Obtaining an Austrian spouse visa can be done with the help of our immigration lawyers in Austria, who have experience in immigration matters. There is a series of formalities that must be respected, so we invite you to discover in the following lines some important aspects to take into account.
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What you need to know about Austrian spouse visa requirements
Spouses of foreigners working in Austria can apply for a Red-White-Red Plus Card as part of the family reunification. The application for the Austrian spouse visa can be done both in the country of origin, and the process can take between 3 and 5 months, depending on the requirements and the relevant authorities. Here are some formalities to take into account when applying for an Austrian family visa:
- Non-EU citizens need to apply for an Austrian spouse visa in order to be reunited with their families in this country.
- A valid passport, as well as a national ID card, are required when applying for an Austrian family visa.
- Birth certificates, proof of income to sustain living in Austria, and a document certifying the relationship with the respective partner (marriage certificate, for example) are also required.
- Proof of accommodation in Austria, as well as health insurance, is part of the application for the Austrian family visa.
- The minimum age to apply for an Austrian spouse visa is 21 years.
- There are no restrictions regarding same-sex partners; they can apply for this type of visa.
- A working sponsor in Austria is required for an Austrian spouse visa. Practically, the husband or wife can be this working sponsor. He/she must have a Red-White-Red Plus Card.
- A fee of approximately EUR 160 will be paid, but you must also take into account the expenses for the translation of documents, where applicable.
It is important to mention that the spouse visa for Austria is valid for one year, with the possibility of extension, under certain conditions. For example, if you still have a sponsor in Austria, as well as basic German language knowledge, you can apply for the Red-White-Red Plus Card, which is valid for 3 years.
Do not hesitate to contact the legal services offered by one of our immigration lawyers in Austria if you want to know more about Austrian spouse visa requirements. Plus, this infographic can explain to you the main things related to a spouse visa in Austria:
Temporary visas for joining family members in Austria
As there are various work visas in Austria, sponsors can often be found under a temporary visa even when applying for family reunification. Therefore, if you have a temporary visa in Austria, the spouse visa for Austria will have the same status.
However, it is good to check all the formalities and also the legislation in this regard, with one of our lawyers in Austria. We are at your disposal with specialized legal advice, so do not hesitate to contact us with confidence, especially if you are interested in immigration to Austria.
Family members’ visa applications in Austria
According to the Settlement & Residence Act in Austria, family members are recognized as spouses, registered partners, and unmarried minors, including adopted ones. When applicants meet general conditions, they will be able to receive the “Red-White-Red Card Plus”, i.e., the residence permit necessary to live legally in Austria.
We remind you that the “Red-White-Red Card Plus” allows access to the Austrian labor market without any other conditions or restrictions imposed. We remind you of the importance of the legal services that you can benefit from by contacting our immigration lawyers in Austria.
What is a settlement permit for a dependent in Austria?
Other categories of dependants/relatives of Austrian citizens can apply and obtain the settlement permit. For this purpose, non-EU citizens must have a sponsor in Austria and meet general requirements. Various types of relatives and life partners providing specific documentation to sustain the long-term relationship are accepted in the program for getting residency in Austria.
Updates on spouse visa in 2026
If you want to apply for a spouse visa in Austria, these are the latest updates:
- German A1 language knowledge is required to get a spouse visa in Austria;
- a monthly income of around EUR 2,064 for couples is required. An extra EUR 201/per child, part of the application, is mandatory;
- a property deed or a legal rental contract is requested as part of the spouse visa application in Austria, mentioning that the property must be an “adequate accommodation” and meet the standard space conditions for families;
- proof of registered partnership or a marriage certificate is also needed;
- in 2026, a processing time of approximately 6-12 months is estimated from the date of the documents’ submission for obtaining a spouse visa in Austria;
- application for specific categories of refugees applying for family reunification/spouse visa has been suspended until July 2026;
- in view of these immigration updates, we advise you to consider specialized legal help from our Austrian lawyers. You can thus benefit from personalized assistance and complete support in preparing the requested documents.
Austria’s immigration statistics
These are recent immigration statistics for Austria:
- In 2025, there were over 1.855 million foreign citizens registered in Austria.
- More than 20% of the total population of Austria was made up of immigrants, according to data for 2025.
- Around 25,000 naturalization applications were accepted in Austria in 2025.
- Over 46% of the residents of Vienna, the capital of Austria, are of foreign origin.
- Around 10,600 family-reunification visas were approved in Austria in 2025.
Our lawyers can also help you obtain citizenship in Austria and the Austrian residence permit if you are the spouse of an Austrian citizen. Those who want to know more about Austrian spouse visa requirements are advised to contact us and discover our legal services.