RWR+ for Ukrainians: what to prepare before you apply

The Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus, or RWR+ for short, is a residence permit for Austria. It is issued for a limited period but can be renewed, and it allows you to work both as an employee and as a self-employed person without an additional work permit. Unlike the “blue card”, the RWR+ does not depend on whether temporary protection is extended. After five years of residence, and if you meet the requirements, it opens the way to “Daueraufenthalt – EU”, the permanent residence permit. Holders of an Ausweis für Vertriebene can apply if they have worked with full insurance in Austria for at least 12 of the last 24 months. This means you were insured under the ASVG (earning above the Geringfügigkeitsgrenze, which is €551.10 per month in 2026) or under the GSVG as a self-employed person. The months do not have to be consecutive. You also need housing, health insurance, sufficient income and German at A1 level. Your “blue card” stays valid. Even if the application is rejected, you can keep living and working in Austria as before. Below we explain what to check before applying, and then you can view the list of required documents.

You will need documents from five groups: • personal documents: the application form, Ausweis für Vertriebene, passport and a biometric photo; • proof of housing and health insurance; • proof of income and regular expenses; • proof of German or a document that replaces it; • certificates: a Selbstauskunft from a credit agency and a criminal record certificate from Ukraine. If you have a spouse or children, you will also need documents proving the family relationship. The full list with file upload is in the next stage.

You need a valid passport, and its validity determines the validity of the card: the card will not be issued for longer than the passport is valid. If your passport has expired and it is impossible or unreasonable for you to get a new one, you can request an exception when you apply.

Health insurance is mandatory and must cover all risks. If you work and are fully insured in the Austrian system, that is enough: you do not need a separate policy, but attach proof of insurance to your application, for example from ÖGK or SVS.

You must show that you have a legal right to suitable local housing. A rental or sublease agreement, a purchase contract or a Wohnrechtsvereinbarung (a right-of-residence agreement) will do. If you live with your family, it is enough for a family member to be named in the contract. A Prekariumvertrag (free use of a property that can be revoked at any time) is not accepted.

To receive the card, you must show that you can support yourself without public assistance. Your net monthly income must reach the reference rate: in 2026 that is €1,308.39 for one person, €2,064.12 for a married couple and an additional €201.88 per child. Regular expenses such as rent, loan payments and maintenance are taken into account in the calculation, so attach proof of them together with your income documents. If you receive Grundversorgung (basic state support), your livelihood is not considered secured. The reference rates are adjusted every year.

A German certificate at A1 level is enough to apply, but we recommend taking the ÖIF Integrationsprüfung A2 right away: a German exam that also includes a section on values and orientation knowledge. It counts as fulfilment of Modul 1 of the Integrationsvereinbarung and replaces the A1 certificate. If you have also already lived in Austria for two years with an Ausweis für Vertriebene, the card is issued straight away for three years instead of one, provided your passport is valid long enough. The certificate must not be older than two years when you submit it.

If a document is missing, first check whether it can be obtained again: you can request the criminal record certificate from Ukraine anew, and the Selbstauskunft can be ordered online. There is no point in applying before all the requirements are met. It is better to discuss non-standard situations with a specialist before your appointment at the authority, for example if you are self-employed, have no proof of housing or have open questions about income, because the authority may ask for additional documents.