EuropeSelect the passports you hold to see short-stay access and per-route eligibility for Austria.
Short stays: tourism, transit, business trips, medical, pilgrimage.
Tourist Visa
Electronic travel authorisation for visa-exempt nationals (e.g. US, UK, Canada, Japan). Valid 3 years for short stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. We apply on your behalf end-to-end. Fees illustrative.
Tourist Visa
Short-stay visa for tourism: up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare your forms and documents; you attend the consulate/VFS appointment to submit biometrics. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Transit Visa
Required by some nationalities to pass through the international transit area of a Schengen airport without entering. Whether you need one depends on your nationality. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
Business Visitor Visa
Short-stay visa for business trips (meetings, conferences, negotiations): up to 90 days within any 180-day period. We prepare forms and documents; you submit at the consulate/VFS. Government fee EUR 90 (illustrative).
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Universities, language courses, internships and exchanges.
Student Visa
For stays over 90 days to study. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. We guide you; submission is in person. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Student Visa
For admitted students at Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences and accredited private universities. Requires proof of funds (2026: EUR 777.58/month under age 24, EUR 1,308.39/month from 24; higher if rent exceeds EUR 386.43/month). Usually issued for 12 months (24 for mobility programmes), renewable; students may work up to 20 hours/week with an AMS permit, and graduates can extend 12 months to seek work or found a business, then switch to a Red-White-Red Card with relaxed criteria.
Language Course Visa
Austria has no dedicated language-student residence permit; third-country nationals attending a German course of 91 days to 6 months apply for a national Visa D (standard fee EUR 195) showing course enrolment, funds, accommodation and insurance. The Visa D cannot be extended inside Austria; stays beyond 6 months require a residence permit purpose such as student or pupil.
Exchange Program Visa
Cultural-exchange employment for 18-28 year-olds living with an Austrian host family; the family must notify the AMS at least two weeks before work starts and the au pair needs A1 German. Third-country nationals use a Visa D for stays up to 6 months or a residence permit for up to 12 months; maximum one year as au pair within five years. Minimum monthly pay is EUR 551.10 (2026) for about 18 hours/week.
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Digital nomad, freelance, skilled employment and company transfers.
Digital Nomad Visa
Austria offers no digital nomad or remote-work visa as of June 2026; remote workers must qualify under regular residence purposes.
Self-Employment Visa
For self-employed third-country nationals whose activity creates macroeconomic benefit, e.g. a sustained transfer of at least EUR 100,000 investment capital to Austria, job creation/preservation, technology transfer or regional significance. No points system. Issued for 24 months; after two years holders can move to a settlement permit valid three years.
Startup / Entrepreneur Visa
For founders of an innovative company who hold a controlling influence, prove capital of at least EUR 30,000 (minimum 50% equity) and score at least 50 of 85 points (qualification, experience, languages, bonus for extra investment, incubator admission or age under 35). Issued for up to 24 months; after two years of successful operation founders receive a Red-White-Red Card plus with unlimited labour market access.
Skilled Work Visa
For stays over 90 days to work. Requires employer sponsorship / a work permit before you can apply, so eligibility is conditional. Issued under national rules -- apply at the consulate of your destination country. Fees and processing times vary by country.
Skilled Work Visa
For third-country nationals with completed vocational training in an occupation on Austria's annual shortage list who have a binding job offer paying at least the collective-agreement minimum. Requires at least 55 of 90 points (qualification, experience, German/English skills, age). Issued for 24 months with a specific employer; renewable into the Red-White-Red Card plus.
Skilled Work Visa
Points-based permit for very highly qualified third-country nationals scoring at least 70 of 100 points (qualifications, salary history, experience, languages, age, studies in Austria). Applicants without a job offer can first obtain a 6-month Job-Seeker Visa (EUR 195), then the card once employed. Issued for 24 months tied to one employer; leads to the Red-White-Red Card plus with free labour market access.
Skilled Work Visa
For graduates of a tertiary programme of at least 3 years (or comparable ICT/managerial experience gained within the last 7 years) with a binding job offer of at least 6 months paying a minimum gross annual salary of EUR 55,678 (2026, incl. special payments). Subject to an AMS labour market test; no points system. Issued for 24 months; time on the Blue Card counts toward EU long-term residence.
Skilled Work Visa
Points-based route (minimum 55 of 90 points) for key workers with a job offer paying at least EUR 3,465 gross per month (2026) where a labour market test shows no equally qualified registered jobseeker is available. Bonus points exist for professional athletes/coaches and English-language companies. Issued for 24 months with the specified employer.
Seasonal Work Visa
Quota-based employment in tourism and agriculture/forestry: the employer obtains a quota permit (Kontingentbewilligung) from the regional AMS after a labour market test, then the worker gets a Visa C (up to 90 days, ~EUR 90) or Visa D (EUR 195) for longer seasons. Quota permits run up to 6 months, with a maximum 9 months' seasonal employment in any 12; harvest helpers max 6 weeks. 'Regular seasonal workers' (3+ months in 3 of the last 5 years) can register for permits outside the quota.
Intra-Company Transfer Visa
EU ICT Directive permit for managers, specialists and trainee employees transferred from a group company outside the EU to an Austrian branch. Requires 9 months' prior group employment (6 for trainees), Austrian-level pay and an AMS labour market review. Issued for up to 3 years for managers/specialists and 1 year for trainees; a 'mobile ICT' variant covers transferees already holding another EU member state's ICT permit.
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Golden visas, real estate, citizenship by investment, passive income.
Golden Visa (Residence by Investment)
Austria has never operated a golden visa or residence-by-property program. The closest route is the quota-limited Settlement Permit – Gainful Employment Excepted (passive income, no investment option), or the Red-White-Red Card for self-employed key workers (active business, EUR 100,000+).
Citizenship by Investment
Austria has no formal citizenship-by-investment program. § 10(6) of the Citizenship Act (naturalization for extraordinary achievements in the Republic's interest, sometimes used by major investors) remains in force as of June 2026 — verified NOT abolished — but it is fully discretionary, rare, and not a purchasable programmatic route, so it is not listed as a product.
Non-Lucrative / Passive Income Visa
Austria's passive-income residence route for financially independent persons and retirees; no work in Austria is permitted. Requires regular monthly income of twice the ASVG standard rates (2026: EUR 2,616.78 single, EUR 4,128.24 couple, plus EUR 403.76 per child), A1 German before application, and a quota place — the small annual quota is typically exhausted within days each January. Issued for 12 months, renewable (3-year cards after 2 years with integration); counts toward EU long-term residence after 5 years.
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Retirement visas and working holiday schemes.
Working Holiday Visa
Bilateral working-holiday scheme for 18-30 year-olds from partner countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Israel, Chile, Argentina, the USA and India. Issued as a Visa D annotated 'WHP' for 6-12 months depending on the agreement, allowing any incidental employment; apply 3 weeks to 6 months before travel. Not extendable or convertible in-country.
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Reunification, spouse routes and ancestry-based repatriation.
Family Reunification Visa
Spouses/registered partners (both aged 21+) and unmarried minor children of Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card, settlement-permit and long-term residents can join the sponsor; family of RWR Card and Blue Card holders get a quota-free Red-White-Red Card plus with free labour market access, while some other categories are quota-limited. Requires A1 German before immigration and household income meeting 2026 ASVG rates (EUR 2,064.12 for a couple plus EUR 201.88 per child). Titles are issued for 12 months, then 3 years once integration requirements are met.
Spouse / Partner Visa
For third-country spouses/registered partners (both aged 21+) and minor children of Austrian, EEA or Swiss citizens settled in Austria; quota-free with unrestricted labour market access. Requires A1 German with the first application, secured subsistence (2026 couple rate EUR 2,064.12/month) and adequate housing. Issued for 12 months, renewable, leading to permanent residence after 5 years.
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Talent, religious, humanitarian, media, official and permanent residence.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
For third-country researchers with a hosting agreement (Aufnahmevereinbarung) with a certified Austrian research organisation; no labour market test or points system, and no separate accommodation proof needed. Issued for 2 years (or the hosting agreement duration plus 3 months); decisions within about 8 weeks when files are complete. After 2 years researchers can switch to a 3-year Red-White-Red Card plus; family members receive RWR Card plus with free labour market access.
Talent / Highly Skilled Visa
Dedicated settlement permit for professional artists working in Austria either as employees (with employer declaration) or self-employed (contract(s) covering more than 6 months plus proof of artistic credentials). General settlement conditions apply (subsistence, insurance, housing). Issued for 12 months, renewable; a 3-year card is possible after 2 years with integration requirements fulfilled.
Long-Term Residence Permit
EU long-term resident status after 5 years of continuous lawful settlement in Austria, requiring secured subsistence, health insurance, housing and completion of Integration Agreement Module 2 (German B1 integration exam). The right of settlement is open-ended; the card document is reissued every 5 years and holders gain free labour market access and intra-EU mobility rights. Fees total roughly EUR 210 for adults.
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