Austria has no "golden visa" and no digital-nomad visa. It has a rationed permit for the financially independent, a points card for workers, and family routes. Here they are with 2026 numbers — no salesmanship.
Figures verified 8 July 2026| Permit | Who it's for | Money requirement (2026) | Leads to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Settlement permit — gainful employment excepted Full guide → | Retirees and the financially independent (pensions, investments, savings). No work in Austria allowed. | €2,616.78/month single · €4,128.24/month couple (2× the 2026 ASVG reference rates) + A1 German + a quota place (~450 nationwide in 2025) | 1-yr permit, annual renewals → permanent residency at 5 yrs (B1 German) |
| Red-White-Red Card | Qualified workers with an Austrian job offer — points-tested | 55–70 points; Other Key Workers need gross salary of €3,465/month (2026). No quota. | 24-month card → RWR Card plus → permanent residency at 5 yrs |
| EU Blue Card | University graduates with a high-salary Austrian offer | Salary threshold above the RWR key-worker level; degree or equivalent experience required | Same 5-year track |
| Family reunification | Spouses/partners and minor children of permit holders | Household income at the family ASVG reference rates; quota applies to some categories; A1 German before arrival | Same 5-year track |
A1 certificate, embassy application in early January, quota place, then biometrics in Austria. First permit: 12 months.
Renew in Austria (no quota needed for renewals). Complete Integration Agreement Module 1 — A2 German — within 2 years.
"Daueraufenthalt – EU" after 5 continuous years plus Module 2: B1 German. Issued as a 5-year card, renewable indefinitely.
Generally 10 years' residence, B1 German, a civics test — and renouncing your US or Canadian citizenship. A pending reform would raise German to B2.
Income requirements, the quota game, A1 German, documents, fees, and the step-by-step process .
Read the guide → GuidePermanent residency at 5 years, citizenship at 10 — and the renunciation rule most Americans don't expect.
Read the guide →The points tables, 2026 salary thresholds, shortage occupations, and how spouses fit in.
How Schengen counting works, the EES biometric border system, and ETIAS (expected late 2026, €20).
Bringing a spouse or dependent parent — quotas, income figures, and A1 for family members.
Embassy pre-registration, per-province allocations, and what to do if you miss out.
Visa applications fail on paperwork details. We'll introduce you to an English-speaking immigration lawyer we've independently vetted — licensed, and experienced with expat cases in Austria.