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Austria residence and citizenship

The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Austria is $33,579, for the Red-White-Red Card: start-up founder. Ordinary naturalisation in Austria needs 10 years of legal residence.

Last updated: 10 November 2026

Checked — Sources last checked 10 November 2026 by the automated residence and citizenship review.

Residence routes in Austria

Investment, own-income, remote-work and permanent routes. Scroll across the table to see every column.

RouteKindMinimumProcessingTo citizenship
Red-White-Red Card: start-up founderInvestor$33,579—10 years
Red-White-Red Card: self-employed key worker (capital transfer)Investor$111,930—10 years
Settlement permit: gainful employment exceptedRetirement or own income—up to 6 months10 years
Long-term resident – EU after five yearsPermanent residence—up to 6 months10 years

"Minimum" is a cited investment threshold in its stated currency. A USD figure appears only when a supported conversion is on file; "—" means no supported amount is on file, not that it is free. "To citizenship" counts the years of residence before a naturalisation application. A zero-year entry states no residence wait; citizenship still needs a separate decision.

Work, family, study and other routes (12)
RouteKindMinimumProcessingTo citizenship
Red-White-Red Card: self-employed key worker (jobs or know-how)Residence permit——10 years
Settlement permit: artistResidence permit—up to 6 months10 years
Red-White-Red Card: very highly qualified workerWork——10 years
Red-White-Red Card: shortage occupation skilled workerWork——10 years
Red-White-Red Card: other key workerWork——10 years
Red-White-Red Card: Austrian graduateWork——10 years
Red-White-Red Card: regular tourism, agriculture or forestry workerWork——10 years
EU Blue CardWork——10 years
Settlement permit: researcherWork—up to 6 months10 years
Red-White-Red Card plus: family reunificationFamily——10 years
Residence card for non-EEA family of a mobile EEA or Swiss citizenFamily——10 years
EEA or Swiss citizen free movement and permanent residenceEU / EEA free movement———
Each route's conditions and sources

Red-White-Red Card: start-up founder

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country founder of an innovative company with a business plan, management control and at least 50 points. EUR 30,000 company capital (USD 33,579), at least half equity, is the required minimum; additional EUR 50,000 earns points but is optional. EUR 218 application fee. The AMS three-week opinion does not bound the full decision; approximate eight-week total is not a guaranteed maximum. Citizenship ordinarily after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Start-up founders (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: self-employed key worker (capital transfer)

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country self-employed entrepreneur generating macroeconomic benefit through a sustained EUR 100,000 transfer of business capital (USD 111,930). Jobs, technology transfer or regional importance are alternative grounds, separately represented below. EUR 218 application fee. Ordinary citizenship after ten total lawful years, five settled; special six-year conditions may shorten this.

Sources: Self-employed key workers (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Settlement permit: gainful employment excepted

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Quota-limited permit for third-country pensioners or financially independent people, with no Austrian gainful employment. Official 2026 single monthly income requirement EUR 2,616.78; couples EUR 4,128.24 plus EUR 403.76 per child. EUR 218 limited-permit fee. The legal six-month decision ceiling is a maximum, not an estimate. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Other forms of settlement (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government), Austria private residence (Henley & Partners, summary)

Long-term resident – EU after five years

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country national with five uninterrupted lawful residence years, general requirements and Module 2 of the Integration Agreement. EUR 275 application fee (USD 307.81); general six-month decision ceiling. This is long-term residence, not automatic citizenship; ordinary naturalization normally follows ten total lawful years including five settled.

Sources: Other forms of settlement (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: self-employed key worker (jobs or know-how)

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country self-employed entrepreneur showing job creation or preservation, technology or know-how transfer, or regional significance. These are alternatives to the EUR 100,000 capital transfer; no fixed investment minimum is stated for them. EUR 218 application fee. Ordinary citizenship may follow ten qualifying years.

Sources: Self-employed key workers (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Settlement permit: artist

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country self-employed or employed artist with qualifying Austrian artistic work; self-employed artists need a contract lasting over six months. EUR 218 limited-permit application fee. General residence-title six-month decision ceiling is rounded to six months. Citizenship ordinarily after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Other forms of settlement (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: very highly qualified worker

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country highly qualified applicant meeting the points test and obtaining a qualifying Austrian job. EUR 218 card fee. Job-seeker visa, when used, is a preliminary step with its own fee; no business investment floor. Approximately eight weeks is not a fixed upper bound. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Very highly qualified workers (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: shortage occupation skilled worker

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country worker with qualifying shortage-occupation training, binding Austrian job offer and 55 points. EUR 218 application fee; salary is not an investment. The approximately eight-week portal estimate is not a maximum. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Skilled workers in shortage occupations (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: other key worker

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country worker with Austrian job, 55 points and a labour-market test; 2026 salary threshold EUR 3,465 gross monthly is not investment. EUR 218 fee. The approximate eight-week process does not establish a guaranteed maximum. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Other key workers (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: Austrian graduate

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country graduate of an Austrian university or higher-education institution with a qualifying Austrian job. Approximate eight-week processing is not a ceiling. Citizenship ordinarily after ten qualifying years, including eligible earlier residence subject to the legal settlement test.

Sources: Graduates of Austrian universities (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card: regular tourism, agriculture or forestry worker

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country seasonal worker meeting prior-work, language and permanent-job conditions. EUR 218 application fee; no investment threshold. The approximately eight-week estimate is not a legal bound. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Regular workers in tourism, agriculture and forestry (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

EU Blue Card

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Qualified third-country employee with a binding Austrian job and 2026 gross annual salary of at least EUR 55,678; salary is not investment. EUR 218 application fee. Approximate eight-week processing is not a guaranteed maximum. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: EU Blue Card (Austrian migration portal), Red-White-Red Card processing FAQ (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Settlement permit: researcher

Not for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

Third-country researcher with a hosting agreement at a qualifying research facility. EUR 218 limited-permit application fee. General six-month decision ceiling. No investment minimum. Ordinary citizenship after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Other forms of settlement (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Red-White-Red Card plus: family reunification

Qualifying spouse, registered partner or unmarried minor of an Austrian or settled third-country sponsor; eligibility follows family relationship, not a passport list. EUR 218 application fee. Five years of lawful settlement can lead to long-term resident status; citizenship ordinarily after ten qualifying years.

Sources: Family reunification (Austrian migration portal), ECB euro reference rate, 9 November 2026 (European Central Bank), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government), Dual citizenship (Austrian federal government)

Residence card for non-EEA family of a mobile EEA or Swiss citizen

Qualifying third-country spouse, partner or dependent family member of an EEA/Swiss citizen exercising free movement. Residence card, then permanent residence card after five continuous lawful years. No fee or processing bound established by cited page; ordinary citizenship generally after ten years, with six-year exceptions depending on circumstances. Eligibility is relationship-based.

Sources: Mobility of EU citizens and family (Austrian migration portal), Citizenship after ten years (Austrian federal government), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government)

EEA or Swiss citizen free movement and permanent residence

Only for EU citizens, EEA citizens, Swiss citizens.

EEA and Swiss citizens may reside beyond three months if employed, self-employed, studying or adequately self-supporting with health cover; register within four months. Permanent residence right follows five continuous lawful years. EEA nationality qualifies for the six-year early naturalization rule; Swiss citizens need another six-year condition or ordinarily ten years. No uniform citizenship clock is asserted.

Sources: Mobility of EU citizens and family (Austrian migration portal), Early naturalization after six years (Austrian federal government), General naturalization conditions (Austrian federal government)

Citizenship in Austria

  • Years of residence before naturalisation: 10 years
  • Years before permanent residence: 5 years
  • Dual citizenship allowed: No
  • Language: German and citizenship knowledge test; B2 German is one basis for early six-year naturalization
  • Residence and presence: At most 20% of the qualifying residence period outside Austria

Ordinary grant requires ten years' continuous lawful residence, including five settled. Specific applicants, including EEA citizens or B2 German speakers, may qualify after six years. Renunciation of prior nationality is generally required, with narrow exceptions. Exceptional-merit citizenship is discretionary; Henley expressly says Austria has no citizenship-by-investment programme and no minimum investment amount. It does not create a published CBI threshold or timeline.

What is the cheapest residence visa in Austria?

The lowest comparable cited investment amount on file for a residence route in Austria is $33,579, for the Red-White-Red Card: start-up founder. Routes for people living on their own income or working remotely (Settlement permit: gainful employment excepted) ask for proof of income, not an investment.

How many years to citizenship in Austria?

Ordinary naturalisation in Austria needs 10 years of legal residence. Permanent residence is possible after 5 years. At most 20% of the qualifying residence period outside Austria.

Does Austria allow dual citizenship?

No. Austria generally asks a new citizen to give up another nationality.

Tax and residence days

A residence permit and tax residence are different tests. See the Austria tax rates, count your days with the Austria day test and see what changed in the data, day by day.

Sources

The Austria profile cites 19 sources, 17 of them from a government or a statute. Data as of 2026-Q4.

Rules, fees and minimums change, and many routes have conditions not shown here. Did you find an error? Tell us, with the source.

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This page is general information. It is not legal, immigration, tax or investment advice. Check the official source and ask a qualified immigration lawyer before you apply or invest.