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General conditions for the issue of residence permits

General information

A residence permit can only be granted if all the general and specific eligibility criteria are met and there are no grounds for refusing the application.

You can find out what the specific eligibility criteria are and which documents must be submitted with each application for a residence permit to prove that these criteria are met on the page relating to the relevant purpose of stay.

General requirements

Secure livelihood

In general the authority may issue a resicence permit  only if the third-country national has a regular income during his or her stay, meaning that there is no financial burden on local and regional authorities (at federal, state, or municipal level). Income is sufficient if it is at least at the level of the relevant equalisation supplement reference rate.

Equalisation supplement reference rate from 1 January 2026:

  • For single persons: 1.308,39 Euro
  • For married couples: 2.064,12 Euro
  • For each child: an additional 201,88 Euro

In principle, these amounts must be available after deduction of regular monthly costs (such as rent, credit instalments, etc.) in so far as these exceed 386,43 Euro (known as the ‘cost of room and board’ under Paragraph 292 paragraph 3 of the ASVG for 2026).

The net monthly income must therefore be at least equal to the reference rates after deduction of living costs.

Not accepted: proof of social benefits to which entitlement would arise only after the issue of a residence permit, in particular welfare benefits or the equalisation supplement.

Proof of sufficient means of support is not required for the granting of the following residence permits:

Health insurancec

During his or her stay in Austria, the third-country national must have health insurance covering ‘all risks’ and subject to payment in Austria.

If compulsory insurance applies (for example, due to employment in Austria), the insurance is sufficient in any case. Voluntary insurance under the Austrian social security system is also sufficient if benefits can be claimed immediately upon the start of cover (for example, in the case of co-insurance for spouses or registered partners, or voluntary insurance for students).

However, private insurance that provides the same level of cover as statutory compulsory insurance is also sufficient. In any case, simply providing proof of travel health insurance is not sufficient.

Accommodation

As a rule the third-country national must be entitled to adequate accommodation (e.g. on the basis of a letting agreement) for a family of comparable size. In the case of spouses or registered partners, it is sufficient for one of them to be named in the tenancy agreement or the land register.

Advice

Accommodation provided free of charge, which may be withdrawn at any time without notice, does not meet this requirement, as it does not entitle the third-country national to be granted accommodation.

Proof may be provided by submitting a right of residence agreement.

Proof of accommodation is not required for the granting of the following residence permits:

However, accommodation costs must be taken into account when calculating maintenance (insofar as proof of a secure means of support is required for the residence permit).

Advice

Proof of a secure means of support and entitlement to accommodation may be provided by means of a declaration of liability from a third party. However, this is only possible if it is expressly provided for in relation to the relevant purpose of stay.

No threat to public order or security

The stay must not endanger public order or security or be linked to terrorist or extremist activities or substantially affect Austria’s relations with other States.

Proof of German language proficiency, if required

For certain residence permits (red-white-red – card plus, settlement permit, settlement permit – excluding gainful employment, settlement permit – relatives, family member, settlement permit – artist and settlement permit – special cases of employment) proof of a basic knowledge of the German language is required at the time of initial issue (German before immigration). As a rule, the holder of such a residence permit must then provide evidence of compliance with the integration agreement within two years.

Further information on this can be found under proof of German language proficiency ('German before immogration') and integration agreement.

Quota places where applicable

The availability of a quota place is a prerequisite for the granting of certain residence permits. The quota limits the maximum number of residence permits that may be granted each year. The Federal Government, in agreement with the National Council, decides for each calendar year how many residence permits may be granted for specific purposes. This is set out in the Settlement Regulation.

Examples of residence permits subject to quota restrictions include the ‘settlement permit excluding gainful employment’ and certain residence permits for family reunification with third-country nationals.

You can find out whether a particular residence permit requires a quota place under the relevant purpose of residence.

Documents required

The following documents are always required when applying for a residence permit (unless an exception is specified above):

  • Valid travel document (e.g. passport); please note: your travel document must be in your current name; this means that following marriage or divorce, you must present a travel document in your new name. This requirement does not apply to the first application for a child who is a third-country national, made within six months of the child’s birth, if the child does not yet have a valid travel document.)
  • Photograph no older than half a year (size: 45 x 35 mm)
  • If required: Marriage certificate, certificate of partnership, adoption certificate, proof or certificate of family relationship
  • Proof of legal entitlement to adequate accommodation, such as letting agreements, preliminary letting agreements or title deeds
  • Proof of health insurance covering all risks
  • Proof of a secure livelihood (in particular pay slips; pay certificates; employment contracts; confirmation of pension, retirement or other insurance benefits; proof of sufficient investment capital or own assets) – not accepted: proof of social benefits to which entitlement would arise only after the issue of a residence permit, in particular welfare benefits or the equalisation suplement.
  • For initial applications, proof of German language proficiency at A1 level may be required if German language proficiency must be demonstrated prior to immigration.
  • For renewal applications, proof of completion of Module 1 of the Integration Agreement may be required.
  • In individual cases, it may be necessary to provide further documents (e.g. a criminal record extract or similar, and a current self-declaration from the records of a creditors’ protection association).

The authorities may require documents which were not drafted in German to be submitted in German translation. In addition, the authorities may require that documents be submitted in notarised form.

Obstacles to the issue of residents permits

A residence permit may not be issued to a third-country national if:

  • he/she is the subject of a valid entry ban pursuant to Paragraph 53 of the FPG or a residence ban pursuant to Paragraph 67,
  • he/she is subject to a return decision issued by another EEA State or Switzerland,
  • there is an enforceable return decision and eighteen months have not yet elapsed since the removal; no waiting period applies following voluntary departure and the submission of an application abroad,
  • a marriage, registered partnership or adoption has been concluded for the purpose of enabling a foreign national to reside in Austria,
  • the duration of the authorised stay has been exceeded, whether subject to or exempt from a visa, or
  • he/she has been convicted of bypassing border control or unauthorised entry into Austria in the last 12 month

The above cases of a valid entry or residence ban; return decision; and marriage, registered partnership or adoption concluded for the purpose of enabling a foreign national to reside in Austria are compelling grounds for refusal. No residence permit will therefore be issued in such cases.

In the case of other grounds for refusing a residence permit, or where one or more general conditions are not met, a residence permit must nevertheless be granted if this is necessary to uphold private or family life within the meaning of Article 8 of the ECHR.

Last update: 10/08/2026
Responsible for the content: Federal Ministry of the Interior
Translated by the European Commission
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General conditions for the issue of residence permits