Settlement permit

The residence title "Settlement Permit" entitles the holder to settle and to exercise a self-employed activity.

The "settlement permit" is usually issued for twelve months. You can find more information on the period of validity of residence permits here.

Who can receive a „settlement permit“?

A settlement permit can be granted in the following circumstances:

As an extension of the “red white red card”

to holders of a “red white red card" for self-employed persons, if a self-employed activity was carried out in the last two years and this activity is to be continued.
to holders of a “red white red card" for start-up founders, if the founded company is to be continued.
to holders of a “red white red card" for dependent employees, if the issue of a a “red white red card plus" is not possible.

To family members

of holders of a “settlement permit”
of holders of a “settlement permit artist”
of holders of a “settlement permit special cases of gainful employment” (unless that residence permit is based on an activity according to § 1 Abs. 2 lit. I AuslBG)
of holders of a “settlement permit relative”, if a quota place is available.

Family members are spouses, registered partners and minor unmarried children including adopted or stepchildren (up to the age of 18). Spouses and registered partners must have already reached the age of 21 at the time of application.

Furthermore, in the following cases:

to holders of a "long term resident” permit from another EU member state, provided that a quota place is available.
Holders of a "long term resident” permit of another EU member state must submit the application for a "Settlement Permit" within three months of entering Austria.
to holders of a residence permit under the Asylum Act, if they have already held a residence permit under the Asylum Act for 12 months and have neither fulfilled Module 1 of the Integration Agreement nor are they engaged in gainful employment at the time of the decision and the monthly negligibility threshold is reached with this income. If one of these conditions is met, a "Red-White-Red Card plus" can be issued.
to long term partners or extended relatives of EEA-nationals or Swiss nationals.

What are the requirements for a "settlement permit"?

The general and special conditions for the granting of a residence permit must be fulfilled.

Further information on the general requirements can be found here. You will find a list of the necessary documents in the respective application form.

Last update: 1 October 2022