Self-employed Key Worker: How the Route Works for Entrepreneurs

Last updated: October 2026 · Official sources linked

You have a company or a clear business idea. You want to invest in Austria and lead the business yourself on site. Then the Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte für selbständige Schlüsselkräfte) may be right for you. Our founder set up his own GmbH in Vienna in 2017. We know the path to your own company. With this card, one question is at the centre: what does Austria gain from it?

Who is this route for?

This route is for entrepreneurs from countries outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland. It fits if you:

• want to be self-employed in Austria, for example with your own business,
• bring capital or create jobs,
• can back up your plans with figures.

Do you have an innovative idea but less capital? Then look at the Start-up Founder Card. If it is only about a fixed-term contract, there is the Residence Permit for the Self-employed (Aufenthaltsbewilligung für Selbständige). It requires a contract for more than six months. It is not intended for permanent settlement.

Requirements

1. Benefit to the economy as a whole. This is the central requirement. According to migration.gv.at, it exists in particular if at least one of the following applies:

• You permanently bring at least €100,000 of investment capital to Austria.
• You create new jobs or secure existing ones.
• You bring know-how or new technologies to Austria.
• Your company is important for an entire region.

So the €100,000 is an example, not a fixed requirement. What matters is the overall picture.

2. Trade licence. Does your activity require a trade licence (Gewerbeberechtigung)? Then the trade authority issues a certificate. It confirms that all requirements are met except for the residence permit. The trade authorities are obliged to issue this certificate.

3. General requirements. You need a valid passport and health insurance. You must not pose a threat to public order. You do not have to prove accommodation or means of subsistence.

Example: what a plan can look like

This is only an example of how to present it. It is neither a threshold nor a guarantee.

Timing	Investment	Jobs
Months 1–3	€60,000 for machinery and office	You yourself
Months 4–12	€40,000 for stock and marketing	2 employees
Months 13–24	€20,000 from profits	4 employees
Total after 24 months	120.000 €	4 jobs

Provide evidence for every figure. Examples are bank statements, purchase agreements or preliminary contracts with employees (wien.gv.at).

Checklist: what to prepare before you apply

• Clarify which benefit criterion applies to you (often several)
• Write a business plan with market, competition and location analysis
• Deposit the capital in an account and document its origin
• If a trade licence is needed: apply for the trade authority’s certificate
• Choose a legal form, for example sole proprietorship (Einzelunternehmen) or GmbH
• Take out health insurance that covers all risks
• Criminal record certificate, no more than three months old
• Check your passport: is it valid for at least two more years?

Documents

According to migration.gv.at and wien.gv.at:

• completed application form, in German or English
• valid travel document and a copy of the entire passport
• passport photo 45 x 35 mm, no older than six months
• health insurance covering all risks, for example SVS or a private insurer
• criminal record certificate from your country of origin
• business plan describing the activity and its objectives
• proof of capital or of the planned jobs
• proof of your qualifications
• trade-law certificate, if required
• if available: articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag)

Documents in languages other than German or English need a translation. An apostille is often required. Bring originals and copies.

Process and timeline, step by step

1. Preparation (several weeks): business plan, proof of capital and trade-licence certificate.
2. Submit the application: at least eight weeks before you start your activity. From abroad, at the embassy. After lawful entry, also in Austria.
3. AMS expert opinion: The authority forwards the application to the AMS. The AMS assesses the benefit within three weeks.
4. Decision: If the expert opinion is positive, the authority checks the remaining requirements. It decides within eight weeks.
5. Visa D: If needed, apply for it within three months of the notification.
6. Collection: within a further three months, in person, by appointment. Only then may you work.

Costs and duration

• Application fee: €218 (as of 2026). In Vienna, you pay when you apply.
• AMS expert opinion: within three weeks
• Decision: within eight weeks
• Validity: 24 months. If your passport expires sooner, the card is valid only as long as the passport.
• Extra costs: company formation, tax advice, translations, possibly Visa D

Competent authority

You submit the application in person at the Austrian embassy or consulate. After lawful entry, you can also do so at the authority in Austria (migration.gv.at).

In Vienna, the MA 35 – Business Immigration Office is responsible. You need an appointment. The Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) offers advice at the same address. According to the City of Vienna, the advice is free of charge and confidential. It is available in several languages.

After approval: the next steps

1. Register your residence (Wohnsitzanmeldung): within three days of moving in.
2. Found your company and register your trade: You can set up a sole proprietorship or a single-member GmbH via eGründung in the Business Service Portal (Unternehmensserviceportal). This is free of charge. Help is available from the WKO trade registration service.
3. German: According to the WKO, with the Red-White-Red Card, Module 1 of the Integration Agreement (Integrationsvereinbarung) is deemed fulfilled.
4. Implement and document your plan: Collect evidence of investments and hires. It will help with your renewal.
5. Report changes: If you switch to employment, report it as soon as possible. Otherwise, you risk a fine.
6. Renewal: at the earliest three months before expiry. In Vienna, you need a self-disclosure report from a creditor protection association for this.
7. After two years: Settlement Permit. After two years of settlement, it is valid for three years. After five years, Long-term Resident – EU (Daueraufenthalt EU) status is possible.

Forms and online services

• BMI application forms (Form B and the “Red-White-Red Card” declaration)
• Appointment booking MA 35, Business Immigration Office
• eGründung in the Business Service Portal
• WKO Founder Service: business plan and the free financial planning tool Plan4You

Common pitfalls

• Benefit only for your own business. Profit for you alone is not enough.
• Capital only on paper. The authority wants to see a permanent transfer.
• Unrealistic business plan. Overly optimistic figures are not credible.
• Trade licence not clarified. Many activities require a trade licence with proof of qualification (Befähigungsnachweis).
• Starting too early. You may only work once you have the card.

Related routes

• Start-up Founder Card
• Red-White-Red Card 2026
• Staying after your studies

FAQ

How much do I have to invest? There is no fixed minimum amount. An investment of at least €100,000 is a typical example. Jobs, know-how or regional importance can also count.

Do I need to speak German? The official websites do not state a German requirement for this card. German becomes important for later permits. For permanent residence, you need Module 2 (B1).

Can I use this route as managing director of my own GmbH? This is a common question. Whether you count as self-employed depends on your shareholding and your role. Clarify this for your individual case before founding the company.

Can I switch to employment later? Yes, with an application for a change of purpose (Zweckänderungsantrag). You then need to meet the requirements of another card, i.e. points and a job offer.

Can my family come with me? Yes. Family members can receive a Red-White-Red Card plus if they meet the requirements.

Sources and legal basis

• migration.gv.at – Self-employed Key Workers
• oesterreich.gv.at – Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers
• oesterreich.gv.at – Integration Agreement
• wien.gv.at – Red-White-Red Card for Self-employed Key Workers
• wien.gv.at – MA 35 Business Immigration Office
• usp.gv.at – eGründung
• WKO – Residence permits for the self-employed
• WKO – Trade activities by third-country nationals
• Legal basis according to oesterreich.gv.at: § 41 NAG (Red-White-Red Card), § 24 AuslBG (expert opinion for Self-employed Key Workers)
• Settlement and Residence Act (Niederlassungs- und Aufenthaltsgesetz, NAG) in the RIS
• Foreign Nationals Employment Act (Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz, AuslBG) 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.