Red-White-Red Card — Startup Founder

Overview

Austria introduced a dedicated RWR Card category for startup founders. Unlike the standard RWR Card, there is no points calculation — instead, an expert jury assesses the business plan for innovation, scalability, and economic contribution. The founder must demonstrate sufficient capital to fund the startup and support themselves, and the business must create value for the Austrian economy (new technology, innovation, or significant employment). The permit is issued for 2 years, with the same progression to RWR Card Plus and permanent residence as other RWR Card categories.

Eligibility

Application pathway

1. 01

   Develop your business plan

   Create a comprehensive plan demonstrating innovation, scalability, and Austrian economic value.

2. 02

   Submit application with business plan

   Apply at the Austrian consulate or domestically. The business plan is forwarded to an expert jury for assessment.

3. 03

   Jury assessment

   The expert jury evaluates the innovation, viability, and economic contribution. This adds 2–4 weeks to processing.

4. 04

   Receive RWR Card and build the startup

   On approval, receive the RWR Card for 2 years. Progress to RWR Card Plus after 2 years, then permanent residence after 5 years.

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Compare Republic of Austria with

• 🇳🇱 Kingdom of the Netherlands
• 🇱🇹 Republic of Lithuania
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Related routes

• Red-White-Red Card (Rot-Weiß-Rot-Karte)

  Austria's criteria-based work and residence permit for qualified third-country workers, with category-specific 55-point, 70-point, graduate, self-employed, and start-up routes.