How To Easily Obtain Austrian Citizenship

Obtaining Austrian citizenship is a difficult process. Austria has one of the hardest citizenship acquisition processes in Europe. People generally have to live in Austria for at least ten years before they can become naturalised Austrians, but in some cases, this can be cut to six. There are several requirements that must be met, including having no criminal record, proving sufficient resources to support yourself, and having a basic knowledge of German and Austria's democratic system.

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of the award. Children born to an Austrian citizen mother automatically become Austrian citizens themselves at birth. If the parents are not married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, he must recognise his paternity within eight weeks of the child's birth for the child to become Austrian.

Austria also has a citizenship by investment program, where foreign applicants can invest actively in the Austrian economy. This typically involves a minimum investment of €10 million into a business or €3 million as a contribution to the government development fund.

Naturalisation

Requirements

To be eligible for naturalisation, applicants must have resided in Austria for at least 10 years, with at least 5 of those years under a residence permit. However, in some cases, this can be reduced to 6 years if the applicant is married to an Austrian national, holds EU or EEA citizenship, or was born in Austria.

Other requirements include:

• No criminal record or pending criminal proceedings
• Sufficient financial resources
• Basic German language skills and an understanding of the democratic system
• Positive attitude towards Austria and good social integration
• Renunciation of former citizenship (unless citizenship is granted under Article 10 (6) of the Citizenship Act)

Application Process

The application process for naturalisation can be lengthy and complex. Applicants must submit various documents, including proof of residence, financial stability, and language proficiency. The process typically takes around 24-36 months, and approval is granted at the discretion of the Austrian government.

Fast-Track Options

In certain cases, applicants may be eligible for fast-track citizenship. This can be achieved through exceptional accomplishments or contributions in fields such as science, economics, arts, or sports. Additionally, individuals with "Austrian blood" or descendants of victims of the National Socialist regime may be eligible for immediate citizenship, regardless of their residence status.

Citizenship by investment

Austria is one of the few Western European countries that offer citizenship by investment, also known as citizenship by exceptional achievement. This programme allows individuals to obtain Austrian citizenship in exchange for a significant financial commitment to the country. The process is not easy and is only available to those with substantial financial capital—typically seven- to eight-figure entrepreneurs. The Austrian Citizenship by Exceptional Achievement application process consists of four phases: Applicant Background and Narrative, Onboarding and Project Selection, Project Implementation, and Citizenship Application.

The benefits of Austrian citizenship include visa-free access or on-arrival visas to 185 countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the European Union. Austrian citizens also have the right to live and work in Austria for life, access to high-quality education and healthcare, and the ability to pass on their citizenship rights to their descendants.

To be eligible for Austrian citizenship by investment, applicants must meet several requirements. These include demonstrating a genuine interest in becoming Austrian citizens, exhibiting exceptional achievements in science, sports, arts, or business, and making a significant financial investment in the country. The minimum investment required is typically EUR 4-5 million, although it can increase over time. Additionally, applicants must provide documentation to prove that their investment capital is legally sourced and that they have a clean criminal record.

It is important to note that the Austrian citizenship by investment programme is highly selective, and the government has further increased its requirements in recent years. The entire process can be very time-consuming and may take up to 36 months to obtain full citizenship.

Citizenship by descent

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of an award. Here is some information about citizenship 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 a citizen of Austria. If the parents are not married and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the mother is a national of another country, and the father recognises his paternity or the fact that he is the father is determined by a court within eight weeks, the child acquires Austrian citizenship. In cases where recognition of paternity or determination by a court is done after this timeframe, children may be awarded Austrian citizenship through a simplified procedure.

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

Austrian Citizenship for Descendants of Nazi Victims

As part of its reparative responsibility, Austria allows victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants to apply for citizenship. Depending on your family history, you may be eligible to apply for Austrian citizenship if one of your ancestors was persecuted or feared persecution by the Nazi regime.

The Austrian government provides reparations to persons persecuted by this regime and their descendants by allowing them to apply for Austrian citizenship by descent. When citizenship is acquired under the Austrian Citizenship Act, full citizenship for life is enjoyed, which can be passed on to future generations by descent.

All direct descendants (as well as those adopted as minors) of a formerly persecuted ancestor are eligible to apply for Austrian citizenship. Applicants may apply for Austrian citizenship by descent if one of the following cases applies to the relevant ancestor:

• An ancestor who was a citizen of one of the successor states of the former Austro–Hungarian monarchy (particularly, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes)
• A person who lost Austrian citizenship when they acquired a foreign citizenship through marriage around the time of their departure from Austria
• An ancestor who primarily resided in Austria before 15 May 1955 and left the country because they suffered, or had reason to fear, persecution by the Nazi regime, including persecution for their support of the democratic Republic of Austria
• An ancestor who was an Austrian citizen but did not primarily reside in Austria between 30 January 1933 and 9 May 1945 for fear of persecution by the Nazi regime or because of their support for the Republic of Austria
• An ancestor who was an Austrian citizen either deported from Austria by the Nazi regime before 9 May 1945 or killed by the regime (including being killed for their support of the Republic of Austria). In this case, killing and murder do not only mean active killing but also death as a result of being denied or failing to be provided with medical care and sufficient food or due to injuries that arose from torture
• An ancestor who was either a stateless person or a citizen of one of the successor states of the former Austro–Hungarian monarchy (particularly, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes) who primarily resided in Austria before 9 May 1945 and was either deported from Austria by the Nazi regime or killed by the regime (including being killed for their support of the Republic of Austria) either as a result of active killing or death by being denied or failing to be provided with medical care and sufficient food or due to injuries that arose from torture

Citizenship by award

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by award, extension of the award, etc. In the case of acquisition by award, the general requirements for naturalization must be fulfilled, and an application must be filed.

General Requirements for Naturalization

• 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, including a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit.
• No criminal record or pending criminal proceedings (in Austria or abroad).
• No severe administrative offences.
• Sufficiently secured maintenance and proof of fixed and regular earnings over a period of 36 months within the last 6 years.
• German language skills at the B1 or B2 level.
• Basic knowledge of the democratic system, the fundamental principles, and the history of Austria and each province.
• Positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria and no danger to public peace, order, and security.
• No current prohibition of residence or enforceable return decision.
• No close relationship to any extremist or terrorist group.
• Loss of previous citizenship.

Exceptions to the General Requirements

• No proof of fixed and regular earnings is required if one's livelihood cannot be secured due to factors beyond their control (e.g. disability, permanent serious illness).
• Exceptions to the German language skills requirement include cases where German is the native language or the applicant is a minor attending an Austrian school.
• Exceptions to the knowledge of the democratic system and history of Austria requirement include cases where the applicant is a minor attending an Austrian school or claims a bad mental or physical health condition, particularly speech and hearing impairments.

Further Requirements for an Award of Citizenship

Further requirements for the award of Austrian citizenship depend on either the acquisition due to legal claim or the authority's discretion. In some cases, citizenship can be granted after six years of residence in Austria if the applicant fulfils the general conditions for naturalization and meets certain additional criteria, such as being married to an Austrian national for five years or possessing EU or EEA citizenship.

Austrian citizenship can also be granted to individuals who make significant investments in the country's economy through the citizenship-by-investment program. This program requires substantial financial capital and can lead to citizenship after 12-18 months. However, it is important to note that Austria's CBI program is highly selective and requires individuals to demonstrate that they are "Austrian enough" by meeting various requirements, including German language skills.

Citizenship by marriage

Austrian citizenship by marriage is a complicated process. The spouse of an Austrian citizen must follow specific requirements set by the Austrian government.

Firstly, the spouse of the Austrian citizen must live in Austria for at least six years with a valid family reunification visa and without spending extended periods outside of the country. A family reunification visa can also be issued to the minor children of the couple.

Secondly, the couple must be married and share a household in Austria for at least five years.

Once the spouse of an Austrian citizen has met the above requirements, they become eligible to receive Austrian citizenship. At this point, they must fulfil the following conditions:

• Renounce their previous citizenship
• Have no criminal record
• Present proof of income
• Have basic knowledge of the German language and Austria's fundamental political principles

Other Ways to Obtain Austrian Citizenship

Austrian citizenship can also be obtained through:

• Descent: Children born in wedlock acquire Austrian nationality at birth if one of the parents is an Austrian citizen.
• Award: The general requirements for naturalization must be fulfilled, and an application must be filed.
• Re-acquisition: Former Austrian citizens who had citizenship for at least 10 years before losing it can benefit from a simplified procedure to regain citizenship.
• Application: Foreign persons can apply for citizenship if they have lived in Austria for at least 15 or 30 years and can demonstrate successful personal and professional integration.

Frequently asked questions