About Austrian Investor Visa (Residence Permit)
About Austrian Investor Visa (Residence Permit)
The Republic of Austria does not have a special visa application for investors, but it does have a special residence permit application for foreign investors. The application specific to investors in Austria is called the gainful employment exception settlement permit and is the first step towards Austrian citizenship for foreign investors.
Austria is one of only two countries in Europe that offers citizenship by investment. A significant investment offers the investor the opportunity to obtain Austrian citizenship and an EU passport without any prior residency requirements.
Austria Residence Visa Conditions for Foreign Investors
Austrian residence permit requirements for investors are listed below.
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- The applicant must have at least 40,000 euros in his/her bank account.
- The applicant must have a regular income.
- Proof of real estate used for residential purposes must be provided.
- It is necessary to have full health insurance.
- It is required to have at least A1 level German language proficiency certificate.
In addition to the conditions listed above for a trader visa application, the basic Austrian visa eligibility requirements must also be met.
Minimum Income Requirement
The minimum income requirements for an Austrian residence permit visa are tabulated below.
| Applicant | Minimum income requirement |
|---|---|
| Single investors | €1,744.62 |
| Married couples/partners | €2,615.78 |
| Additional fee per child | €269.18 |
Austria Investor Visa Application Process
For the Austrian investor visa application, after the necessary documents are prepared, you must make an appointment for a residence permit from the foreign representative office. On the appointment date, you must go to the consulate in person, submit the document file, complete the biometric procedures and pay the application fee. If the documents are found to be complete and correct, your visa application will be forwarded to the Austrian provincial governorship or duly authorized district governorship.
You must apply for an Austrian investor residence permit at the consular unit of the Austrian Consulate General in Istanbul or the Austrian Embassy in Ankara, depending on your place of residence.
Documents Required for Austrian Investor Residence Visa
The documents required for the Austrian investor residence visa are listed below.
- A valid passport
- Birth Certificate
- Documents that serve as evidence of marriage, divorce, civil union, dissolution of civil union, adoption and other family relationships
- Death certificate for relatives, if any
- Proof of legal ownership of the accommodation in Austria
- Health insurance
- Proof of income, pay stubs or equivalent documents
- Proof of German language proficiency
Appointment Process for Investor Residence Visa
The Austrian investor residence visa appointment process is carried out online via the foreign mission website. It is not possible to make an appointment by phone for investor visa applications.
When creating an appointment, you must select the 'Aufenthaltstitel/residence permit' application category, otherwise your Austria visa appointment request will not be accepted.
The screen for making an appointment through the Austrian Consulate General in Istanbul is as follows.
Austrian Residence Permit Application Fee for Investors
The Austrian residence permit application fee for investors is 100 euros, and the customization cost is 20 euros.
How Long Does It Take to Issue an Austrian Investor Visa?
The Austrian investor visa usually takes between 3 and 7 months.
When can I apply for Austrian citizenship by investment?
Applications for Austrian citizenship through investment are made after residing in Austria for 10 years, 5 of which must be permanent. In Austrian citizenship applications through investment, in some cases, the residence period is accepted as 6 years.
Foreign nationals wishing to obtain Austrian citizenship as investors must not engage in any behaviour that may undermine the internal security of the country during their stay in Austria and must be financially independent.