In a low-key ministerial circular released on 11 January and effective 13 January, Austria’s Interior Ministry lifted the minimum financial-means requirement for the popular Residence Permit – Without Gainful Employment. Single applicants must now prove at least €1 273.99 net per month (about €15 290 a year), up four percent on the 2025 level; couples need €2 009.85, with an extra €196.57 for each dependent child.
The permit, often used by pensioners, remote workers and accompanying family members of corporate assignees, hinges on applicants demonstrating a “secure livelihood” without working locally. Immigration lawyers warn that files already lodged but not yet substantively reviewed could be assessed under the new figures unless supplementary bank statements are provided promptly.
For employers the change has hidden costs. Many multinationals top-up allowance packages for spouses who use the permit as a stop-gap while settling in. Human-resources teams should review assignment cost projections and consider boosting dependent allowances or offering company-sponsored health insurance to offset the higher bar.
![Austria quietly raises income threshold for ‘without-work’ residence permits]()
Navigating these shifting financial thresholds can be daunting; VisaHQ’s Austria desk (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) tracks every ministerial update in real time and can prepare bank-balance templates, translate statements and liaise with provincial authorities on your behalf. Whether you are a retiree, a digital nomad or the HR lead of a multinational, their visa specialists can quickly confirm which proof of funds is acceptable and flag any alternative residence options if you fall short.
Critics have taken aim at the lack of public consultation, arguing that sudden rule changes undermine Austria’s competitiveness for location-independent talent. Business chambers are lobbying for a short grace period, but officials say annual indexation is routine and foreseeable.
Prospective applicants are advised to download the new thresholds from provincial authority websites and, where borderline, seek professional advice before transferring funds. Failure to evidence the full amount remains one of the top reasons for permit refusals and costly appeals.
The permit, often used by pensioners, remote workers and accompanying family members of corporate assignees, hinges on applicants demonstrating a “secure livelihood” without working locally. Immigration lawyers warn that files already lodged but not yet substantively reviewed could be assessed under the new figures unless supplementary bank statements are provided promptly.
For employers the change has hidden costs. Many multinationals top-up allowance packages for spouses who use the permit as a stop-gap while settling in. Human-resources teams should review assignment cost projections and consider boosting dependent allowances or offering company-sponsored health insurance to offset the higher bar.
Navigating these shifting financial thresholds can be daunting; VisaHQ’s Austria desk (https://www.visahq.com/austria/) tracks every ministerial update in real time and can prepare bank-balance templates, translate statements and liaise with provincial authorities on your behalf. Whether you are a retiree, a digital nomad or the HR lead of a multinational, their visa specialists can quickly confirm which proof of funds is acceptable and flag any alternative residence options if you fall short.
Critics have taken aim at the lack of public consultation, arguing that sudden rule changes undermine Austria’s competitiveness for location-independent talent. Business chambers are lobbying for a short grace period, but officials say annual indexation is routine and foreseeable.
Prospective applicants are advised to download the new thresholds from provincial authority websites and, where borderline, seek professional advice before transferring funds. Failure to evidence the full amount remains one of the top reasons for permit refusals and costly appeals.
