Austria’s Interior Ministry has quietly tightened the so-called “secure livelihood” requirement that third-country nationals must meet when applying for a Residence Permit – Without Gainful Employment. A circular released on 8 January but taking effect retroactively from 1 January 2026 sets the new net-income floor at €1,273.99 per month for single applicants and €2,009.85 for married couples, with an extra €196.57 for every dependent child. The figures track the annual indexation of the Ausgleichszulagenrichtsatz, Austria’s social-assistance benchmark, and represent roughly a four-percent rise on 2025 levels. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
For corporate-mobility teams the change is a double-edged sword. Salaried assignees on Red-White-Red or EU Blue Card schemes already earn well above the new minima, so compliance is largely an exercise in paperwork. By contrast, self-funded retirees, digital nomads, accompanying parents and other non-workers who rely on passive income or foreign pensions may suddenly find themselves below the line. Renewal applications can be refused if household income falls short after tax, so HR departments are being urged to run “stress tests” on salaries, sabbaticals and spouse career breaks. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
![Austria raises subsistence-income test for 2026 “non-work” residence permits]()
Individuals and mobility managers who need a quick, reliable way to verify compliance can plug their numbers into VisaHQ’s dedicated Austria residence-permit calculator, download personalised document checklists, or book a premium file review through the company’s portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/. The platform distills ever-shifting income thresholds, health-insurance rules and municipal fees into plain English, letting applicants spot gaps—and solutions—before they face the immigration desk.
Practicalities matter. Applicants must prove the income with bank statements or pay-slips covering the three months before filing; rental guarantees, child benefits and other allowances that only accrue *after* a permit is issued do not count. Because most Austrian employers pay wages in fourteen instalments each year, payroll teams must make sure every monthly amount exceeds the threshold after deductions. The proof-of-funds hike therefore dovetails with January increases in compulsory health-insurance premia and municipal service charges, forcing some companies to top up cost-of-living allowances for long-term assignees in Vienna, Graz or Linz. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
Visa consultancies such as VisaHQ have already updated their online eligibility calculators and are encouraging clients to submit renewal files early in case the migration authorities introduce additional indexation in July. Although appeals are possible, a refusal suspends legal stay and can jeopardise future Schengen visa applications, so mobility managers are advised to flag the new figures to any employee or dependent planning unpaid leave or a switch to part-time work in 2026. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
For corporate-mobility teams the change is a double-edged sword. Salaried assignees on Red-White-Red or EU Blue Card schemes already earn well above the new minima, so compliance is largely an exercise in paperwork. By contrast, self-funded retirees, digital nomads, accompanying parents and other non-workers who rely on passive income or foreign pensions may suddenly find themselves below the line. Renewal applications can be refused if household income falls short after tax, so HR departments are being urged to run “stress tests” on salaries, sabbaticals and spouse career breaks. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
Individuals and mobility managers who need a quick, reliable way to verify compliance can plug their numbers into VisaHQ’s dedicated Austria residence-permit calculator, download personalised document checklists, or book a premium file review through the company’s portal at https://www.visahq.com/austria/. The platform distills ever-shifting income thresholds, health-insurance rules and municipal fees into plain English, letting applicants spot gaps—and solutions—before they face the immigration desk.
Practicalities matter. Applicants must prove the income with bank statements or pay-slips covering the three months before filing; rental guarantees, child benefits and other allowances that only accrue *after* a permit is issued do not count. Because most Austrian employers pay wages in fourteen instalments each year, payroll teams must make sure every monthly amount exceeds the threshold after deductions. The proof-of-funds hike therefore dovetails with January increases in compulsory health-insurance premia and municipal service charges, forcing some companies to top up cost-of-living allowances for long-term assignees in Vienna, Graz or Linz. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
Visa consultancies such as VisaHQ have already updated their online eligibility calculators and are encouraging clients to submit renewal files early in case the migration authorities introduce additional indexation in July. Although appeals are possible, a refusal suspends legal stay and can jeopardise future Schengen visa applications, so mobility managers are advised to flag the new figures to any employee or dependent planning unpaid leave or a switch to part-time work in 2026. ([visahq.com](https://www.visahq.com/news/2026-01-09/at/austria-lifts-minimum-income-thresholds-for-2026-non-work-residence-permits/))
