Austria’s Ministry of the Interior has quietly published the new subsistence benchmarks that third-country nationals must meet when applying for, or renewing, non-work residence permits in 2026. According to a 7 January update circulated by immigration consultancy Envoy Global, single applicants now need to prove a regular net income of at least €1,273.99 per month, married couples €2,009.85, with an extra €196.57 for every dependent child. The figures track the annual adjustment of Austria’s so-called "Ausgleichszulagenrichtsatz" (supplementary allowance), which is tied to indexation in the social-security system.([envoyglobal.com](https://www.envoyglobal.com/news-alert/austria-minimum-income-requirements-for-residence-permits-2026/?utm_source=openai))
For globally mobile employees on local Austrian contracts the change is largely administrative, but it can be a deal-breaker for self-funded retirees, digital nomads and family members who rely on passive income or foreign pensions. Immigration lawyers are advising HR teams to audit salary levels for staff moving from Red-White-Red or EU Blue Card status to longer-term settlement routes, because those salaries must still exceed the higher of collective-bargaining minima or the new subsistence rate.
The thresholds also matter for companies that sponsor "key personnel" whose spouses receive dependent residence cards: if the principal employee’s net household pay dips below the new limits after tax, renewal can be refused. Payroll managers therefore need to factor in 14 annual salary payments, the Austrian norm, when calculating compliance buffers.
![Austria raises minimum-income thresholds for 2026 residence-permit applications]()
VisaHQ’s Austrian desk can simplify this process for both employers and individual applicants by flagging the latest subsistence benchmarks early, generating tailored document checklists and submitting files through its secure portal. For a quick overview of its Austria-specific services, visit https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
Although the 2026 increase is modest—about 4 % year-on-year—it coincides with higher health-insurance premiums and municipal fees. Budgeting accurately for relocations to Vienna, Graz or Linz will thus require a holistic cost-projection that includes these ancillary rises.
Practically, applicants must present bank statements or payslips covering the three months before filing. Envoy Global warns that rental guarantees, parental allowances or social benefits that only become available after a permit is issued do not count toward the income test, so early planning is essential, particularly for January filings when bank holidays slow down processing times.
For globally mobile employees on local Austrian contracts the change is largely administrative, but it can be a deal-breaker for self-funded retirees, digital nomads and family members who rely on passive income or foreign pensions. Immigration lawyers are advising HR teams to audit salary levels for staff moving from Red-White-Red or EU Blue Card status to longer-term settlement routes, because those salaries must still exceed the higher of collective-bargaining minima or the new subsistence rate.
The thresholds also matter for companies that sponsor "key personnel" whose spouses receive dependent residence cards: if the principal employee’s net household pay dips below the new limits after tax, renewal can be refused. Payroll managers therefore need to factor in 14 annual salary payments, the Austrian norm, when calculating compliance buffers.
VisaHQ’s Austrian desk can simplify this process for both employers and individual applicants by flagging the latest subsistence benchmarks early, generating tailored document checklists and submitting files through its secure portal. For a quick overview of its Austria-specific services, visit https://www.visahq.com/austria/.
Although the 2026 increase is modest—about 4 % year-on-year—it coincides with higher health-insurance premiums and municipal fees. Budgeting accurately for relocations to Vienna, Graz or Linz will thus require a holistic cost-projection that includes these ancillary rises.
Practically, applicants must present bank statements or payslips covering the three months before filing. Envoy Global warns that rental guarantees, parental allowances or social benefits that only become available after a permit is issued do not count toward the income test, so early planning is essential, particularly for January filings when bank holidays slow down processing times.
