Austria

About Austria

Austria offers a high quality of life, with excellent healthcare, education, and public services. Its economy is strong, providing good job opportunities, especially in industries like technology and engineering. The country is also known for its beautiful landscapes, rich culture, and safety. Additionally, Austria’s central location in Europe makes it ideal for travel and connections within the EU. All of the above makes Austria a desirable place of residence.

Living in Austria

Austria is a highly appealing country, with its capital, Vienna, frequently recognized for its exceptional quality of life. The nation combines economic stability, a clean and safe environment, and excellent infrastructure, making it a fantastic place to live. Austria boasts a rich cultural scene, featuring renowned museums, music festivals, and stunning architecture. The country is also known for its breathtaking natural beauty, including snow-covered mountains, lush green countryside, and lakes. As one of Europe’s wealthiest nations, Austria has a strong, well-developed economy, with the service sector accounting for about two-thirds of its GDP. Its economy thrives on robust trade ties with Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe.

Austria is an ideal destination for establishing residence within the EU, and it stands out as one of the few EU countries offering citizenship and a passport to significant investors without requiring prior residence, in exchange for a capital investment.

Person of Independent Means Visa

A person of independent means visa, also known as a Austrian Golden Visa, is a visa for foreign nationals who can demonstrate a steady income from outside a country. For those seeking to pursue this route, Austria offers residence in an EU country with minimal requirements. The only key criteria include having sufficient funds, accommodations or place of residence in Austria, a health insurance plan which provides full cover across the country and knowledge of the German language at the A1 level.

One key benefit of this route is that obtaining an Austrian residence permit will allow you to travel to all of Europe’s Schengen countries without requiring a visa. Additionally, you may apply for an Austrian Citizenship after 10 years of residence.

Citizenship by Investment Route

Section 10 (6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act allows the government to grant citizenship to foreign individuals in recognition of extraordinary merit. This merit can take various forms, including economic contributions, such as capital investments or other economic benefits to Austria. However, citizenship is not awarded solely based on financial contributions. The investor must make an exceptional contribution in addition to the investment, such as introducing new technologies or generating a significant number of jobs. Typically, substantial direct investment is required, as passive investments in assets like government bonds or real estate do not meet the criteria. Each case is considered on an individual basis.