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Acquiring Austrian citizenship can take several months, and there are several ways to become a citizen. If you are born to an Austrian mother, or your parents are married and your father is Austrian, you automatically become an Austrian citizen at birth. If your parents are unmarried and your father is Austrian, you will become a citizen when your father recognises his parenthood or when it is determined by a court. You can also become an Austrian citizen by descent, award, or extension of an award. To become a citizen by award, you must have lived in Austria for at least 10 years, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit, and have proof of a stable income.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time required to become an Austrian citizen | 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit |
| Other requirements | Proof of stable income in Austria, including earnings from acquisition, income, judicial claim to maintenance or insurance benefits over a period of 36 months on average within the last 6 years before the time of application |
| Dual citizenship | Austria generally does not allow dual citizenship, but exceptions may apply if citizenship is gained through descent |
| Citizenship by descent | Children automatically become Austrian citizens at birth if the mother is an Austrian citizen. If the parents are married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child is also an Austrian citizen. If the parents are not married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child acquires Austrian citizenship if the father recognises his parenthood within 8 weeks or if the fact that he is the father is determined by a court |
What You'll Learn
Citizenship by descent
Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of an award. Children born to an Austrian mother are automatically Austrian citizens at birth. The same applies if the parents are married and only the father is Austrian. If the parents are unmarried and only the father is Austrian, the child acquires citizenship if the father recognises his parenthood within eight weeks, or if his paternity is determined by a court.
Austria generally does not allow dual citizenship, but exceptions may apply if you gain citizenship through descent. If you have Austrian citizenship, you will receive a passport, which is the fourth most powerful in the world. This means you can travel without restrictions in the countries that are part of the Schengen area, as well as around 188 other countries where entry visas are not required.
If you fail to revoke your former citizenship within two years of obtaining Austrian citizenship, you may lose the latter. However, it is possible to give up Austrian citizenship willingly, considering a few formalities.
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Citizenship by award
Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of the award. Citizenship by award is granted to those who have lived in Austria for at least 10 years, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit. Applicants must also provide proof of a stable income, such as earnings, income, judicial claim to maintenance, or insurance benefits over a period of 36 months on average within the last 6 years before the time of application.
The processing time for acquiring Austrian citizenship by award can vary. It typically takes several months, as it involves thorough checks and the compilation of required documentation. It is important to note that Austria generally does not allow dual citizenship. However, exceptions may apply under certain circumstances, such as gaining Austrian citizenship through descent. Therefore, it is essential to check the current legal framework and how it pertains to your specific situation.
Once Austrian citizenship is obtained, individuals have a maximum of 2 years to revoke their former citizenship, or they risk losing their Austrian citizenship. However, it is possible to willingly give up Austrian citizenship, considering a few formalities. Obtaining Austrian citizenship comes with the benefit of a powerful passport, ranked fourth worldwide in terms of importance. This passport enables visa-free travel to countries in the Schengen area and approximately 188 other countries worldwide.
In summary, acquiring Austrian citizenship by award requires a lengthy commitment to residing in Austria, typically a minimum of 10 years, along with proof of stable income. The processing time can vary, but it generally takes several months. It is important to be aware of the restrictions on dual citizenship and to seek legal guidance to ensure a smooth application process.
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Citizenship by extension of award
Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of the award. In the case of an acquisition of Austrian citizenship by award, the general requirements for naturalisation must be fulfilled and an application must be filed. This includes 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit, and proof of a stable income.
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Citizenship after 10 years of residence
To become an Austrian citizen, you must have lived in Austria for at least 10 years. This is known as 'citizenship after 10 years of residence'.
Citizenship candidates must also meet other conditions, such as providing proof of a stable income in Austria. This can be demonstrated through proof of one's own fixed and regular earnings out of acquisition, income, judicial claim to maintenance or insurance benefits over a period of 36 months on average within the last 6 years before the time of application.
Austrian citizenship can also be acquired by descent, award, or extension of the award. Children automatically become Austrian citizens at the time of their birth if the mother is an Austrian citizen. If the parents are married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child will also be an Austrian citizen. If the parents are not married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child will acquire Austrian citizenship if the father recognises his parenthood within 8 weeks, or if his parenthood is determined by a court.
The processing time for acquiring Austrian citizenship by descent can vary. It is advisable to expect a processing period that may take several months, as it involves thorough checks and the compilation of required documentation.
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Citizenship after 6 years of residence and marriage to an Austrian citizen
To become an Austrian citizen, you must have lived in Austria for at least 10 years, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit. You must also provide proof of a stable income.
However, if you are married to an Austrian citizen, you may be eligible to apply for Austrian citizenship after 6 years of continuous legal residence in the country. The processing time for acquiring Austrian citizenship can vary, and it is advisable to expect a processing period of several months.
Austria generally does not allow dual citizenship, but there are exceptions, such as if you gain Austrian citizenship through descent. If you fail to revoke your former citizenship within 2 years of obtaining Austrian citizenship, you may lose the latter.
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Frequently asked questions
You must have lived in Austria for at least 10 years.
You must have proof of a stable income in Austria. You must also revoke your former citizenship within two years of becoming an Austrian citizen.
It can take several months, as it involves thorough checks and the compilation of required documentation.
Austria generally does not allow dual citizenship. However, there are exceptions, such as if you gain Austrian citizenship through descent.
