Investment structuring and file preparation by the Aval Visa team, from the business plan through to the residence permit.
Included
German A2 minimum
About 3 to 6 months
From EUR 50,000
Austria is one of the best destinations for international students looking for high-quality universities.
Moving to Austria on a job offer from an Austrian employer, or on an Austrian work visa, is one of the faster routes into the country.
This visa allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Holders can see Austria’s landscape and its cultural life, but they cannot work or study full time except in specific circumstances
1Assess your case and choose the right route
2Sign the engagement letter and open your file
3Prepare and translate documents, book the consulate appointment
4Visa issued, plus arrival and settlement support
No. Buying property on its own does not lead to residence.
At least EUR 50,000 for the start-up route. The other routes require more.
Permanent residence follows five years of continuous lawful residence, with the business genuinely trading throughout.
Get a free review of your Austrian case now. A careful check before you apply is what prevents a refusal and the cost of applying twice.
If you want a solid route into residence, and eventually citizenship, in one of Europe’s strongest economies, an Austrian investment route deserves a close look. It is a genuine door into the European Union, it comes in several forms, and it does require serious capital.
To see how it fits alongside the other options, read our guide to moving to Austria, then keep going here for the detail on this programme and what it asks of you.
Austria has no citizenship-by-investment programme. What it does have is a set of lawful investment routes that lead to residence and, over time, to permanent residence. There are five:
Austrian real estate is a popular option for foreign investors. With a stable economy, a transparent legal system and a growing housing market, investment in cities such as Vienna, Salzburg and Graz can return well.
That said, for residence purposes, simply buying property counts as a passive investment and does not qualify. If residence is your objective, this route has to be combined with an active investment model.
Direct investment in an operating Austrian business is one of the main routes to residence through investment. In practice, that means incorporating a new company or buying into a company that is genuinely trading and generating revenue. The Austrian authorities favour this type of investment for its effect on growth, innovation and employment, which is why the business must create real added value for the country, typically in fields such as technology, tourism or exports.
A joint venture is a sensible way into the Austrian market. You invest alongside an Austrian or international company and share in the profit and loss of the project.
These investments usually sit in industrial, technology, renewable energy or manufacturing projects. Where they create jobs or increase exports, the Austrian authorities treat them as qualifying activity for a residence permit. Working with an Austrian partner or sponsor also lowers your exposure.
If you want the most solid route available, direct investment in a company that creates jobs and exports is the strongest candidate. Austria supports this type of investment closely, because it strengthens the domestic economy and lifts the country’s position in international markets.
To make it work, the company has to trade genuinely and continuously, create real jobs and export to other markets. A strong business plan, and evidence of the economic effect of your investment, is what carries the file.
Founding a start-up is one of the investment routes that leads to residence, over several years and subject to conditions. To take part, the founder needs a genuinely innovative idea and has to convince the Austrian authorities that it will make money.
The start-up permit is issued for two years of temporary work and residence, and it is renewable where the business has created jobs in Austria and grown its capital and profit. Entry to the start-up programme runs through a points system: you must score at least 50 points to be eligible.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Educational qualifications | Vocational/technical training in the relevant field: 20 points Three-year university degree: 20 points Completed university degree such as bachelor’s or master’s: 30 points |
| Work experience | 1 point per six months |
| Language certificate | A2 certificate: 5 points B1-B2 certificate: 10 points C1-C2 certificate: 15 points |
| Additional investment capital of at least EUR 50,000 | 10 points |
| Sponsor introduced to finance the start-up project | 10 points |
| Under 35 years of age | 10 points |
| Route | Cost |
|---|---|
| Real estate investment | Depends on the city and neighbourhood; buying property leads to no citizenship – Austria has no citizenship-by-investment programme |
| Company registration | Set by commercial register and notary tariffs; check current rates |
| Entrepreneurship and startup | Capital required depends on the company form and permit; check current requirements |
| Stake in an operating business plus proof of funds | Threshold set by the rules of the residence permit concerned; citizenship comes only by descent or naturalisation after long lawful residence |
| Lawyer and legal adviser | Depends on the lawyer |
Permanent residence in Austria is valuable to anyone who wants to live, work and study inside the European Union. These are the benefits that matter most:
For all its advantages, the route has a few weaknesses, and they are worth knowing before you commit.
Austrian investment is closely tied to the German economy, and the rules for setting up a business are complex, which can be tiring to work through. Start-up and employment regulation is strict, and the domestic market is relatively small.
So who is this programme actually for? Under the rules, a residence permit through investment goes to someone who invests actively in the Austrian economy: through a joint venture, or by direct investment in a business that creates jobs or opens new export markets. If that describes you, and you can put capital to work in the host economy, the route is open to you.
Once the documents are ready, the file is assessed against the points criteria by the Public Employment Service (AMS), which examines your investment model and issues its opinion. The residence application itself is filed with the Austrian representation abroad or with the competent settlement authority, and once it is accepted you attend your appointment to submit documents and biometrics.
Keep these in mind:
If you intend to open the doors of Europe through investment, the Austrian investment route is a serious opportunity. It offers financial security and travel to more than 190 destinations, and it lets you live and do business in one of Europe’s most advanced economies. For specialist advice and a fast start on your Austrian investment, contact Aval Visa today and take the first step. If you do not have the capital this programme requires, you can obtain a German language certificate and look instead at the Austrian student visa.
For a clean start, and for documents and forms completed accurately, work with our team and put your investment together carefully. Complete the consultation form and one of our advisers will come back to you shortly.
