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Red-White-Red Card - Self-employed Key Worker

AustriaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

This is a self-employed-key-worker pathway: the applicant's self-employed occupation in Austria must create a macroeconomic benefit going beyond its own operational benefit.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured official page does not establish every condition for this route; verify the remaining route-specific rules before approval.
  • captured paragraph
    As a third-country national you can apply for a Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers, if your self-employed occupation in Austria creates macroeconomic benefit going beyond its own operational benefit.

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

The macroeconomic benefit can be shown through any one of: a sustained transfer of investment capital, job creation or securing of existing jobs, transfer of know-how or new technologies, or considerable significance for the region.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured official page does not establish every condition for this route; verify the remaining route-specific rules before approval.
  • captured paragraph
    your intended occupation involves a sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria amounting to € 100.000 minimum or
  • captured paragraph
    your intended occupation creates new jobs or secures existing jobs in Austria or
  • captured paragraph
    your establishment involves the transfer of know-how respectively the introduction of new technologies or
  • captured paragraph
    your business is of considerable significance for the entire region.

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

One qualifying path is a sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria of at least € 100,000; there is no points system for self-employed key workers.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured official page does not establish every condition for this route; verify the remaining route-specific rules before approval.
  • captured paragraph
    your intended occupation involves a sustained transfer of investment capital to Austria amounting to € 100.000 minimum or
  • captured paragraph
    For self-employed key workers, there is no points system.

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and entitles the holder to fixed-term settlement and pursuit of the self-employed occupation described in the application; to take up employed (salaried) work instead, the holder must switch to a different Red-White-Red Card category and meet its own points and job-offer requirements.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured official page does not establish every condition for this route; verify the remaining route-specific rules before approval.
  • captured paragraph
    The Red-White-Red Card is issued for 24 months and entitles you to fixed-term settlement and the pursuit of the self-employed occupation as described in the application.
  • captured paragraph
    In order to take up an employed occupation you would need to switch (“Zweckwechsel”) to a Red-White-Red Card for Very Highly Qualified Workers, Other Key Workers or Skilled Workers in Shortage Occupations; in this case, you are supposed to meet the respective requirements, to achieve the number of required points and the applicant must prove a legally binding offer of employment.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

The AMS issues its macroeconomic-benefit assessment within three weeks; after a completed total settlement period of two years the holder can be issued a settlement permit valid for three years. The application fee is € 218.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The captured official page does not establish every condition for this route; verify the remaining route-specific rules before approval.
  • captured paragraph
    The AMS will issue an expertise on the macroeconomic benefit of the intended professional activity within three weeks
  • captured paragraph
    After a completed total settlement period of two years you can be issued a settlement permit for three years.
  • captured paragraph
    Application fee: € 218

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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