Austria Self-Employed Key Worker / Start-up Founder Visa Alternative

Austria does not offer a dedicated digital nomad visa. For independent workers and founders, the closest long-stay alternatives are usually the Red-White-Red Card for self-employed key workers and the Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders.

These are not permission to live in Austria while doing any remote job from anywhere. They work best where the applicant creates macroeconomic benefit for Austria, builds an innovative start-up, transfers capital, creates or secures jobs, introduces know-how or technology, or supports a regionally significant business.

Start Here

Need	Best page
Check whether the route fits a remote-worker profile	Main guide
Plan application filing, AMS review, capital evidence, points, fee, and timing	Timeline and documents
Review trade registration, SVS, tax, insurance, and work-boundary issues	Tax, trade, and setup
Compare Austrian employment routes	Red-White-Red Card vs EU Blue Card

Programme Snapshot

Item	Current Rule
Dedicated digital nomad visa	No
Self-employed route	Red-White-Red Card for self-employed key workers
Founder route	Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders
Self-employed key worker test	Macroeconomic benefit beyond the business’s own operational benefit
Self-employed investment signal	Sustained transfer of at least EUR 100,000 can support the case
Other self-employed benefit signals	Job creation/security, know-how or technology transfer, regional significance
Start-up capital	At least EUR 30,000 company capital, with at least 50% equity share
Start-up points	At least 50 points out of 85
AMS role	Issues expertise on macroeconomic benefit, usually within 3 weeks
Fee signal	EUR 218 application fee on Migration.gv.at pages checked July 2026
First permit	Up to 24 months
Follow-up	Self-employed key workers may move to a settlement permit; start-up founders may move to Red-White-Red Card plus if conditions are met

Application Flow

1. Confirm that Austria’s route fits the activity: self-employed key worker, start-up founder, employment, visitor, or another residence purpose.
2. Prepare the business plan, capital proof, job or technology evidence, qualification evidence, and general residence documents.
3. For start-up founders, document innovation, controlling influence, company capital, equity share, and at least 50 points.
4. File personally with the competent Austrian representation abroad, or with the residence authority in Austria if legal entry and legal stay allow it.
5. The residence authority forwards the file to AMS for expert review.
6. If approved and visa-required, apply for a visa D to enter Austria and collect the residence permit.
7. Align trade, tax, SVS, insurance, and business records with the approved purpose.
8. Plan the follow-up title before the 24-month permit expires.

Good Fit

This alternative is strongest for founders, business owners, consultants, technology operators, and self-employed specialists who can show Austrian economic benefit, capital transfer, job impact, innovation, know-how, regional significance, or a credible start-up plan.

Poor Fit

It is usually a poor fit for people who only want to keep foreign employment while living in Austria, freelancers with no Austrian economic case, passive-income earners, start-ups without innovation or capital, and applicants looking for a low-document digital nomad permit.