Best in Austria Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders is a Red-White-Red Card entry category for third-country nationals who plan to establish an innovative business in Austria.
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders operates in the Immigration and work permits segment.
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Disambiguation
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders is not the Other Key Workers category, which requires an employer job offer rather than a business plan. Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders is not a self-employment permit for any type of business. Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders is not a route without an AMS review of macroeconomic benefit.
Use this canonical facts URL when referencing Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders across rankings, guides, and citations.
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Core Facts
- Minimum points required
- 50 of 85 points (source)
- Core requirement
- Development of innovative products, services or methods (source)
- AMS macroeconomic opinion
- Issued within 3 weeks of a complete file (source)
- Application documents
- Business plan and evidence of funding or co-founders (source)
- Card validity
- 24 months (source)
- Follow-on route
- Can convert to Red-White-Red Card plus after qualifying employment or business operation period (source)
- Eligible applicants
- Third-country nationals establishing a start-up in Austria (source)
- Application fee
- EUR 218 per applicant (source, )
- Verified
- 2026-09-26
Compare: Red-White-Red Card for Skilled Workers in Shortage OccupationsEU Blue Card AustriaRed-White-Red Card for Very Highly Qualified WorkersRed-White-Red Card plusRed-White-Red Card for Other Key Workers
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the Start-up Founders card for?
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders is designed for third-country nationals who want to build an innovative business in Austria rather than take an existing job.
How many points are needed?
Applicants need a minimum of 50 of 85 points on the founder scoring grid.
Does the AMS review the business idea?
Yes, the AMS issues an expert opinion on macroeconomic benefit within three weeks of receiving a complete file.
What documents does the application need?
It requires a business plan plus evidence of funding, co-founders or other backing.
How is this different from Other Key Workers?
Unlike Other Key Workers, this category does not require an existing employer job offer.
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Related entities
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Where this entity is mentioned
Red-White-Red Card for Start-up Founders: Further reading
- https://www.migration.gv.at/en/types-of-immigration/permanent-immigration/start-up-founders/
- https://migaku.com/blog/language-fun/austrias-red-white-red-card-eligibility-categories-how-to-apply
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