A point system for three categories. “Responsible immigration needs to take account of the interests of the country” declared Minister of Home Affairs Maria Fekter last Thursday in Vienna when presenting, with her colleagues – Rudolf Hundstorfer (Social Affairs) and Reinold Mitterlehner (Economic Affairs), the details of the new Austrian system of immigration regulation. The tone is clear and so is the system. From now on, immigration applicants will have to meet several criteria (professional qualification, education, age, language skills) and may, depending on their profile, get up to 100 points. The first group of migrants targeted, highly-skilled employees such as engineers or doctors, will need 70 points to get the “red-white-red” card (see our dispatch No. 100739). The other two groups, technicians with high or medium skills and employees whose professional profile can’t be found in Austria (for instance a logistical expert who speaks Ukrainian), will need between 50 and 75 points, depending on the needs of the Austrian labor market and businesses. For the first category, knowing German will give points but won’t be mandatory. When they arrive, the people selected will sign an “integration contract” giving them access to language classes. However, they will have to have reached the A1 level (basic) after two years. This measure will also apply to their families. On the other hand, for the other two categories, the A1 level is required before coming to the country.
loyees whose professional profile can’t be found in Austria (for instance a logistical expert who speaks Ukrainian), will need between 50 and 75 points, depending on the needs of the Austrian labor market and businesses.
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