How To Get A Red-White-Red Card As An Entrepreneur In Austria

Can you get an entrepreneur visa to Austria? How to apply for a red-white-red card and become an Austria-based entrepreneur? Read on to know more.

Austria is a welcoming country and a great place in Europe to establish a business. With the government opening up the economy to foreign participation, a start-up visa has become a popular option for people immigrating to Austria. The visa is considered one of the fastest and easiest to get in Europe.

A Red-White-Red card is valid for up to 24 months from the date of issue and entitles the applicant to a fixed-term settlement. The applicant’s spouse and dependent children can apply for a Red-White-Red Card plus.

Read: Different Types Of Visas To Austria

Austria Red-White-Red Card Eligibility

To be eligible for a Red-White-Red Card as a start-up founder, you must meet the following criteria:

• Establish a business developing and launching innovative products/services
• Have a strong business plan
• Have invested at least € 50.000 for at least 50% equity share
• Score a minimum of 50 points on the evaluation scale.

Read: Ways To Immigrate To Austria

Austria Red-White-Red Card Evaluation Scale

• Qualifications (max points: 30)

• Work experience (max points: 10)

Applicants get 2 points for every year of work experience according to their qualifications.

• Language skills (max points: 15)

• Bonus (max points: 30)

Austria Red-White-Red Card Documents Required

The main documents required to apply for a start-up visa to Austria are:

• Valid passport
• Birth certificate
• Proof of health insurance
• Proof of having enough assets, and investment capital to support oneself
• Proof of relevant educational/ vocational training
• Proof of having special skills in terms of work certificates or training reports
• Proof of having completed a tertiary education program of at least 3 years
• Copy of relevant diploma/ Bachelors/Masters/Doctor’s degrees
• Evidence of work experience
• Evidence of German/English language skills
• Evidence of the innovative nature of the product/ service
• Proof of having a controlling interest in the new company
• Craft authorization if required

The originals and a copy of all the above documents must be made available. If the originals are not in English or German, a certified translation must be made available.

Filing The Application For Austria Startup Visa

The application for a Red-White-Red Card must be lodged personally with the Austrian embassy or Austrian consulate in your country of residence.

The application and supporting documents will be forwarded to the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice, AMS). Within the next 3 weeks, the AMS will issue an expertise certificate on the macroeconomic benefit of the intended business. If certain conditions are met, the AMS will send a positive opinion to the embassy or consulate. A Red-White-Red card will then be issued to the applicant.

Fees Payable For A Red-White-Red Card

• Application: € 120
• Granting: € 20
• Add-on Costs (fingerprints, photography scan and signature): € 20

What Happens After 2 Years?

A Red-White-Red Card is valid for 24 months. Subsequently, if all the legal requirements are ticked off, a Red-White-Red Card plus will be issued. This entitles you to unlimited access to the labor market for self-employment or gainful employment of any other kind and a fixed-term settlement.

Also Read

• 16 Countries Offering Citizenship Through Investment
• Everything You Need to Know About the EU Blue Card
• European Travel Information And Authorization System Or ETIAS