Blue card or another residence permit: what Ukrainians should choose now

In short: there is no need to rush. Your “blue card” (Ausweis für Vertriebene) stays with you, and the EU has extended temporary protection by another year, to 4 March 2028. You can keep living and working in Austria without changing anything. What changed in October 2026: on 15 October the main committee of the National Council (Hauptausschuss) approved amendments to the Vertriebenen-Verordnung. Anyone who applies for a residence permit under the Settlement and Residence Act (NAG) can now waive displaced-person status. The waiver takes effect only when the new residence permit is issued, so there is no period without rights. Previously the Interior Ministry had written that applying for residence permits other than the RWR+ is currently not permitted. Which residence permits exactly will be available and on what conditions is not stated in the announcements about the changes, and the text of the regulation has not yet been published. So below we compare what is known for certain, the “blue card” and the RWR+, and separately say what you should clarify before deciding.

The “blue card” is free, is renewed automatically and lets you work in Austria both as an employee and as a self-employed person. Its main drawback is that it is tied to temporary protection: when the protection ends, so does the right to stay. In addition, it does not lead directly to the permanent residence permit “Daueraufenthalt – EU”.

The RWR+ gives the same work rights but does not depend on whether temporary protection is extended. It is usually issued for one year, and for three years straight away if the conditions are met. The RWR+ counts as settlement (Niederlassung), so after five years of residence and completion of Modul 2 of the integration agreement you can apply for “Daueraufenthalt – EU”, and according to the Interior Ministry your time on the “blue card” is counted. With the RWR+, family reunification is possible. The price: a fee of €218, you must apply for renewal yourself, and you generally cannot receive Sozialhilfe (social assistance). People who receive Grundversorgung (basic state support) do not get the card.

Before you swap the “blue card” for something else, ask yourself a few questions: • Have I worked with full insurance in Austria for 12 of the last 24 months? • Is my income enough under the reference rates, and do I have housing with a legal right to it? • Is my passport valid? • Do I need a path to a permanent residence permit or family reunification? • Do I receive Grundversorgung? • What happens if I lose my job?

If the RWR+ does not suit you, for example because insurance periods are missing, it is now possible to apply for another residence permit. But “another” does not mean “any, automatically”: every residence permit under the NAG has its own requirements, and you must meet them. Which residence permits will be open to blue card holders, and on what conditions, has not yet been officially published.