Austria
Central Europe · informational research only · no verified delivery partner published
Austria's residence routes are strongly points-based (Red-White-Red Card) and tied to labour, education and economic contribution, rather than a pure investment purchase. A citizenship-by-investment 'pilot' has been referenced in media but is not an established purchasable route.
Primary residence route
Red-White-Red Card (points-based)
EU travel
Yes — Schengen
CBI status
Not established — treat media claims as proposed/under-review
Settlement
After qualifying residence (typically ~5 years, subject to conditions)
Overview
Austria operates the Red-White-Red Card (rot-weiß-rot card) as a points-based work and entrepreneur residence system, plus a specific 'Red-White-Red Card: Settlement' scheme.
Media frequently conflates Austria with a 'citizenship for investment' offering. As of the research cutoff, no large-scale, reliably documented citizenship-by-investment program is active in Austria; any such 'pilot' should be treated as proposed/under-review.
We publish the Austrian content as an informational orientation so applicants understand the actual, rule-based route rather than a marketed 'Austrian passport' product.
0 draft route records in Austria
No route record has been published for this jurisdiction yet. Coverage does not imply provider availability.
Physical presence note
Residence is tied to the basis of the permit (employment, study, entrepreneur activity, settlement). Absence rules vary by permit subtype — see the program page.
PR & naturalization
Settlement permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung) then naturalization typically after roughly 10 years of residence (shorter for exceptional integration), subject to current law and conditions.
Tax note
Austrian tax residence and non-dom treatment depend on the center-of-vital-interest and physical-presence facts; refer to a qualified tax adviser. Tax advice is given only by a qualified tax professional.
Documents note
Typical: passports, qualifications, proof of funds or employment, language evidence, health insurance. A licensed Austrian professional issues the case-specific final checklist.
Frequently asked
Can I buy Austrian citizenship with money?
Not via an established, documented investment-citizenship program as of the research cutoff. Austria's route is points and integration based, and media claims about a 'CBI pilot' are not a reliable guarantee of a purchasable passport.