Austrian Passport Power: Global Ranking Explored

The Austrian passport is one of the strongest in the world. As of January 2024, Austrian citizens could travel to 194 countries and territories without a visa or with a visa on arrival, ranking the Austrian passport 3rd in the world in terms of travel freedom. Every Austrian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union, and the passport allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

Austrian passport holders can enter around 190 countries without a visa

An Austrian passport is an identity document issued to citizens of Austria to facilitate international travel. Austrian passport holders can enter around 190 countries without a visa, including Canada, Hong Kong, the rest of the EU, and Europe's Schengen Area. This makes the Austrian passport one of the best travel documents in the world, ranking among the top 10 strongest passports on the Henley Passport Index.

Every Austrian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card, allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Austrian citizens can live and work in any country within the EU as a result of the right of free movement and residence granted in Article 21 of the EU Treaty.

Austria is the only Western European country that offers the possibility to obtain citizenship by investment and an EU passport without prior residence requirements. Under the citizenship by investment provisions, an applicant is required to invest actively in the Austrian economy, for example, by creating jobs or generating new export sales.

Austrian passports are the same burgundy colour as other European passports, with the Austrian coat of arms emblazoned in the centre of the front cover. The words "EUROPÄISCHE UNION" (English: European Union) and "REPUBLIK ÖSTERREICH" (English: Republic of Austria) are inscribed above the coat of arms, and the word "REISEPASS" (English: Passport) is inscribed below it. Austrian passports have the standard biometric symbol at the bottom and use the standard EU design.

Austria allows its citizens to hold a second passport

An Austrian passport is an identity document issued to citizens of Austria to facilitate international travel. Every Austrian citizen is also a citizen of the European Union. The passport, along with the national identity card, allows for free rights of movement and residence in any of the states of the European Economic Area and Switzerland. As of 4 January 2024, Austrian citizens had visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 194 countries and territories, ranking the Austrian passport 3rd in the world in terms of travel freedom.

Austria allows its citizens to hold a second Austrian passport to circumvent certain travel restrictions. For example, some Arab countries, such as Iraq (except Iraqi Kurdistan), Oman, and Mauritania, do not allow entry to Austrian passport holders with Israeli passport stamps. However, holding an Austrian passport and a foreign passport at the same time, i.e., dual citizenship, is restricted under the current Austrian nationality law. In general, only those who acquired multiple citizenships at birth can have dual/multiple citizenship. Austrians who voluntarily acquire citizenship of another country automatically lose their Austrian citizenship unless they have obtained permission to retain their Austrian citizenship beforehand.

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of the award. Children automatically become Austrian citizens at birth if the mother is an Austrian citizen or, if the parents are married, the father is 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 recognizes his parenthood within 8 weeks or if it is determined by a court. In cases where the mother is a national of another country, the child will have dual citizenship.

In the case of acquisition of Austrian citizenship by award, the general requirements for naturalization must be fulfilled, and an application must be filed. These requirements include 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, no criminal record, proof of sufficient income, German language skills, and basic knowledge of the democratic system and history of Austria.

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent

Acquisition by Descent

Children automatically become Austrian citizens at birth if their mother is an Austrian citizen. The same applies if the parents are married and only the father is an Austrian citizen. If the parents are not married and the father is the only Austrian citizen, the father must recognise his parenthood within eight weeks of birth, or the fact of his fatherhood must be determined by a court. In such cases, children may be awarded Austrian citizenship through a simplified procedure.

If the parents are of different nationalities and the non-Austrian parent's country of citizenship foresees a jus sanguinis (like Austria), the child will have dual citizenship. According to Austrian law, the child does not have to choose between Austrian citizenship and the other nationality upon becoming an adult, but the other state might require such a decision.

Acquisition by Award

For the acquisition of Austrian citizenship by award, the general requirements for naturalisation must be fulfilled, and an application must be filed. Further requirements depend on the acquisition due to legal claim or the authority's discretion.

General Requirements for Naturalisation

To become a naturalised Austrian citizen, you must have had 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, including a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit. You must also:

• Have no criminal record
• Have no pending criminal action in Austria or abroad
• Have no severe administrative offences with a special degree of unlawfulness
• Have proof of sufficient funds
• Have proof of German language skills and basic knowledge of the democratic system, the fundamental principles, and the history of Austria and its provinces
• Have a positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria and pose no danger to public peace, order, and security
• Have no current prohibition of residence or enforceable return decision
• Have no close relationship to any extremist or terrorist group
• Renounce your previous citizenship (unless granted citizenship under Article 10 (6) of the Citizenship Act)

Benefits of Austrian Citizenship

The Austrian passport is one of the strongest in the world, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 190 destinations, including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the USA. It also provides the right to reside and work anywhere in the EU and Switzerland.

Austria is the only Western European country that offers citizenship by investment

The benefits of obtaining Austrian citizenship through investment include visa-free access to numerous countries worldwide, including the US, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the EU's Schengen Area. Austrian citizenship also provides the right to live, work, and study in Austria and other EU countries, as well as access to high-quality healthcare and education.

To apply for Austrian citizenship by investment, applicants must submit various documents, including a valid passport, proof of contribution, health insurance, a clean criminal record, a comprehensive CV, business background information, and impeccable references. The application process is lengthy and demanding, taking around 2-3 years for processing, and requiring government approval at several levels.

It is important to note that the granting of citizenship is at the sole discretion of the Government of Austria, and there is no guarantee of success. However, Austria's citizenship by investment program offers a unique opportunity for investors to gain access to the wider European market and enjoy the benefits of one of the strongest passports in the world.

Austrians who voluntarily acquire citizenship of another country automatically lose their Austrian citizenship

The Austrian passport is considered one of the strongest in the world, ranking among the top 10 strongest passports on the Henley Passport Index. It offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 190 destinations, including Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and the USA.

However, Austrian citizenship law does not permit dual or multiple citizenships. This means that Austrians who voluntarily acquire citizenship of another country will automatically lose their Austrian citizenship unless they apply for permission to retain it and have it approved in writing before acquiring the new citizenship. The citizenship department of the relevant provincial government office is responsible for examining and approving applications to retain citizenship. The application process involves a thorough background check, and the government has strict standards for approving applications to retain citizenship.

Permission to retain Austrian citizenship may be granted if it is in the interest of the Republic of Austria, justified by the applicant's private and family life circumstances, or, in the case of minors, if it is in the child's best interests.

It is important to note that Austrian citizens who acquire another citizenship by involuntary action, such as children who automatically acquire citizenship of another country at birth, do not lose their Austrian citizenship. Additionally, naturalized Austrian citizens who are unable to renounce their existing citizenship are allowed to hold dual citizenship.

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