Austria · Business / Startup
Austria Red-White-Red · Self-employed
Investment needed: €100k+ ≈ $112k
Red-White-Red Card – self-employed key workers
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Red-White-Red · Self-employed is a business / startup route for Austria. Applicants need an investment of €100k+ ≈ $112k. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €100k+ ≈ $112k
- Government fees
- €218 ≈ $240
- Processing
- Up to 180 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: government fee €218 ≈ $240; investment €100k+ ≈ $112k; decision: up to 180 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€218 ≈ $240
- EUR 218 (≈ $240)Application fee.
Invested and held€100k+ ≈ $112k
- EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000)Sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria; one alternative among job creation, know-how transfer or regional significance.
RenewalRenewable
After 2 years the Red-White-Red Card is replaced by a 3-year settlement permit if conditions are met.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
Daueraufenthalt - EU after 5 years of uninterrupted settlement and Module 2 of the Integration Agreement (German and values). Red-White-Red Card, plus card and settlement permit time counts.
CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence
Citizenship needs 10 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, at least 5 of them settled, and the general naturalisation conditions.
ProcessingUp to 180 days
Authorities must decide without undue delay and no later than 6 months after receiving the application.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports
What you'll need
Who can apply3
- The self-employed activity creates macroeconomic benefit beyond its own.
- The benefit is shown by one of: sustained transfer of investment capital, new or secured jobs, transfer of know-how or new technology, or considerable regional significance.
- No points system applies.
What you must show1
- A sustained transfer of at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) of investment capital is one of the alternatives.
Documents3
- A business plan.
- Evidence of capital transfer or job creation.
- Proof of qualification.
Steps1
- The Public Employment Service gives an expert opinion within three weeks.
When you become tax resident
How Austria decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
Applies to individuals with unlimited tax liability (residence or habitual abode in Austria).
- Foreign-source income
Persons with a residence (Wohnsitz) or habitual abode in Austria are subject to unlimited income tax liability, so their foreign-source income is taxed in Austria together with Austrian income; habitual abode arises after six months of stay, retroactively.
All tax rules for Austria Tax records checked
Full official text
For self-employed persons whose activity creates macroeconomic benefit beyond its own: a sustained transfer of at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) of investment capital, or new or secured jobs, or transfer of know-how or new technology, or considerable regional significance. No points system. 1
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) · Sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria; one alternative among job creation, know-how transfer or regional significance. 1
- A fee of EUR 218 (≈ $240) · Application fee. 1
Requirements
- The self-employed activity creates macroeconomic benefit beyond its own. 1
- The benefit is shown by one of: sustained transfer of investment capital, new or secured jobs, transfer of know-how or new technology, or considerable regional significance. 1
- No points system applies. 1
- A sustained transfer of at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000) of investment capital is one of the alternatives. 1
- A business plan. 1
- Evidence of capital transfer or job creation. 1
- Proof of qualification. 1
- The Public Employment Service gives an expert opinion within three weeks. 1
Stay
- 24 months, then a three-year settlement permit after two years of settlement if conditions are met.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Work
Self-employed activity described in the application; employment needs a change of purpose.
Family
Spouses and registered partners (aged 21 or over at application) and unmarried minor children under 18, including adoptive and stepchildren, can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus.
Official sources
- Self-employed key workers · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
- Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - EU" (requirements and counting rules) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Verleihung der Staatsbuergerschaft nach zehn Jahren · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Other forms of settlement (settlement permit – gainful employment excluded) · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
Red-White-Red · Self-employed and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red-White-Red · Self-employed | Needs an investment of €100k+ ≈ $112k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Red-White-Red · Start-up | Needs an investment of €30k+ ≈ $34k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Portugal | Needs savings of €6,446+ ≈ $7,200 | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Entrepreneur visa Spain | – | 3 yr, renewable | – |
| Startup Visa Italy | Needs savings of €50k+ ≈ $56k | 1 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Red-White-Red · Self-employed?
An investment of at least EUR 100,000 (≈ $112,000). Sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria; one alternative among job creation, know-how transfer or regional significance. A fee of EUR 218 (≈ $240). Application fee.
How long can I stay on the Red-White-Red · Self-employed?
24 months, then a three-year settlement permit after two years of settlement if conditions are met.
How long does the Red-White-Red · Self-employed take to process?
Authorities must decide without undue delay and no later than 6 months after receiving the application.
Can I work on the Red-White-Red · Self-employed?
Self-employed activity described in the application; employment needs a change of purpose.
Can I bring my family on the Red-White-Red · Self-employed?
Spouses and registered partners (aged 21 or over at application) and unmarried minor children under 18, including adoptive and stepchildren, can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus.
Who can apply for the Red-White-Red · Self-employed?
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Red-White-Red · Self-employed lead to permanent residence in Austria?
Time on the Red-White-Red · Self-employed counts toward permanent residence in Austria, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Red-White-Red · Self-employed counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.
How are Red-White-Red · Self-employed holders taxed in Austria?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Red-White-Red · Self-employed. The standard rules apply: Progressive rates: 0% to EUR 13,539 (≈ $15,100); 20% to 21,992; 30% to 36,458; 40% to 70,365; 48% to 104,859; 50% to 1,000,000; 55% above (55% limited to 2016-2029).
More in Austria
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Self-employed key workers · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
- Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - EU" (requirements and counting rules) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Verleihung der Staatsbuergerschaft nach zehn Jahren · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11
- Other forms of settlement (settlement permit – gainful employment excluded) · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.