizenship test). German you learn for the points keeps paying later.
The tables change by amendment, so read them again on RIS before you apply.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Adding A1, A2 and B1 German points together.
Counting your highest German level: B1 is 15.
Our reading of annexes B and C: the levels are steps on one scale, and language is capped at 25 in any case.
Skipping English because you are learning German.
Counting both: they are separate lines.
German B1 (15) plus English B1 (10) is the 25-point language maximum in annexes B and C.
Pushing for German B2 for a shortage-occupation card.
Stopping at B1 for the points.
Annexes B and C give no extra points above B1; only the start-up table (annex D) rewards B2 and C1.
Questions
How many points does German give for Austria's Red-White-Red Card?
For shortage occupations and other key workers (annexes B and C to the AuslBG): A1 5, A2 10, B1 15. English adds A2 5 or B1 10, and language is capped at 25 points.
How many points do I need for the Red-White-Red Card?
55 of 90 for skilled workers in shortage occupations and other key workers, 70 of 100 for very highly qualified workers, and 50 of 85 for start-up founders.
Can I get the Red-White-Red Card without German?
On the points, yes: German is not required, but it is worth up to 15 points for shortage occupations and other key workers, often the margin over the 55-point minimum.
Does English count for the Red-White-Red Card?
Yes. English A2 gives 5 points and B1 10 in annexes B and C, plus 5 extra if English is the company's main language. For very highly qualified workers, German or English A2 gives the full 10.
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