Minimum founding capital of €30,000, with at least 50% equity. An additional €50,000+ in investment capital earns 10 bonus points in the points-based assessment.
⏱️ Duration
Initial card valid up to 24 months. After meeting operational milestones, holders transition to the Red-White-Red Card plus with unrestricted labour market access. After 5 continuous years of lawful settlement, eligible for the Long-Term Resident EU permit.
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse/registered partner (minimum age 21 at first application) and unmarried minor children (under 18). Family members receive the Red-White-Red Card plus with unrestricted labour market access, and must demonstrate A1 German proficiency for first-time applications.
🛂 Citizenship Path
Yes — after 10 years
After 5 continuous years of lawful settlement, eligible to apply for a Long-Term Resident EU permit, conditional on completing Module 2 of the Integration Agreement (German B1). Austrian citizenship typically requires 10 years of lawful residence.
The Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders (Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte für Start-up-GründerInnen) is an Austrian residence permit allowing third-country nationals to settle temporarily in Austria and establish innovative companies. It targets entrepreneurs developing and marketing novel products, services, processes, or technologies. The program is administered jointly by provincial settlement and residence authorities and the regional offices of the Arbeitsmarktservice (AMS), which issues a binding expert assessment on each application. Applicants must score at least 50 of 85 possible points under a criteria-based system covering qualifications, work experience, language skills, and bonus factors such as additional capital or incubator admission.
The card is issued for a maximum of 24 months, after which holders who meet operational milestones can transition to the Red-White-Red Card plus, granting unrestricted labour market access. After five continuous years of lawful settlement, holders may apply for a Long-Term Resident EU permit.
Requirements
Third-country national (non-EU/EEA/Swiss)
Score at least 50 of 85 points under the Anlage D assessment criteria
Submit a coherent business plan demonstrating innovation
Minimum founding capital of €30,000 with at least 50% equity
Personally exercise controlling influence over company management
Intend to develop and market innovative products, services, processes, or technologies within a newly established company
Valid health insurance covering all risks in Austria
Clean criminal record
The points system covers four categories:
Qualifications (max 30 pts): vocational training/specialised skills (20 pts), tertiary education programme of 3+ years (20 pts), or diploma/Bachelor's/Master's/Doctorate from an Austrian institution (30 pts)
Work experience (max 10 pts): 1 point per half-year of relevant professional experience
Language skills (max 15 pts): German A2 (5 pts), B1–B2 (10 pts), C1–C2 (15 pts); English B2 (10 pts) or French/Spanish/Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian B1 (5 pts)
Bonus points (max 30 pts): additional €50,000+ investment capital (10 pts), recognised incubator or startup agency funding (10 pts), age up to 35 years (10 pts)
The standard NAG prerequisites for sufficient means of subsistence and a legally binding right to standard housing are explicitly waived for startup founders.
Required Documents
Valid passport and biometric photograph (45×35 mm, no older than 6 months)
Proof of health insurance covering all risks in Austria (or travel health insurance with minimum €30,000 including rescue/repatriation until statutory coverage begins)
Educational credentials (diplomas, certificates) and work experience documentation
Language proficiency certificates from internationally recognised institutions (no older than 5 years)
Evidence of founding capital (bank statements, letters of credit; minimum €30,000 with at least 50% equity)
Coherent business plan demonstrating innovation
Company articles of association
Criminal record certificate from country of origin and any country of 6+ months residence (recommended no older than 3 months)
Trade authorisation (Gewerbeberechtigung) if applicable
The initial card is valid for up to 24 months and is not renewed in the same category. After 24 months, holders transition to the Red-White-Red Card plus if they meet the operational milestones under §24 Abs. 4 AuslBG: employing at least 2 full-time workers, personal business management, either €200,000 annual revenue or €100,000 additional financing secured, and demonstrating active innovation. The extension application must be filed before the current card expires — earliest 3 months before expiration. If filed on time, holders may continue residing and working in Austria pending the decision.
Family Members
Spouses or registered partners (minimum age 21 for first application) and unmarried minor children (under 18) may apply for the Red-White-Red Card plus simultaneously with or after the main applicant. First-time family applicants must demonstrate A1 German proficiency. Family members receive unrestricted labour market access. Standard requirements for sufficient means of subsistence, health insurance, and accommodation apply to family members.
Tax Implications
Austrian tax residency is established by domicile or habitual abode (presence exceeding 183 days in a calendar year). Residents are subject to worldwide income taxation at progressive rates from 0% to 55%. Austria has an extensive network of double taxation agreements. Self-employed persons must register for social security through SVS (Sozialversicherungsanstalt der Selbständigen).
Application Process
Gather all required documents including business plan, capital proof, qualifications evidence, and language certificates
Submit the application in person — at the competent Austrian embassy or consulate abroad for first-time applicants, or at the provincial settlement authority if legally present in Austria — with fingerprinting
The settlement authority forwards the application to the AMS regional office responsible for the intended place of business
AMS consults its Landesdirektorium and issues a written expert assessment (Gutachten) within 3 weeks on whether startup founder criteria are met under §24 Abs. 2 AuslBG
Upon a positive AMS assessment and verification of all other requirements, the settlement authority issues the card within the 8-week statutory deadline
Collect the card by appointment at the competent authority — business activity may begin only after physical receipt of the permit
The application fee is €218 (as of 1 January 2026). The AMS assessment is determinative: a negative assessment results in automatic rejection under §41 Abs. 4 NAG with no possibility of override by the settlement authority.
Additional Considerations
Innovation is defined broadly: products, services, procedures, or technologies that are new to Austria with expected demand, involve novel or creative approaches, combine different fields or sectors, or create social or ecological value. Points in the qualification category are not cumulative — only the highest applicable qualification level counts. Holders must register their residence (Meldezettel) at the local registration office within 3 days of taking up residence and fulfil Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (German A2) within 2 years of receiving the permit.