A residence permit in Austria is a document that is issued to those who plan to stay in the country for longer than six months and have a legitimate reason for this. With it, you can live in the state for 1-2 years, usually - with the right to extend this period, if the basis remains relevant. Temporary residents get the opportunity to work (sometimes with restrictions), do business, study, use the services of local banks and hospitals. In the long term you can apply for citizenship of the EU country, which within the standard naturalization procedure takes from 10 years from the moment of moving.

A residence permit in Austria looks like an ID-card and can be of several types - with the right to employment and without it, with the prospect of immigration or short-term type. There are special variants like Rot-Weiß-Rot and Blaue Karte EU cards for highly qualified specialists. Residency status is granted to foreigners who have proven that they have an official reason to stay in the state for a long time. It is also necessary to be without a criminal record and have sufficient income for self-support, a place of residence in the Republic of Austria, and health insurance.

The fastest and most affordable way to obtain residency in Austria is to move to Austria with a passport of another EU country under a simplified procedure. With professional legal assistance, it is possible to obtain a second EU citizenship in a maximum of one year. Sign up for a free consultation to get more details from an Immigrantinlaw specialist.

What does a residence permit of Austria give?

A temporary residence permit in Austria gives you the right to stay in Austria for a longer period of time, to leave and return without a visa, and to extend your stay in the long term if there is an immigration reason. You can also:

• for certain types of residence permits - to be officially employed in the country with an average monthly salary of 4,000 EUR;
• to qualify for social and state support, from allowances and subsidies to defense of interests in court;
• visit Schengen states freely, adhering to the rule “90 days of stay in total for six months in a row”;
• invite family members to live together and legalize their stay (limited to residence types);
• open accounts and use the services of popular European banks on terms not available to foreign tourists;
• participate in private and public life and health insurance systems;
• develop commercial activities at the international level, including entering the Single Market of Europe;
• obtain citizenship of Austria and the European Union in case of long-term legal residence in the country and compliance with the accompanying conditions.

Grounds for obtaining an Austrian residence permit

According to the federal law on settlement and residence, an Austrian residence permit can be obtained for:

• official work or self-employment;
• reunification with close relatives;
• studying at local universities;
• moving for humanitarian reasons;
• temporary purposes such as volunteering or living as a financially independent foreigner.

The maximum processing time of applications for a residence permit in Austria ranges from 30 days to 6 months from the date of submission of the application and depends on the grounds. It is possible to request permanent residence in the republic 5 years after moving. To apply for citizenship by naturalization you have the right after 10 years of total stay in the country. Listed below are the grounds on which the issuance of a temporary resident card in the republic is available as of 2025.

Official employment

Moving to Austria is possible for those who are employed by a local company or private individuals. Depending on the situation, you can obtain:

• residence permit for long-term employment and German language proficiency at the A1 level or higher;
• residence permit for professions in demand (e.g., engineers, technicians, drivers, teachers, doctors) without prior analysis of the labor market by the authorities;
• Rot-Weiß-Rot + or Blaue Karte EU - an immigration document for highly qualified specialists or representatives of scarce professions, which entitles them to unlimited employment;
• a document of temporary residence without the right to naturalization, e.g., for intra-corporate transfer.

In each case, official employment must be documented, usually by a work contract with an Austrian company.

Self-employment (running a business)

You can open a residence permit as an individual entrepreneur with proof of self-employment for a period of 6 to 12 months if it is in the economic interest of Austria. You can replace it or immediately apply for an immigration Rot-Weiß-Rot card if one of the conditions is met:

• your company is important for the entire region, implements innovative solutions or introduces new technologies in your chosen field;
• you are ready to invest 100 thousand EUR or more in the economy of the country;
• your activity contributes to the creation of new jobs for the residents of the republic.

Representatives of the authorities assess the economic benefits of your business plan, after which they make a decision on granting the right of residence in Austria. They assess your start-up capital, your company's development prospects, your education and professional experience.

Establishment of an innovative enterprise

The right to move to Austria is available to those who have an idea of a promising start-up and funds of at least 30 thousand EUR for its realization. When making a decision, the authorities use a point system that evaluates your education, professional experience, language skills, age and financial solvency. To apply for a residence permit, you must score at least 50 points out of a possible 85. Subsequent renewal of residency will require you to prove the success of your enterprise.

Reunification with close relatives

An Austrian residence permit is issued for those who plan to move to the republic to live together with family members. The receiving party must have a passport or a residence permit of the republic or an immigration-type residence permit. Family reunification is approved for de facto spouses, registered partners, children under 21 years of age who are not married (including adopted children and stepchildren).

A request for a family residence permit in Austria can also be approved for other relatives, such as parents or grandparents under certain conditions, if they are supported by the inviting person. In any case, you need to have the means to support yourself (from 1200 EUR per month per person) and know German at A1 level.

Education

You can obtain residence in Austria if you study at a certified school, university, academy or similarly accredited institution. A student residence permit is issued for 12 months and can only be renewed if you demonstrate good academic performance. As a student, you may be allowed to work up to 20 hours per week without passing a labor market test, provided that such activities do not interfere with your education. This type of residence permit only counts halfway towards the period of residence for naturalization.

Self-financed residence

Austria grants residence rights to financially independent persons who receive funds remotely or as passive income. Such residence permits with a validity period of up to 12 months are issued within the framework of annual quotas (the number is limited) and do not allow you to work or run a business in the territory of the republic.

Your income must be at least 2500 EUR if you move to Austria on your own, from 3850 EUR for a couple and another 375 EUR for each child. You can receive contributions, for example, in the form of state payments (relevant for pensioners), dividends from securities and shares, as profits from your company abroad.

Humanitarian grounds

A temporary residence permit in Austria is granted to those who request asylum. You can apply for refugee status if you cannot live in your home country for objective reasons, e.g., there is active fighting or you have been discriminated.

It is possible to move to Austria by applying for subsidiary or temporary protection for those who do not fall under the refugee criteria, but who have valid reasons for requesting it. The right of temporary residence for victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation and domestic violence is also approved on a humanitarian basis. The authorities consider each of these requests on a case-by-case basis.

Other legitimate reasons

Also eligible for a temporary residence card in Austria are:

• those who work in the European Voluntary Service;
• participants in student, research, work mobility programs within the EU and internationally, as well as participants in language courses and vocational training programs;
• representatives of certain professions, e.g., artists;
• certified scientists after being invited by a local research institution to carry out specialized tasks;
• British citizens and their family members in connection with BREXIT (the UK's withdrawal from the EU);
• foreign employees sent on an extended business trip to the Austrian branch of an international company.

In each of these cases, you need to prove the justification for the move with appropriate documents, e.g., an invitation from a university or an intra-company agreement.

It is possible to move to Austria for a long period of time without searching for immigration grounds if you have an EU passport. Immigrantinlaw's international law specialists can help you to become a participant of the simplified program for applying for a second EU citizenship without taking integration exams, preliminary opening of residence permit and providing information on income. Sign up for a free legal consultation to find out more.

Conditions for obtaining an Austrian residence permit

The basic prerequisite for obtaining the right of residence in Austria is that there is a legitimate reason for the move (short or long-term). According to the general requirements, a residence permit is granted to those who:

• are able to support themselves without having to apply for social support (minimum income of 1218 EUR for 2025);
• are protected by a health insurance policy for the entire period of their stay in the country;
• has a place of residence in the country, e.g., rented or purchased real estate;
• in most cases, speaks German at a certain level (at least A1, i.e., elementary);
• does not pose a threat to public order and national security;
• has not previously violated migration laws and has not been expelled from the EU with data entered into the Schengen Information System;
• has submitted the necessary package of documents to the authorities according to the grounds and has undergone the related procedures.

Additional conditions and requirements vary depending on the type of Austrian residence permit. For example, professionals with high qualifications must confirm their experience and/or education, and financially independent foreigners - have time to register before the end of annual immigration quotas.

How to obtain a residence permit in Austria: step-by-step procedure  

To apply for temporary resident status in Austria you need:

1. Choose a reason for opening a residence permit and collect a dossier.
   You should compare the criteria, pros and cons of different types of residency in Austria, study the feedback from immigrants, determine the appropriate option for yourself, make sure you meet the conditions for granting the status and prepare documents according to the list.
2. Make an appointment and submit your request.
   The initial residence permit is processed through the Austrian diplomatic mission in your country of residence. On the appointed date and time, you come, submit your dossier, pay an administrative fee and then wait for a decision.
3. Obtain a visa.
   The diplomatic missions examine your dossier and make a request for a residence permit to the district administration or the mayor's office of the relevant federal state. The responsible authority, in turn, makes a decision on the application and, if approved, instructs the consulate or embassy to issue you an entry visa.
4. Move to Austria and apply for a temporary resident card.
   You arrive in Austria with a national entry permit, after which you apply for a residence permit at the authorized body that decided on the residence card. You will need to be photographed and fingerprinted for the issuance of the residence permit card. After production, you pick up the document in person at the competent authority at the place of residence in Austria.

What is required to obtain an Austrian residence permit

A successful move to Austria is possible if you submit the necessary documents, personally visit the authorities and pay all administrative fees. Subsequently, the residence permit can be extended (if provided by law), as well as make a request for permanent residence and citizenship of the European Union.

Required dossier

Austrian law regulates the list of documents according to which you should prepare your dossier:

• a valid travel document (usually a passport is used);
• an immigrant questionnaire filled out according to the reason for the move;
• a passport-size photo of 35 x 45 mm, taken at most six months ago;
• civil status certificates (birth, marriage or divorce certificate, if applicable);
• proof of residence in the State or the means to rent it;
• health insurance, which is compulsory in Austria and covers all risks related to illnesses;
• proof of livelihood, e.g., income certificate or information about a pension in the home country;
• a language certificate proving that you have at least A1 level of German;
• a receipt of the administrative fee for the application;
• a certificate of no criminal record from the country of your current residence (not obligatory, but may be requested).

All documents must be submitted in the original, with certified copies, and must be officially translated into German. Legalization rules depend on your country of citizenship, for example, some certificates may require an apostille.

Submitting an application

The initial residence permit is usually applied for through one of the Austrian consulates or embassies in your country of permanent residence. Most diplomatic missions accept visitors by appointment - online or by phone, which can be found on the official website of the relevant authority. You will need to attach an application for a residence permit to your basic dossier.

A sample of filling out the application form for temporary resident status is available on the website of the Austrian Ministry of Interior. The application is submitted by you personally on the appointed day and time. The standard period of residence permit processing is up to six months, but some types of residency provide for an accelerated procedure, such as Rot-Weiß-Rot and EU Blue Card. You can check the status of consideration of your request by contacting the above-mentioned authorities.

Immigrantinlaw lawyers will help you to understand all the nuances of immigration procedures. Step-by-step support of international law specialists is a guarantee of successful obtaining a passport or residence permit in the EU.

How much does it cost to obtain a residence permit?

The cost of issuing a temporary residence permit in Austria is 160 EUR for those over the age of six and 145 EUR for those younger. The EU Blue Card is charged at a different price - 30.7 EUR. If foreign civil status documents (e.g., birth or marriage certificate) are provided, additional fees may apply. When calculating how much it costs to issue a residence permit, you should also take into account the costs of an interpreter, notary, migration specialists.

Renewal of residence permit

Application for extension of the Austrian residence permit must be submitted no later than 90 days before the expiration of the current document. To the application form, you attach the necessary documents, including a receipt for the payment of the state duty and proof of a legitimate reason to stay in the Republic. While the new residence permit is being issued, you retain all the rights and benefits of a temporary resident, e.g., you can continue to work or study.

You can apply for a long-term residence permit in Austria 5 years after your move. In addition, you have to pass an integration module, which confirms your knowledge of German at the A2 level. You can apply for citizenship by settling (naturalization) after another 5 years, i.e., after a ten-year period spent in the Republic as a resident. In this case, you need to demonstrate the language level from B1 and renounce a passport in your home country.

Individual selection of immigration program

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Refusal and revocation of status

The most common reason for refusal of Austrian residency is incorrect actions of the applicant, e.g., omission of one of the conditions for granting the status or submission of an incomplete set of documents. Do not approve requests to those who have previously been expelled from the Schengen zone and / or has a ban on entry into the state.

It is impossible to buy a residence permit in the Republic, and if the fact of using forged documents for its registration is discovered, your status will be canceled. Also, the residence permit ceases to operate if the reason for being in the country is no longer relevant. When extending the residence permit, your level of integration into society is checked. In case of a negative assessment, there is a risk of being rejected even if you have a reason to live in the country

You can successfully move to Austria with minimum expenses and without unnecessary efforts with the help of international law specialists of Immigrantinlaw. Immigration lawyers will help you to choose the best program for opening residency or EU citizenship. Accompanying a specialist at every stage gives you confidence in the result and minimizes your worries. You can sign up for a free consultation right now to immigrate to a developed EU country in the coming months.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.