Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders, Austria

The Red-White-Red Card is available to startup founders. It is managed on a points allocation basis with work experience, qualifications, startup funding, capital, language capability and membership of accelerators/incubators all being eligible to earn points. There is a point system that is used in analyzing the application submitted.

One can apply for this program if one can:

1. establish a company in order to develop and launch on the market innovative products, services, processing methods or technologies;
2. to that end submit a consistent business plan for establishing and running that company;
3. personally exert controlling influence on the management of the newly set-up company;
4. can prove capital for the company to be founded amounting to € 50.000 minimum with an equity share of at least 50 %;
5. can score 50 points minimum according to the application criteria (https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/start-up-founders/) .

As a start-up founder you will be awarded a Red-White-Red Card for the first two years, and subsequently a Red-White-Red Card plus, provided that all legal requirements are met. The Red-White-Red Card plus entitles you to fixed-term settlement and unlimited labour market access (self-employment and gainful employment not limited to a specific employer).