Investing in Austria Without Relocating: Routes for EU Citizens and Third-Country Nationals

Last updated: October 2026 · Official sources linked

Many of the people we speak to do not want to move to Austria straight away. They want to build something here, take a stake or invest their wealth. That is possible. Keep two questions apart. First: what are you allowed to do as an investor? Second: what are you allowed to do as a person who wants to live or work here?

Please note: This article describes legal routes. It is not investment advice and not a recommendation for any particular investment.

Who is this route for?

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enjoy freedom of establishment and free movement of capital. They can found companies and acquire shareholdings. When buying property, they are treated the same as Austrians. If they later move here for more than three months, they register this within four months. For this, there is the registration certificate (Anmeldebescheinigung), with a fee of €44.

What EU citizens need when they move later (oesterreich.gv.at):

• a valid identity card or passport
• proof of employment or self-employment
• or proof of sufficient means and comprehensive health insurance
• €44 fee. If the certificate is not issued, you can reclaim the fee from the tax office.

After five years, EU citizens can apply for the certificate of permanent residence (Bescheinigung des Daueraufenthalts).

Third-country nationals can invest as well. However, separate rules apply to property, larger shareholdings and their own residence.

Which route suits your goal?

Your goal	Suitable route	Does it give a right of residence?
Build your own business, with management on site	GmbH or FlexCo	no
Bring your foreign company to Austria	Branch office (Zweigniederlassung)	no
Put capital into a company	Shareholding	no
Own a flat or a house	Property purchase	no
Live in Austria without working	Settlement Permit – except gainful employment	yes, subject to quota
Work as an entrepreneur yourself	Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte für selbständige Schlüsselkräfte)	yes, after review by the AMS

Requirements: the routes at a glance

1. Found your own company. A GmbH or FlexCo needs at least €10,000 in share capital (Stammkapital). You can be a shareholder and appoint management on site. If, as a third-country national, you want to work in the company yourself, you need a suitable residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel). Otherwise, the Companies Register (Firmenbuch) may refuse the entry. Details: Founding a GmbH or FlexCo.

2. A stake in an existing company. For investors from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland, the Investment Control Act (Investitionskontrollgesetz) applies:

• approval required from 25% of the voting rights in security-relevant sectors
• from 10% in particularly critical areas: energy, digital infrastructure, water and defence goods
• also in the case of controlling influence, regardless of the percentage
• exempt are micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million in turnover or total assets

The application is primarily filed by the acquirer. The ministry answers questions about the procedure at [email protected].

3. Property. EU and EEA citizens are treated the same as Austrians. Third-country nationals usually need approval from the federal province. Details: Buying property as a foreigner.

4. Residence without gainful employment (third countries). If you want to live in Austria but not work, you can apply for the Settlement Permit – except gainful employment. It requires:

• a quota place
• a regular monthly income (as of 1 January 2026): €2,616.78 for single persons, €4,128.24 for married couples, plus €403.76 per child
• accommodation customary for the area, for example a lease or ownership
• health insurance that covers all risks and pays out in Austria
• German at A1 level with the first application. The language certificate must be no older than one year.

This permit does not allow gainful employment in Austria.

Worked example: A married couple with one child needs €4,128.24 plus €403.76. That is a regular income of €4,532.00 per month. High rent or loan repayments can increase the amount required. Fixed costs above €386.43 per month are taken into account.

5. Become an entrepreneur yourself. Look at the Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers. A transfer of at least €100,000 in investment capital is one of several options there. The AMS prepares an expert opinion within three weeks.

Documents

Checklist before any investment:

• passport; for companies, a specimen signature (Musterzeichnung) and bank confirmation
• proof of the source of funds
• for shareholdings: check whether the Investment Control Act applies
• for property: signed purchase contract, land register extract (Grundbuchauszug), declaration of the intended use
• for the Settlement Permit: proof of income, accommodation, health insurance, A1 certificate
• foreign documents: often with an apostille and a certified translation

Costs and duration

Item	Amount 2026	Source
Settlement Permit – except gainful employment	€218 application fee	oesterreich.gv.at
Registration certificate (EEA, Switzerland)	44 €	oesterreich.gv.at
Minimum corporate income tax (Mindest-KöSt) of a GmbH	€500 per year	WKO
Capital gains tax (KESt) on profit distributions	27,5 %	BMF
Real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) on a property purchase	generally 3.5%	USP

Duration of investment control: The authority decides within one month of the conclusion of the EU cooperation procedure. In the case of an in-depth review, two more months are added. If it does not decide in time, approval is deemed granted.

Process for the Settlement Permit:

1. Clarify the quota place and documents, and pass the A1 exam.
2. Apply in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate.
3. The authority in Austria reviews the application. There is no fixed processing time.
4. After approval: apply for a visa within three months.
5. Collect the permit within six months in total.
6. Apply for renewal no earlier than three months before expiry.

Competent authority

• Investment control: Federal Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism
• Settlement Permit: Apply at the Austrian representation abroad. The competent authority is then the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft) or the municipal authority (Magistrat); in Vienna, MA 35. Quota applications for Lower Austria are handled by the Office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Government (Amt der NÖ Landesregierung).
• Company formation: Business Service Portal (Unternehmensserviceportal) and the WKO Start-up Service
• Initial advice for investors: ABA – Invest in Austria; according to ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA, free of charge and confidential

Common pitfalls

• Confusing investment with residence. Austria does not grant residence for an investment alone. Every permit has its own requirements.
• Overlooking the quota. The Settlement Permit without gainful employment is subject to a quota. A place is not guaranteed.
• Language certificate too old. The A1 certificate must be no older than one year when you submit it.
• Working without a permit. If you work in the company yourself as a shareholder, you need the appropriate permit.
• Checking investment control too late. Clarify whether approval is required before you sign.
• Taxes in your home country. Double taxation agreements and your country of residence play a role. Seek tax advice.

Related routes

• Founding a GmbH or FlexCo as a foreigner
• A branch in Austria: the Zweigniederlassung
• Buying property as a foreigner
• Self-employed Key Worker
• EU long-term residence

FAQ

Will an investment in Austria get me a visa? Not automatically. Every residence permit has its own requirements, such as income, a quota place or an expert opinion from the AMS.

Can I own a company in Austria as a non-EU citizen? Yes. For larger stakes in security-relevant companies, approval may be required. If you work in the company yourself, you need a suitable residence permit.

How much income do I need to live in Austria without working? In 2026, a regular €2,616.78 per month for single persons. In addition, you need a quota place and German at A1 level.

May EU citizens buy property in Austria? Yes. When buying property, EU and EEA citizens are treated the same as Austrians.

Do I need approval for a shareholding? Only in certain cases. Investors from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need approval in sensitive sectors from 25% of the voting rights. In particularly critical areas, the threshold is 10%. Micro-enterprises are exempt.

Do I have to live in Austria to invest there? No. Founding a company, acquiring a stake and buying property are, in principle, also possible from abroad.

Sources and legal basis

• oesterreich.gv.at: Settlement Permit – except gainful employment (as of 2026-08-07)
• oesterreich.gv.at: German before immigration (as of 2026-08-07)
• oesterreich.gv.at: General requirements (as of 2026-08-10)
• oesterreich.gv.at: Registration certificate (as of 2026-08-10)
• oesterreich.gv.at: Property acquisition by foreigners (as of 2026-01-01)
• BMWET: Investment Control Act
• migration.gv.at: Self-employed Key Workers
• WKO: GmbH, FAQ on trade licences for foreigners; ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA: Company formation
• BMF: Capital income (2026-01-01); USP: Real estate transfer tax (2026-01-01)
• Laws: Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz) (§ 44 and § 11), Investment Control Act (Federal Law Gazette BGBl. I No. 87/2020), Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz). Full text in the RIS.

General information based on official sources. Leading Viennese law and tax firms review your individual case, and we guide you personally all the way to your goal.