--- title: "Austria Researcher permit requirements 2026: 2-year stay" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/settlement-researcher/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Austria · Work # Austria Researcher permit **First stay:** 2 yrs Settlement permit – researcher First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **First stay:** 2 yrs (Issued for two years; after two years of settlement the holder can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus (three years). One renewal of one year is possible for job search or company foundation.) - **Who can apply:** Most passports (Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.) - **Family:** Family can join (Family members of researchers can apply for a residence title and are exempt from the German A1 requirement.) ## Key facts Researcher permit is a work route for Austria. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Processing:** Up to 180 days - **First stay:** 2 yrs ## Time and long term **Renewal: Renewable** Can be renewed once for one year to look for work or found a company; after 2 years a Red-White-Red Card plus can follow. [Federal Ministry of the Interior](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-forms-of-settlement/) **Permanent residence: After 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. [oesterreich.gv.at](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/aufenthalt/3/2/Seite.120402) **Citizenship: After 10 years of residence** Citizenship needs 10 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, at least 5 of them settled, and the general naturalisation conditions. [oesterreich.gv.at](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/staatsbuergerschaft/1/Verleihung-nach-zehn-Jahren) **Processing: Up to 180 days** Authorities must decide without undue delay and no later than 6 months after receiving the application. [Federal Ministry of the Interior](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-forms-of-settlement/) **Where to apply: From abroad** First applications are filed at the Austrian embassy or consulate; filing in Austria is possible only in listed cases. [Federal Ministry of the Interior](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-forms-of-settlement/) **Presence rules: Away max 10 months in total** The 5-year clock for long-term status restarts after more than 10 months in total or more than 6 months in a row outside Austria. [oesterreich.gv.at](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/aufenthalt/3/2/Seite.120402) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Applications are made from outside Austria, not after arriving - Needs a job offer from an employer in Austria - Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a researcher. - The general residence requirements are met: subsistence, health insurance and accommodation. #### Documents - An admission (hosting) agreement with a certified research facility, such as a university, or one that needs no certification. #### After you arrive - The permit can be renewed once for one year to look for work or found a company. ## 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](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/tax/) Tax records checked 10 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Health insurance** The general residence requirements are met: subsistence, health insurance and accommodation - **Accommodation** The general residence requirements are met: subsistence, health insurance and accommodation Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Permit for researchers with an admission agreement from a certified research facility, such as a university. It can be renewed once for one year to look for work or found a company. (source 1) #### Requirements - The applicant is a researcher. (source 1) - The general residence requirements are met: subsistence, health insurance and accommodation. (source 1) - An admission (hosting) agreement with a certified research facility, such as a university, or one that needs no certification. (source 1) - The permit can be renewed once for one year to look for work or found a company. (source 1) #### Stay - Issued for two years; after two years of settlement the holder can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus (three years). One renewal of one year is possible for job search or company foundation. - 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 Work as a researcher. #### Family Family members of researchers can apply for a residence title and are exempt from the German A1 requirement. Checked 2026-10-11 ## Official sources 1. [Other forms of settlement (settlement permit – gainful employment excluded)](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-forms-of-settlement/) · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - EU" (requirements and counting rules)](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/aufenthalt/3/2/Seite.120402) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Verleihung der Staatsbuergerschaft nach zehn Jahren](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/staatsbuergerschaft/1/Verleihung-nach-zehn-Jahren) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11 ## Researcher permit and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Researcher permit | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/eu-blue-card/) | Needs income of €56k+ a year ≈ $62k | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | | [Red-White-Red · Key worker](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-other-key-workers/) | Needs income of €3,465+ a month ≈ $3,870 | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Red-White-Red · Shortage job](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-shortage-occupation/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | – | | [Red-White-Red · Top talent](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-very-highly-qualified/) | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes | ## Questions people ask ### How long can I stay on the Researcher permit? Issued for two years; after two years of settlement the holder can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus (three years). ### How long does the Researcher permit take to process? Authorities must decide without undue delay and no later than 6 months after receiving the application. ### Can I work on the Researcher permit? Work as a researcher. ### Can I bring my family on the Researcher permit? Family members of researchers can apply for a residence title and are exempt from the German A1 requirement. ### Who can apply for the Researcher permit? 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 Researcher permit lead to permanent residence in Austria? Time on the Researcher permit counts toward permanent residence in Austria, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Researcher permit counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence. ### How are Researcher permit holders taxed in Austria? No special regime in our records is tied to the Researcher permit. 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 [Artist permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/settlement-artist/) [Working Holiday](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/working-holiday/) [Red-White-Red · Self-employed](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-self-employed-key/) [Red-White-Red · Start-up](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-startup-founder/) [Special employment permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/settlement-special-dependent-work/) [Student permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/student/) [Red-White-Red · Graduates](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-graduates/) [Red-White-Red · Tourism/farm](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/austria/rwr-regular-seasonal/) ## Work visas elsewhere [🇵🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) [🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 3 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. 1. [Other forms of settlement (settlement permit – gainful employment excluded)](https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/other-forms-of-settlement/) · Federal Ministry of the Interior (migration.gv.at) · checked 2026-10-10 2. [Aufenthaltstitel "Daueraufenthalt - EU" (requirements and counting rules)](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/aufenthalt/3/2/Seite.120402) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Verleihung der Staatsbuergerschaft nach zehn Jahren](https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/menschen_aus_anderen_staaten/staatsbuergerschaft/1/Verleihung-nach-zehn-Jahren) · oesterreich.gv.at (Austrian federal government portal) · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.