Lyla Lindsey
Austrians are the citizens and nationals of Austria. The term 'Austrian' was first used to refer to the population of Habsburg Austria in the 17th or 18th century. Austrians were historically regarded as Germans and viewed themselves as such, as the Austrian lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. However, after World War II, the union with Germany became associated with Nazism, leading to Austrians developing their own distinct national identity. Today, Austrians are recognized as a separate nationality, with their own citizenship laws and requirements.
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What You'll Learn
Austrian citizenship by investment
Austria is the only Western European country that offers citizenship by investment without prior residence requirements. The Austrian Citizenship Act allows foreign nationals to obtain citizenship through substantial contributions to the country's economy or extraordinary achievements in the interest of Austria.
Investment Options
Under the Austrian Citizenship Act, applicants are required to invest actively in the Austrian economy. This can be done through joint ventures, direct investments in businesses that create jobs or generate new export sales, or donations to relevant public projects. Passive investments such as government bonds, financial instruments, or real estate do not qualify. The investment amount varies, with qualifying investments ranging from €800,000 to €10 million.
Requirements and Procedure
To apply for Austrian citizenship by investment, applicants must submit a proposal to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor. Once the investment is approved, applicants must obtain a residence permit and fulfil the residency requirement, typically residing in Austria for six months per year, before applying for citizenship. In addition to the investment, applicants must provide standard documentary requirements, including a passport, birth certificate, clean criminal record, comprehensive CV, and business background information.
Benefits of Austrian Citizenship
Austrian citizenship offers numerous advantages, including visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 190 destinations, including EU countries, Canada, and Hong Kong. Citizens also have the right to live, work, and study in Austria and other EU countries, access high-quality healthcare and education, and pass on their citizenship rights to future generations. Austria boasts a stable economy, a high standard of living, and a vibrant culture, making it an attractive destination for investors and entrepreneurs.
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Austrian nationality law
History of Austrian Nationality Law
The First Austrian Republic, established on December 13, 1918, recognized all citizens of the Republic of German-Austria as Austrian citizens. This included individuals with permanent residence in German-Austria since 1914. A new constitution introduced in 1920 established a federal system, with nationality law handled at the state level. In 1925, a new nationality law permitted naturalization after a minimum of four years of permanent residence. From 1938 to 1945, Austria was a part of Germany, and German nationality law applied during this period.
Current Austrian Nationality Law
The Republic of Austria was established in 1955, and the current nationality law was enacted in 1965. The law has been updated multiple times, including in 1985 to ensure gender equality in the acquisition of nationality through marriage. The most recent updates to the law were made in 2019.
Birth and Descent
Birth in Austria does not automatically grant Austrian citizenship. However, children born to an Austrian mother or married couple automatically acquire citizenship at birth. If the parents are unmarried and only the father is Austrian, the child acquires citizenship if the father recognizes paternity within eight weeks. Foundlings under six months old are presumed to be Austrian citizens.
Naturalization
Austrian citizenship can be acquired through naturalization after a minimum of ten years of continuous legal residence in Austria, with at least five years holding a residence permit. This requirement may be reduced for individuals born in Austria or those who demonstrate successful integration. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the German language, Austrian history, and the democratic system. They must also show a positive attitude towards Austria and meet various security and residence criteria.
Dual Citizenship
Austria allows dual citizenship. If one parent is Austrian and the other is a foreign national with jus sanguinis, the child will have dual citizenship. Austrian law does not require individuals with dual citizenship to choose a single nationality upon reaching adulthood, but the other country may have such a requirement.
Former Citizens and Stateless Persons
Former Austrian citizens who lost their citizenship may re-acquire it through a simplified procedure, provided they meet specific conditions. Stateless persons born in Austria may be granted citizenship if they have resided in the country for a total of ten years, including five years continuously before the application.
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Austrian national identity
Austrian nationalism asserts that Austrians are a nation and promotes the cultural unity of Austrians. Austrian nationalism first arose during the Napoleonic Wars, with Joseph von Hormayr as a prominent Austrian nationalist political leader at the time.
Austrian nationalism developed as a cultural nationalism that emphasized a Catholic religious identity. This led to its opposition to unification with Protestant-majority Prussia, which was perceived as a potential threat to the Catholic core of Austrian national identity. It was also used to protect the rule of the Habsburgs. The idea of uniting all ethnic Germans into one state was challenged by the rise of Austrian nationalism within the Christian Social Party, which identified Austrians based on their predominantly Catholic religious identity.
After World War II, Austrians began to reject the German identity, and a broader Austrian identity replaced it. Austrians went as far as describing themselves as "Hitler's first victim". The Austrian political elite referred to their experiences in concentration camps and in prison, which brought out a desire for the lost independence of the Austrian state.
Austrian citizenship law states that a person who has lived in Austria for 30 years, or 15+ years in cases of 'sustained personal and occupational integration', is entitled to grant of Austrian citizenship. Former citizens of Austria who lost citizenship other than by renunciation or deprivation may be granted citizenship after 1 year's residence in Austria. Austrian citizenship must have been possessed for 10 years before it was lost.
In addition, German language skills and basic knowledge of the democratic system, the history of Austria, and each province are required for naturalization. All foreign language documents must be presented in the original, along with a German translation, certified in Austria.
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Austrian citizenship for former citizens
Austrian citizenship is highly coveted, and as a citizen of Austria, one can live and work in the country and anywhere else in the EU and Switzerland. The Austrian government is restrictive in granting citizenship to foreign nationals.
Former citizens of Austria who lost citizenship other than by renunciation or deprivation may be granted Austrian citizenship after 1 year's residence in Austria. Austrian citizenship must have been possessed for 10 years before it was lost. A preferential re-acquisition by a simplified procedure is possible for former Austrian citizens who were nationals for at least ten years. The applicant has to be present in Austria and give up any foreign nationality.
Any individuals who were forced to leave Austria as Austrian citizens before 9 May 1945 because they had to fear persecution by bodies of the NSDAP or the authorities of the Third Reich, or who have suffered such persecution or were persecuted because of their defence of the democratic Republic of Austria, may re-establish their Austrian citizenship by declaration.
Beginning on 1 September 2020, Austrian Jews and any other Austrian citizens, as well as stateless people and citizens of successor states of Austria-Hungary resident in Austria, who left Austria before 15 May 1955 because they had either suffered persecution by the Nazi regime or had reason to fear such persecution, as well as those who had suffered persecution because of their support of democracy in Austria or had reason to fear such persecution, have been able to have their citizenship restored, while retaining any other citizenship they have since acquired. In addition, any direct descendants of those persons, including those adopted as minors, are able to claim Austrian citizenship, without giving up any existing citizenship, and whether or not their ancestors have regained or claimed Austrian citizenship.
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 when the 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 unmarried and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the mother is a national of another country, and the father recognises his parenthood within eight weeks, the child acquires Austrian citizenship. In all cases where recognition of fatherhood is done after this timeframe, children may be awarded Austrian citizenship in a simplified procedure. If the country of citizenship of the non-Austrian parent also foresees a jus sanguinis (like Austria), the child will have dual citizenship.
In general, 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria is required for naturalisation, with a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit. Proof of fixed and regular earnings over a period of 36 months within the last 6 years before the time of application is also required. German language skills and basic knowledge of the democratic system and the fundamental principles, as well as the history of Austria and of each province, are necessary.
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Austrian citizenship for children of unmarried parents
Austrian citizenship is generally granted to individuals with permanent residence in the territory of German-Austria. It can be acquired by descent, award, extension of the award, or naturalization.
If the parents are unmarried and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child will acquire Austrian citizenship if the father recognizes his parenthood or if his paternity is determined by a court within 8 weeks of the child's birth. If paternity is acknowledged later than 8 weeks after birth, the child may still acquire 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 and the other nationality upon reaching adulthood, but the other country may require such a decision.
General Requirements for Austrian Citizenship
Austrian citizenship can be obtained through naturalization after 10 years of continuous residence in the country. This includes a minimum of 5 years with a residence permit and proof of fixed and regular earnings over a period of 36 months within the last 6 years. German language skills and basic knowledge of the democratic system, history, and principles of Austria are also required.
Other general requirements include a positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria and no danger to public peace, order, and security. There should be no pending proceedings regarding the termination of residence, no current prohibition of residence, and no enforceable return decision from another EEA country or Switzerland.
Re-Acquisition of Austrian Citizenship
Former Austrian citizens who had Austrian nationality for at least 10 years before losing it can re-acquire citizenship through a simplified procedure. They must be present in Austria and give up any foreign nationality.
Citizenship by Descent
Children born to Austrian parents in another country will automatically gain Austrian citizenship. If only one parent is Austrian, the child will have dual citizenship, and they are not required to choose between the two nationalities upon reaching adulthood.
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Frequently asked questions
Austrians are the citizens and nationals of Austria.
Historically, Austrians were regarded as Germans and viewed themselves as such. The Austrian lands (including Bohemia) were part of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Confederation until the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. Subsequently, during the 19th century, the term Austrian referred to citizens of the Empire of Austria (1804–1867). From 1867 until 1918, it referred to the citizens of Cisleithania. After World War II, the union with Germany became associated with Nazism, resulting in Austrians developing their own separate and distinct national identity. Today, the vast majority of Austrians do not identify as German.
Austrian citizenship can be obtained through birth, marriage, or naturalisation. Children born to Austrian mothers or married parents with an Austrian father acquire Austrian citizenship at birth. Spouses of Austrian nationals can obtain citizenship if they have been legally and continuously resident in Austria for at least six years and have been married for at least five years. Naturalisation generally requires ten years of continuous residence in Austria, although this can be reduced to fifteen years in cases of "sustained personal and occupational integration" or three years for former citizens. Applicants must also demonstrate German language skills, knowledge of Austria's history and political system, and a positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria.
Austrian citizens have the right to live and work anywhere in the EU and can obtain an Austrian passport, which offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to approximately 190 destinations, including Canada, Hong Kong, and the EU's Schengen Area.
