Austria offers a residence permits to those who can demonstrate an annual income of at least EUR 24,000. The permits are issued with one-year validity and renewable annually as long as the applicant maintains his income.
After five years of continuous residency (and a minimum of 300 days per year of physical presence), the applicant is eligible for permanent residence. After ten years of residence (in some cases six years), the applicant is eligible for citizenship but will, in most cases, have to relinquish other citizenships.
Program Type | Independent Means Visa |
Time to citizenship | 10 years (6 years in some cases) |
Time to permanent residency | 5 years |
Minimum investment | None. Proof of EUR 24,000 annual income |
Physical presence requirement | 300 days a year to qualify for PR |
Application processing time | 3-5 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 188 destinations, including Schengen countries and the United States. |
Contribution types available | No investment required |
General program requirements
To qualify for the Person of Independent Means visa, an applicant must demonstrate an annual income of
€24,000 for an individual applicant
€38,000 for a married couple
€45,000 for a family of four
€3,700 per additional dependent
A €150 application fee per dependent applies. Wholly dependent parents, siblings, and children may be included. Children need to intend to permanently reside and attend an education Institution in Austria.
The applicant must maintain suitable accommodation (bought or rented) for the duration of the residency period and must also hold an Austrian health insurance policy covering the whole family.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
To be accepted for the initial Independent Means visa, the applicant will need to be competent in German at a A1 (basic) level. If the application is approved, the initial visa is valid for 90 days. After moving to Austria, the applicant will be issued a one-year residence permit, which is renewable annually if the conditions of the residency are maintained.
After five years of continuous residence (80% of 5 years) applicants may apply for Permanent Residence (PR). They will need to prove German language competence at a B1 (intermediate) level at the time of applying for PR.
After holding PR for five years (total of 10 years’ residency) the applicant may apply for citizenship. This may be reduced to a period of one year after obtaining PR if the applicant has a German language proficiency at B2 level or is “exceptionally involved” in an Austrian society.
Dual citizenship is, in most cases, not permitted, though some notable exceptions apply.
Applications for this program may be directed to:
Ministry of Labour, Interior and Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs
Legislation upon which this program is based:
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Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
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