🇦🇹 Austria · Cultural Exchange
Residence permit social service workers — requirements, costs & how to apply
Who is eligible
| Minimum monthly income | €2,000 |
| Minimum annual salary | EUR 24,000 |
| Proof of savings | €12,000 |
| Minimum investment | €30,000 |
| Job offer | Required |
| Employer sponsor | Required |
| Health insurance | Required (valid in-country) |
| Age range | 18–60 |
Costs
| Application / consular fee | €218 |
Duration & renewal
Initial stay: 24 months.
How to apply
- Confirm you meet the eligibility above.
- Gather documents and apply via the official portal: https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html.
- Typical processing: ~180 days.
Frequently asked
How much income do I need?
You must show €2,000.
Do I need health insurance?
Yes — valid health insurance in the country is required.
Sources & verification
Every figure on this page is taken from an official government source and dated. Nothing is inferred.
Minimum monthly income
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Minimum annual salary
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Proof of savings
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Minimum investment
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Job offer
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Employer sponsor
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Health insurance
“you need health insurance coverage to apply for the residence permit”
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/03/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Age range
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Application fee
https://www.bmi.gv.at/312_en/34/start.html · verified 2026-06-09
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, source-backed verdict on every route you're eligible for — in 3 minutes.
Get Your Free Verdict →Other Austria routes
Citizenship for Victims of the National Socialist Regime and their Direct Descendants — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Declaration pursuant to § 58c of the Austrian Citizenship Act — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Citizenship — Holocaust Descendants (§ 58c StbG, BGBl. I 96/2019) — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Niederlassungsbewilligung — Künstler (Artist) — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)residence permit volunteer (Aufenthaltsbewilligung Freiwilliger) — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Social Service Employee — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Volunteers — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Red-White-Red Card for graduates — Austria: requirements, costs & how to apply (2026)Compare all Cultural Exchange programs →
More about emigrating to Austria →
Informational only, not legal or immigration advice. Requirements change — always confirm on the official government source linked above before applying. Last verified 2026-06-09.