Austria's main residence route for people who want to build a business here rather than be employed. Two paths — a points-based card for innovative start-up founders, and a macroeconomic-benefit card for self-employed key workers. This guide explains both, with an interactive points calculator.
Both routes are decided by the Public Employment Service (AMS), which issues an expertise on the macroeconomic benefit of your planned activity — the transfer of capital and the creation or securing of jobs. A strong, consistent business plan and evidence do more than any single number. The points calculator below shows whether the founder route is realistic on paper; it does not replace the AMS assessment.
Both lead to a Red-White-Red Card that permits fixed-term settlement and self-employment. They differ in how you qualify, the capital involved and what you receive after two years.
For founders launching an innovative product, service, method or technology through a company they control.
For a self-employed activity that creates macroeconomic benefit for Austria beyond its own operational profit.
The points test only opens once these base conditions are met. They are pass/fail — no amount of points substitutes for them.
A product, service, method or technology that is genuinely new on the market.
A consistent plan for establishing and running the company.
You personally control the management of the newly set-up company.
Capital for the company of at least €30,000, with an equity share of ≥ 50 %.
Reach at least 50 of 85 points on the criteria below.
Set the options that describe you. The calculator scores the official start-up-founder criteria and shows whether you clear the 50-point threshold. It is an indicative check, not a decision.
The full scoring grid the calculator is built on. Maximum 85 points; you need 50.
The founder route rewards an innovative, controllable company with a manageable capital floor. The key-worker route suits a larger, capital- or job-heavy activity that does not fit the innovation test.
The sequence is the same for both routes; the evidence differs. Founders prove points and innovation, key workers prove macroeconomic benefit.
Business plan, capital evidence, qualifications, language certificates and — for founders — proof of the innovative character and controlling influence.
Evidence fileIn person at the Austrian embassy or consulate abroad — or, if legally in Austria, directly with the competent residence authority (in Vienna, MA 35).
Embassy / MA 35The residence authority forwards the file to the AMS, which issues within about three weeks an opinion on the macroeconomic benefit — capital transfer and jobs created or secured.
≈ 3 weeksOn a positive opinion and once general requirements (health insurance) are met, where a visa is required you obtain a visa D to enter Austria and collect the card.
Visa DThe Red-White-Red Card is issued for up to 24 months and permits fixed-term settlement and the self-employed activity described in the application.
Fixed-term settlementFounders move to a Red-White-Red Card plus with full labour-market access; key workers to a settlement permit, then a three-year permit.
Renewal / upgradeGeneral documents apply to both routes; the route-specific evidence is what the AMS actually weighs.
At least 50 of a possible 85. Points come from qualification (max 30), work experience (1 per half-year, max 10), language skills (max 15) and bonus items — extra capital of €50,000, incubator or start-up-agency admission, and being 35 or younger (max 30). The points are separate from the base requirements: an innovative offering, a business plan, controlling influence and company capital of at least €30,000 with a 50 % equity share.
For start-up founders, company capital of at least €30,000 with an equity share of at least 50 %; an additional €50,000 of investment capital earns 10 bonus points but is not mandatory. For self-employed key workers there is no points system, but a sustained transfer of investment capital of at least €100,000 is one of the recognised ways to show macroeconomic benefit.
No German is legally required to reach 50 points — English at B2 alone earns 10 language points, and qualifications plus work experience and bonus items can carry the rest. German does help: A2 is 5 points, B1–B2 is 10 and C1–C2 is the full 15. Language is capped at 15 points regardless of how many languages you combine.
Start-up founders who continue to meet the requirements move to a Red-White-Red Card plus, which grants fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour-market access — self-employment and employment, not tied to one employer. Self-employed key workers move to a settlement permit, and after a total of two years' settlement can receive a three-year permit.
Yes, by a change of purpose (Zweckwechsel) to a Red-White-Red Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers, Other Key Workers or Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations. You then have to meet that category's requirements, reach its points and show a binding job offer.
Legal form, shareholding and the founder's residence route influence one another. Deciding them in the wrong order is the most common source of rework.
Route selection, sequencing and the practical relocation around the permit.
Explore the service ServiceGmbH, FlexCo and subsidiary — the company the founder card is built around.
Explore formation GuideShareholders, capital, notary, Firmenbuch, tax and banking.
Read the guideSend the planned activity, capital, qualifications, languages, age and target date. We map the realistic route — founder points or key-worker benefit — and sequence it with the company formation so the two fit together.