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Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, award, or extension of an award. Children are automatically granted Austrian citizenship if their mother is an Austrian citizen, and the same applies if their parents are married and only the father is an Austrian citizen. Austria is the only Western European country that offers citizenship by investment, and applicants are required to invest in the Austrian economy or demonstrate extraordinary achievements in the interest of Austria. Citizenship can also be granted to victims of the National Socialist regime and their descendants. To apply for Austrian citizenship, applicants must contact their local Austrian diplomatic representation and submit the necessary documents, which may include a passport, proof of contribution, health insurance, and a clean criminal record.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Austria |
| Part of the EU | Yes |
| Rights of Austrian citizens | Free movement, right to vote in elections for the European Parliament, consular protection from any EU country in non-EU countries |
| Austrian citizenship by | Descent, award, extension of the award, naturalization, investment, extraordinary achievements |
| Documents required | Passports, birth certificates, marriage certificates, proof of no criminal record, comprehensive CV, business background information, impeccable references, health insurance, proof of contribution, etc. |
| Other requirements | German language skills, basic knowledge of the democratic system, history of Austria and of each province, proof of residence |
| Application process | Submit application and documents to Austrian Embassy or Consulate General |
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What You'll Learn
Austrian citizenship by investment
Austria is the only Western European country that offers the possibility of citizenship by investment without prior residence requirements. This makes it an excellent place to establish residence within the EU.
To qualify for citizenship by investment, applicants must submit a proposal to the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Labor, who will review the proposal and make a recommendation to the government. The investment must be in an active business or a donation to a public project, contributing significantly to the country's economy. Passive investments such as government bonds, financial instruments, or real estate do not qualify. Qualifying investments usually range from €800,000 to €10 million.
In addition to the investment, applicants must provide standard documentary requirements, including a passport, birth certificate, residence permit, clean criminal record, and a comprehensive CV with excellent references. Applicants must also demonstrate German language proficiency and knowledge of the democratic system, history, and fundamental principles of Austria.
Austrian citizenship offers many benefits, including the right to live, work, and study in Austria and other EU countries, visa-free access to numerous countries worldwide, and access to high-quality healthcare, education, and social services. It is important to note that Austria does not recognize dual citizenship, and applicants may be required to renounce their previous nationality. However, in certain cases, such as under Article 10 (6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act, an individual may be able to maintain their previous citizenship.
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Citizenship by descent
Austrian citizenship by descent is based on the principle of descent from an Austrian parent. The acquisition of Austrian citizenship by descent is assessed according to the citizenship law applicable at the time of birth.
If a child is born to married parents, one of whom is an Austrian citizen, the child automatically becomes an Austrian citizen. This applies regardless of whether the Austrian parent is the mother or the father. If the parents are unmarried, and only the father is an Austrian citizen, the child will become an Austrian citizen if the father acknowledges paternity before the birth or within eight weeks of the birth.
Austrian citizenship law also recognises dual citizenship. If a child acquires another citizenship at birth, in addition to Austrian citizenship, there is no loss of Austrian citizenship. The child will have dual citizenship. Under Austrian law, the child does not have to choose one nationality when they reach adulthood, but the other country may require this.
Austria also allows victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants to apply for citizenship. This includes those who lost their Austrian citizenship because they feared persecution by the Nazi regime, as well as those who died due to persecution. The process for acquiring Austrian citizenship by descent usually takes four to six months. Applications can be lodged at a local Austrian embassy or consulate general, but it is recommended to submit applications to the relevant authority in Vienna.
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Citizenship by award
Austrian citizenship can be acquired by award, and there are several routes to achieving this. Firstly, it is important to note that Austrian citizenship by award is granted at the discretion of the relevant authorities.
One route to citizenship by award is through naturalisation. This requires fulfilling the general requirements for naturalisation, including an application, and 10 years of legal and continuous residence in Austria, with a minimum of 5 years on a Residence Permit. There are also financial requirements to be met, including proof of regular earnings or income over a 36-month period within the last 6 years before the application. This can include judicial claims to maintenance or insurance benefits. However, proof of earnings is not required if one's livelihood cannot be secured through no fault of their own.
Another route to citizenship by award is through legal entitlement. This includes spouses of Austrian citizens who have been married for at least 5 years and have lived in Austria for at least 6 years on a Settlement Permit. Furthermore, individuals who have lived in Austria for 30 years may also be eligible for citizenship by entitlement.
Austrian citizenship can also be acquired by award through exceptional circumstances. For example, in 2019, the Austrian Government amended the Austrian Citizenship Act to allow victims of the National Socialist regime and their descendants to acquire citizenship. This was initiated in 2020 and included, for example, individuals who had lived in Austria, gone to school there, and had Austrian parents, but held a German passport.
It is important to note that acquiring Austrian citizenship does not require renouncing any former citizenship, but applying for another citizenship after acquiring Austrian citizenship may annul Austrian citizenship. Austrian law does not allow dual citizenship. To complete the process, the required documents must be determined according to one's personal details, and all foreign-language documents must be presented with certified German translations.
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Victims of National Socialism and their descendants
In recognition of its historical responsibility towards victims of National Socialism and their descendants, the Austrian parliament amended the Austrian Citizenship Act in October 2019. This amendment, which came into force on 1 May 2022, allows victims of the Nazi regime and their descendants to apply for Austrian citizenship.
To be eligible, you must be a direct descendant (or have been adopted as a minor) of a person who was persecuted or had to fear persecution by the Nazi regime, including the National Socialist German Workers' Party (NSDAP) or the authorities of the German Reich. Persecution also includes those who suffered or feared persecution for defending the democratic Republic of Austria.
When applying for Austrian citizenship, you may need to provide the following documents:
- A current passport photograph (not older than six months), complying with Austrian criteria
- A criminal record from your country of residence (not older than eight months)
- Evidence that your ancestor was persecuted (e.g., a birth certificate for Jewish persons)
- Evidence that the persecuted ancestor resided in or fled from Austria (e.g., passenger lists)
- Official foreign birth certificate and marriage certificate (where applicable) along with any proof of a change of name
- Official documents to prove your connection to Austria
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Where to apply
If you are applying for Austrian citizenship, there are a few different avenues you can take. Firstly, if you are a victim of the National Socialist regime or a descendant of victims, you can apply for Austrian citizenship by means of a declaration without having to give up your current citizenship. In this case, you should contact your local Austrian diplomatic representation (Austrian Embassy or Consulate General) to arrange an individual consultation.
If you are applying for citizenship by investment, you will need to contact Henley & Partners to begin the process. This route requires a substantial contribution to the Austrian economy or extraordinary achievements in the interest of Austria. There is no minimum investment amount, but passive investments such as government bonds or real estate do not qualify.
If you are applying for citizenship by descent, award, or extension of the award, you will need to contact the responsible department of citizenship to determine the required documents. You can find more information on the website of the City of Vienna if you are a resident there, or on the website of the citizenship department of the office of the provincial government of your primary residence. If you are applying from outside of Austria, you can find information on the website of your local Austrian diplomatic representation.
If you are applying for a certificate of Austrian citizenship, you must lodge your application in person at the Embassy in Canberra or at one of the Austrian Consulates. You will need to submit the following documents:
- Application form "Antrag auf Ausstellung eines österreichischen Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweises" completed and signed
- Form "Personenstandserklärung Erwachsene" completed and signed
- Proof of current place of residence according to local standards (not older than 4 weeks)
- Proof that you have not acquired a foreign nationality (not older than 2 months)
- Consular fees: to be paid by cash, bank cheque, or money order
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Frequently asked questions
If you were a victim of the National Socialist regime, you can acquire Austrian citizenship by contacting your local Austrian diplomatic representation and arranging the procedure in an individual consultation. This is also applicable to descendants of victims of the National Socialist regime.
Austrian citizenship by investment requires a substantial contribution to the Austrian economy or extraordinary achievements in the interest of Austria. There is no minimum investment amount, but applicants must invest actively in the Austrian economy, for example, by creating jobs or generating new export sales.
The required documents for Austrian citizenship include a valid passport, proof of contribution, health insurance, a clean criminal record, a comprehensive CV, background business information, impeccable references, and other supporting documents. Foreign language documents must be presented in the original language along with a German translation, certified in Austria.
To obtain an Austrian citizenship certificate, you must submit an application in person at the Austrian Embassy in Canberra or one of the Austrian Consulates. Along with the application, you need to provide official documents such as proof of residence, proof of not acquiring a foreign nationality, and the relevant legalization or translation into German.
