Red-White-Red Card for Entrepreneurs & Self-Employed Professionals
Austria offers a dedicated immigration pathway for third-country nationals who plan to carry out a self-employed activity that creates broader economic benefit for Austria.
The Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers is designed for entrepreneurs, business owners and self-employed professionals whose proposed activity goes beyond the benefit of their own business and contributes meaningfully to the Austrian economy.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists applicants in assessing their business concept and coordinates the immigration process together with qualified legal and business professionals.
Applicants must demonstrate that their intended self-employed activity creates macroeconomic benefit for Austria. The business activity must provide economic value that goes beyond the applicant's own operational benefit.
This may be demonstrated through one or more of the following criteria.
€100,000
The intended business activity may qualify where it involves a sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria amounting to at least €100,000. The authorities assess the investment in the context of the overall business project.
The number, quality and sustainability of jobs can be relevant to the assessment.
The proposed activity should provide identifiable added value to Austria.
Considerable significance for an Austrian region
This may be relevant where a project supports regional development, fills an economic gap or creates important activity in a particular region.
Unlike several other Red-White-Red Card categories, applicants do not need to collect points based on age, education, language skills or professional experience. The central issue is the economic significance of the proposed self-employed activity.
No points test applies
Applicants should expect to provide detailed evidence demonstrating the economic value of their project. Depending on the business, this may include:
The strength and credibility of the business concept are important elements of the application.
The competent Austrian residence authority forwards the application to the Austrian Public Employment Service (AMS). The AMS prepares an expert assessment of the macroeconomic benefit of the intended professional activity.
Under the current official procedure, the AMS is generally expected to issue this expert opinion within 3 weeks. The assessment particularly considers investment capital, creation of jobs, securing existing jobs, know-how transfer, introduction of new technologies and regional economic importance.
If the AMS issues a positive opinion and the general residence requirements are fulfilled, the competent residence authority can issue the Red-White-Red Card.
AMS expert opinion within approx. 3 weeks
The application is generally submitted personally to the competent Austrian embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence. Following lawful entry and during lawful stay in Austria, an application may also be submitted directly to the competent Austrian residence authority where Austrian law permits.
If the applicant requires a visa to enter Austria after approval, a Visa D may be required in order to enter Austria and collect the residence permit.
In addition to demonstrating macroeconomic benefit, applicants must satisfy the applicable general Austrian residence requirements. These can include matters such as:
The precise requirements depend on the individual case.
Foreign documents may require certified translations and, where applicable, legalization or apostille.
We review your proposed business activity, investment plans and immigration objectives.
Your project is assessed against the principal criteria used for Self-employed Key Workers.
The business concept and required supporting documentation are prepared and coordinated.
The application is submitted to the competent Austrian authority according to the applicable procedure.
The AMS assesses whether the proposed business activity creates sufficient macroeconomic benefit for Austria.
If the AMS provides a positive opinion and all general requirements are satisfied, the competent residence authority can issue the Red-White-Red Card.
The Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers is issued for up to 24 months. It permits temporary settlement and the pursuit of the self-employed activity described in the application.
Up to 24 Months
Self-employed Key Workers follow a different route from many employed Red-White-Red Card holders. After the initial Red-White-Red Card period, qualifying holders may transition to a Settlement Permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung), provided the applicable requirements are satisfied and the self-employed activity continues.
After a total settlement period of two years, a Settlement Permit may, subject to the applicable legal requirements, be issued for up to 3 years. This is important because Self-employed Key Workers do not automatically follow the same Red-White-Red Card Plus pathway as employed RWR Card holders.
The Self-employed Key Worker residence title is designed for the self-employed activity described in the application. If the holder later wants to take up regular employed work, a change of residence purpose may be necessary.
Depending on the circumstances, this can involve switching to a qualifying employment-based category such as Very Highly Qualified Workers, Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations or Other Key Workers. The respective requirements of the new category must then be satisfied.
Additional costs may arise for certified translations, legalization or apostille, business plan preparation, professional advice, company formation and other supporting documentation.
€218
Not necessarily in every case. A sustained transfer of at least €100,000 investment capital is one recognised way of demonstrating macroeconomic benefit. However, a project may also qualify because it creates or secures jobs, transfers know-how or technology, or has considerable regional significance.
No. Self-employed Key Workers are not assessed under a points system.
No. This is a self-employment and entrepreneur pathway rather than an employment-based residence route.
A strong and credible business plan and supporting economic evidence are highly important for demonstrating the project's economic benefit.
The AMS prepares an expert assessment of the macroeconomic benefit of the proposed activity.
The initial Red-White-Red Card is issued for up to 24 months.
Eligible Self-employed Key Workers may transition to a Settlement Permit if the applicable requirements are fulfilled and the self-employed activity continues.
Turn Your Business Project Into an Austrian Residency Strategy
If you are an entrepreneur, investor or self-employed professional planning a project with meaningful economic value for Austria, the Self-employed Key Worker pathway may provide a suitable immigration option.
CETO can help assess your business concept and coordinate the required immigration and professional services.
