How To Live In Austria With An Investor Visa

Austria has an intriguing residence-by-investment visa for anyone interested in living in Austria and eventually becoming a permanent resident. If you can financially support yourself through your investments and/or remote work, this is a great way to explore the Alps and travel visa-free throughout Europe. The program has very modest investment requirements and has attracted a lot of competition as there is a low quota, and many people are interested in living in Austria.

WHY AUSTRIA?

Austria is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe, with a GDP per capita of over $50,000 USD. The country is ranked 14th globally in the Prosperity Index Rating, which covers safety, freedom, governance, health, education, and other factors. Austria's economy and political situation are also very stable relative to other European peer countries. The country has a small current account deficit, a low unemployment rate, and below-average inflation.

Because of the country’s economic and political stability, many expats desire to live in Austria. It is also one of the safest places in the world to store gold, as many private gold vault companies allow expats to securely and confidently open accounts. It will also be easy for you to access other services, like banking, healthcare, and education, as a resident of Austria.

Austria is a very geographically diverse country, which can have freezing weather during the winter months in mountainous areas and warmer weather in the summer in major cities. The temperature during the summer months in Vienna is typically between 10-25 degrees Celsius. Austria has six national parks scattered throughout the country, which offer scenic views of glaciers, wetlands, and forests, as well as some of the most attractive views of the Alps. Moreover, most of the world’s top ski resorts are in Switzerland, France, or Austria.

Finally, if you are interested in exploring other parts of Europe, Austria is a beautiful place to live, as there are direct flights to most major European destinations. If you have an investor visa in Austria, you can enjoy visa-free European travel.

Related article: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency

German is the official language of Austria, but many people speak English

AUSTRIA INVESTOR VISA OVERVIEW

If you are an entrepreneur, investor, or remote employee and earn money outside of Austria, this is an excellent visa for you to consider. This visa allows investors to eventually become permanent residents of Austria if they can support themselves through companies outside of Austria.

Language Considerations

German is the official language of Austria, although some people speak other languages like Hungarian, Croatian, and Slovenian. Many people in Austria speak English, but this language is not officially used in the country, unlike some foreign countries. If you want to apply for this visa, you must demonstrate your proficiency in German to be accepted to this program.

Related content: Luxembourg Residency By Investment

There is a quota of around 300 applicants per year for this Investor Visa

Investment Requirements

Austria has no passive investing visa programs, so you must be active when investing. There are specific requirements that you need to meet:

• Individuals must invest at least €40,000 ($43,371 USD) when applying. If you plan to come to Austria with your family, you must invest €80,000 ($86,741 USD) or more. You can deposit this money in a bank account and need to maintain this amount in the account;
• You do not need to purchase an investment property, but you do need to prove that you have accommodation arranged in Austria. You may need to provide your landlord with other information about your visa status and income and provide further documentation;
• You need to speak German at the A1 level to be accepted. If you do not speak any German, there is no need to be intimidated, as the A1 level only demonstrates basic proficiency in German and does not require you to be fluent in German;
• You must also provide proof of health insurance during your entire stay.

One important thing to note about this application is that it is competitive, and the government is selective about who qualifies. There is a quota of around 300 applicants per year, so it is best to try to exceed the minimum requirements.

You also need to demonstrate that you can support yourself long-term through work or investing, as this visa does not allow you to work in Austria. A separate visa exists for highly skilled workers who want to enter Austria and work for local companies.

If you want to become a permanent resident of Austria, this is a great way to get started. Once accepted and spent five years in Austria, you can apply to become a permanent resident.

After you have spent ten years living in Austria, you are eligible to apply for citizenship

CITIZENSHIP OPTIONS FURTHER DOWN THE LINE

If you are interested in Austrian citizenship, it is worthwhile to explore some of the options. However, becoming a citizen after becoming a permanent resident and/or investing in Austria is difficult. It is better to consider CBI programs in other countries if obtaining citizenship is your end goal. After you have spent ten years living in Austria, you are eligible to apply for citizenship. Another option available is Austria’s golden visa program, which requires an investment of €10 million ($10,8 million USD). Austria's final option is €3 million ($3,261,224 USD) invested directly in a government fund. Overall, the option to become a permanent resident is relatively straightforward, but it will be very challenging to become a citizen.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The only major downside to this visa program is that it is not a clear and guaranteed way to obtain citizenship. Moreover, the program is very competitive, only accepting around 300 applicants, so there is a relatively higher risk of rejection. Apart from this, this visa allows you to become a resident of Austria and only requires a €40,000 ($43,371 USD) investment. Moreover, you can travel freely throughout Europe and bring your family. This visa program is one of several options available in Austria which seeks to attract skilled foreign entrepreneurs and workers.