Austria Has a Dedicated Residence Card for Startup Founders
Austria's founder route is the Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders. It is for non-EU (third-country) nationals who set up a company in Austria to develop and bring innovative products, services, processing methods or technologies to market (migration.gv.at).
The fact that matters most is the entry bar. You need at least EUR 30,000 in company capital with an equity share of at least 50%, and at least 50 points on the published points scale. Clear that, and the first card runs for up to 24 months.
The Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders at a Glance (2026)
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Route name | Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders |
| Who decides | The competent Austrian residence authority, after an expert opinion from the Public Employment Service (AMS) |
| Initial permit | Up to 24 months |
| Renewal | After two years, a Red-White-Red Card plus if all legal requirements are met (not automatic) |
| Funds / investment | At least EUR 30,000 company capital, equity share of at least 50% |
| Government fee | EUR 218 application fee (BMEIA schedule effective 1 January 2026) |
| Processing time | No published average. Eight-week legal decision deadline; AMS opinion within three weeks |
| Path to permanent residence | Daueraufenthalt-EU after five years of uninterrupted settlement plus Module 2 of the Integration Agreement |
| Official source | migration.gv.at: Start-up Founders |
Who Qualifies
According to the official founder page, you need to meet all of these:
- You are a third-country national establishing a company to develop and bring an innovative product, service, processing method or technology to market.
- You submit a consistent business plan.
- You personally exercise controlling influence over the new company's management.
- The company has at least EUR 30,000 in capital, with an equity share of at least 50%.
- You reach at least 50 points under the published points criteria. The maximum score is 85.
Note that an additional investment of at least EUR 50,000 earns a 10-point bonus. It is a bonus, not the basic capital threshold, which stays at EUR 30,000. The full points table is on the official page; check your score before you build the dossier.
There is no separate startup endorsement committee. Instead, AMS issues an expert opinion on the macroeconomic benefit of your activity, looking particularly at the transfer of investment capital and the creation and securing of jobs.
How to Apply
- Build the dossier. The founder page lists a valid travel document, a photo, health insurance, evidence for the points you claim and for the investment capital, a business plan with evidence of the innovation, and company documents showing you control the company. Bring originals and copies. Translations into German or English may be required.
- File in person. Apply at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate in your home or residence country. If you have entered Austria lawfully and are staying legally, you may instead apply directly to the competent residence authority (the provincial governor, district administrative authority or municipal authority, as applicable).
- AMS review. The residence authority forwards your dossier to AMS, which issues its expert opinion within three weeks (migration.gv.at).
- Decision. If the conditions are met, AMS sends a positive opinion to the residence authority, which issues the card if the general conditions are also met.
- Entry visa if needed. If you need a visa to travel, apply for a Visa D to enter Austria and collect the residence permit.
Fees and Processing Time
Fee. The Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs lists EUR 218 for an application for a temporary-residence card, effective 1 January 2026 (BMEIA). The founder page itself still shows an older breakdown of EUR 120 application, EUR 20 grant and EUR 20 personalization fees, with no effective date. Confirm the amount before you pay.
Processing time. No official average processing time is published. The Interior Ministry states an eight-week decision deadline for Red-White-Red Card applications (BMI). That is a legal deadline, not a typical duration.
Permit Length, Renewal and Permanent Residence
The first card is issued for up to 24 months. After the first two years, a start-up founder receives a Red-White-Red Card plus if all legal requirements are met (migration.gv.at). Treat that as a conditional step to a new title, not an automatic extension.
The Plus card gives unrestricted labor-market access, including self-employment and employment not limited to one employer.
For permanent residence, the title is Daueraufenthalt-EU (Long-term Resident - EU). Austrian government information says a third-country national may qualify after five years of uninterrupted actual settlement in Austria plus fulfillment of Module 2 of the Integration Agreement (oesterreich.gv.at). The founder page does not set this timeline itself; it comes from the general long-term-residence rule.
Family Members
Family members can join under Austria's family-reunification rules and apply for the Red-White-Red Card plus, which gives free access to the labor market (migration.gv.at).
We could not confirm any founder-specific exemption from the ordinary family-reunification requirements, so plan on meeting the standard conditions.
What Changed in 2025-2026
The one confirmed change is the new BMEIA fee schedule that took effect on 1 January 2026, with the application fee at EUR 218 (BMEIA).
We found no official announcement in 2025 or 2026 changing the innovation test, the capital threshold or the points requirement for founders.
Where Austria Fits vs Other Founder Visas
Austria suits founders who:
- Can put at least EUR 30,000 of capital into the company and meet the 50% equity share.
- Will personally control the company's management.
- Want a process with no separate startup endorsement body and a legal decision deadline.
Look elsewhere if you cannot meet the capital rule, will not control management yourself, or would rather not chase 50 points on a fixed scale. Each country sets its own capital, endorsement and timeline rules, so compare Austria side by side with our guides for Germany, the Netherlands and Estonia before you commit.
Find Investors Before You Relocate
The card gives you legal status. It does not fund the company, and Austria's own test rewards founders who arrive with money lined up: AMS weighs the transfer of investment capital, and an additional investment of at least EUR 50,000 adds 10 points.
So the investor conversation belongs before the application, not after the move. Round Funded covers 60,000+ active investors, sends outreach from your own Gmail so replies land in your inbox, and includes a free Data Room to share your deck and business plan.
Browse VC firms in Europe on Round Funded →
For support on arrival, see accelerators in Austria, accelerators in Vienna and incubators in Austria.
Comparing nearby options? See the Switzerland founder visa guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do I need for the Austria startup visa?
The company needs at least EUR 30,000 in capital with an equity share of at least 50%. An additional investment of at least EUR 50,000 earns a 10-point bonus on the points scale, but it is not required (migration.gv.at).
How long does the application take?
Austria does not publish an average. The Interior Ministry sets an eight-week decision deadline for Red-White-Red Card applications, and AMS has up to three weeks for its expert opinion (BMI).
What is the government fee in 2026?
EUR 218 for an application for a temporary-residence card, effective 1 January 2026, per BMEIA. The founder page still shows an older fee breakdown, so confirm before paying.
Can I apply from inside Austria?
Yes, if you entered lawfully and are staying legally, you can apply directly to the competent residence authority. Otherwise, apply in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home or residence country.
Do I need an accelerator or investor endorsement?
No separate startup endorsement body is involved. AMS issues an expert opinion on the economic benefit of your activity as part of the process.
When can I get permanent residence in Austria?
Under the general rule, after five years of uninterrupted settlement plus Module 2 of the Integration Agreement, you may qualify for Daueraufenthalt-EU (oesterreich.gv.at).
The Bottom Line
Austria offers a real founder-specific card with clear numbers: EUR 30,000 in capital, 50 points, up to 24 months, then a route to the Plus card. The gaps are in the published details: no average processing time and a stale fee on the founder page. Confirm both, then line up capital early.
