Why does the residence permit decide?

For self-employed work, third-country nationals do not need approval from the AMS — the Aliens Employment Act only applies to employed jobs. Instead, your residence right counts: your permit must allow self-employed gainful activity.[1][2] Which permits do is clearly regulated — and the name is printed right on your card.

Which permit allows what?

Special cases like the "residence permit — student" have their own rules: you can only work employed with a work permit and limited hours; whether and how self-employed work is possible alongside your studies is best clarified directly with the authority or the WKO founder service.[3]

Working without the right permit is risky

Anyone who works self-employed even though their permit does not allow it risks administrative fines — and puts their next extension or upgrade to a better permit at risk. Clarify it beforehand: a call to the settlement authority or the WKO costs nothing.

How do you start if your permit allows it?

  1. Check your permit

    Look at your card: does it say "Rot-Weiß-Rot – Karte plus", "Daueraufenthalt – EU", "Familienangehöriger" or "Niederlassungsbewilligung"? Then you can work self-employed.

  2. Register your trade

    Free of charge, online or at the authority. You show your passport and your residence permit — here is how registration works.[3]

  3. SVS and taxes, like everyone else

    From now on the normal rules for self-employed people apply: SVS insurance, the small business rule, writing invoices.

  4. Document your income

    To extend your permit, you have to show that you can live off your work. Clean invoices and a simple income list are your best proof.

Newly moving to Austria as a self-employed person?

If you do not have a permit yet and want to come to Austria for self-employment, you need the "Red-White-Red Card for self-employed key workers" — with high requirements on investment or overall economic benefit. For most people the realistic path is different: first a permit through work or family, later a switch to the Card plus.[4]

What if your permit does not (yet) allow self-employed work?

Then do not just "start working anyway" — that puts your status at risk. Instead, check the path to an upgrade: after typically two years, the Red-White-Red Card becomes the Card plus, and after five years of settlement you can apply for EU long-term residence. You can find an overview of every group in the article Who can work self-employed in Austria?

Who helps you with this?

bop supports you after you start: trade registration, the SVS, invoices and every official letter — explained in your language. Sign up on the homepage, no obligation, and you will be there from the start.