Residency · Europe
Residency · EuropeAustria Settlement Permit (Private Means)
Residence in Austria for people with substantial regular passive income who will not work, subject to an annual quota.
Decision summary
- What do you obtain?
- Austria Settlement Permit (Private Means)Route to citizenshipNo investment route;
- What does your family invest?
- No investment. Regular monthly income of at least EUR 2,616.78 (single) or EUR 4,128.24 (couple), plus EUR 403.76 per child (2026 figures).
- What is additional?
- Information pending verification
- How long does it take?
- Information pending verification
- Must you travel or live there?
- The holder is expected to live in Austria; the permit is usually issued for 12 months and renewed.
- What is the main drawback?
- Approval depends on a free quota place; general residence conditions (accommodation, health insurance, language) also apply.
- Family inclusion
- Spouse, Children · conditions apply
- Program status
- Operational
Overview
Austria's settlement permit 'except gainful employment' lets financially independent people live in Austria without working. It is quota-based and allocated first come, first served from the start of each year.
Applicants need regular income of at least double the standard reference amounts — for 2026, EUR 2,616.78 a month for a single person and EUR 4,128.24 for a couple, plus EUR 403.76 per child — from pensions, assets or investments abroad.
There is no investment route to citizenship. Naturalisation normally requires long residence and German.
Path to citizenship
Ordinary naturalisation rules only
No investment route; naturalisation follows the ordinary rules.
See every residency route to citizenship →Who this program may not suit
Taken from the facts recorded on this page. It may not suit you if:
- You cannot meet the stay rule: The holder is expected to live in Austria; the permit is usually issued for 12 months and renewed.
- You want a second passport: this residence does not lead to citizenship by itself.
Investment pathways
- Investment pathway
- Settlement permit for people with sufficient regular income who do not work in Austria (quota-based).
- Minimum investment
- No investment. Regular monthly income of at least EUR 2,616.78 (single) or EUR 4,128.24 (couple), plus EUR 403.76 per child (2026 figures).
Checked against official programme sources
Family inclusion
Spouse
Named in the rule
Children
Named in the rule
Parents
Not named in the rule
Siblings
Not named in the rule
Ages, dependency and other conditions are in the rule below; confirm them for each family member.
- Eligible dependents
- Spouse and dependent children; the required liquid funds rise with family size.
Checked against official programme sources
Application process
- 1Applicants normally apply in person before entering Austria, at the Austrian embassy or consulate responsible for their place of residence; those lawfully in Austria may apply to the local settlement authority.
- 2The embassy checks the application is complete and sends it to the settlement authority, which checks the conditions, including income of twice the standard reference rates and a free quota place.
- 3Quota places are given first come, first served from the start of each year, and the authority must decide without delay and within 90 days at the latest.
- 4If approved, the applicant must apply for the entry visa within three months of being notified and collect the permit in person from the settlement authority within a further three months.
- 5The permit is usually issued for 12 months; an extension must be filed in person before it expires but no earlier than three months before, or it counts as a new application.
Steps and timings can change; your advisor confirms the current process before you apply.
Investment and fees
Qualifying investment amounts and government fees are always shown separately. We do not publish single "total price" figures, as the total depends on family composition and circumstances.
- To be confirmed
- Government fees · Due diligence fees · Estimated additional costs · Investment holding period
Checked against official programme sources
Residence requirements
- Residence requirements
- The holder is expected to live in Austria; the permit is usually issued for 12 months and renewed.
- Renewal requirements
- Usually issued for 12 months, renewable while the conditions are met.
- Potential route to citizenship
- No investment route; naturalisation follows the ordinary rules.
Checked against official programme sources
Due diligence and documentation
Applicants and included dependants undergo background and source-of-funds checks by the relevant authority. Documentation requirements are confirmed during preparation — no documents are needed for an initial consultation.
Considerations, limitations and risks
Important restrictions
Approval depends on a free quota place; general residence conditions (accommodation, health insurance, language) also apply.
- Published entry thresholds are not comprehensive costs; taxes, professional fees and dependent charges may apply.
- Immigration law, visa access and naturalisation rules can change without notice.
- Individual eligibility depends on nationality, financial background, due diligence and program-specific criteria.
Status and authority
- Operational status
- Operational
- Official government authority
- Federal Ministry of the Interior, Austria (provincial immigration authorities)
- To be confirmed
- Legal basis · Nationality restrictions
Programme rules change; your advisor confirms every figure before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I invest my way to residence in Austria?
Not through a fixed investment. The usual route for financially independent people is the quota-based settlement permit, which requires substantial regular income and no work in Austria.
What is the minimum investment for Austria Settlement Permit (Private Means)?
No investment. Regular monthly income of at least EUR 2,616.78 (single) or EUR 4,128.24 (couple), plus EUR 403.76 per child (2026 figures).
Can my family be included?
Spouse and dependent children; the required liquid funds rise with family size.
Is there a minimum stay requirement for Austria Settlement Permit (Private Means)?
The holder is expected to live in Austria; the permit is usually issued for 12 months and renewed.
How long does the process take?
Timeframes depend on the authority and the completeness of your application. An advisor can provide current guidance.
Does the Austria Settlement Permit (Private Means) lead to citizenship?
No investment route; naturalisation follows the ordinary rules.
Is approval guaranteed?
No. Every application is decided by the government concerned after due diligence, and requirements can change.
Discuss Austria with an advisor.
Share your objectives in confidence. An advisor will outline the options that may be relevant to your family and circumstances.