Start-up Founders
As a national of a third country, you can apply for a Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders if you want to establish and actively manage an innovative company in Austria.
Requirements
You must:
- Develop and introduce innovative products, services, processes or technologies to the market within the framework of a newly established company
- Submit a coherent business plan for the establishment and operation of the company
- Actually exercise substantial influence on the management of the company personally
- Provide evidence of capital amounting to at least EUR 30,000, of which at least 50 percent must be equity capital
- Achieve at least 50 points in the designated points system
Admission criteria for start-up founders
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
| Qualification | max. creditable points: 30 |
| Completed vocational training or special knowledge or skills in the intended employment | 20 |
| Degree from a tertiary education institution with a minimum duration of three years | 20 |
| Completion of a diploma, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree programme or vocational training in Austria | 30 |
| Professional experience | max. creditable points: 10 |
| Professional experience per six months | 1 |
| Language skills | max. creditable points: 15 |
| German language skills, A2 level | 5 |
| German language skills, B1-B2 level | 10 |
| German language skills, C1-C2 level | 15 |
| English language skills, B2 level | 10 |
| Spanish language skills, B1 level | 5 |
| French language skills, B1 level | 5 |
| Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian language skills, B1 level | 5 |
| Additional points | max. creditable points: 30 |
| Admission to a start-up centre or funding by a start-up funding agency in Austria | 10 |
| Additional proven capital of at least EUR 50,000 | 10 |
| Age up to 35 years | 10 |
| Maximum creditable points in total | 85 |
| Required minimum points | 50 |
Where the application must be submitted
The Red-White-Red Card must generally be applied for personally at the competent Austrian representative authority in your home country or in the country in which you are settled.
After lawful entry and during a lawful stay, the application may also be submitted to the competent residence authority in Austria.
Required documents
- Valid travel document
- Photo, not older than six months
- Proof of comprehensive health insurance
- Proof of education or studies corresponding to the points claimed
- Employment references and employment confirmations as proof of professional experience
- Internationally recognized language diploma, not older than five years
- Proof of investment capital including equity capital
- Business plan including proof of innovation
- Articles of association as proof of substantial influence on management
- If applicable, trade licences
Upon request by the authority, in particular a current criminal record certificate may have to be submitted, preferably not older than three months.
Documents must be submitted in original and copy. Documents that are not written in German or English must be translated. Authentication may be required.
When the Red-White-Red Card is issued
The residence authority forwards your application to the Public Employment Service, the AMS. Within three weeks, the AMS issues an expert opinion on the overall economic benefit of your entrepreneurial activity, particularly with regard to investment capital and the creation or securing of jobs.
If the expert opinion is positive and the general requirements are met, the Red-White-Red Card is issued.
The Red-White-Red Card is issued for a maximum of 24 months and entitles you to temporary settlement and self-employed activity.
Fees for a Red-White-Red Card
Application fee: EUR 218.00
Important notes
After two years, you may receive a Red-White-Red Card plus if the legal requirements are met. This card entitles you to temporary settlement and unrestricted access to the labour market, both self-employed and employed.
Additional fees may apply if further documents are required or if a Visa D is needed.
The Red-White-Red Card for start-up founders gives you the opportunity to implement innovative business ideas in Austria and establish yourself as an entrepreneur in the long term, provided that clear economic added value is proven.