Austrian citizenship is a bond between you and the country, which is expressed in mutual rights and obligations. This status grants you many privileges, including free travel, access to modern medicine and quality education, new business and career prospects. Foreigners usually acquire citizenship by naturalization, a procedure based on long-term residence and social integration. It is also possible to obtain a passport by birth or as a descendant of immigrants who suffered from National Socialism.

In 2025 the main prerequisite for Austrian citizenship in the general procedure is legal residence in the country for 10 years or more. You will also need to pass an integration exam, provide information about your income level and place of residence in the state. The status is granted to those who have no problems with the law and connections with prohibited organizations. The Citizenship Act obliges naturalized foreigners to renounce their passport in the home country when applying for a similar document in Austria. There are exceptions to this requirement, mainly for repatriates.

You will get almost all the rights of a citizen of the Republic of Austria with a passport of any other EU country - it can be issued under a simplified program in just 4-14 months. Immigrantinlaw's specialized lawyers are ready to provide more information about this at a free consultation.

What are the advantages of Austrian citizenship?  

Becoming a citizen of Austria is advantageous because of the possibility of moving to any of the states of the European Union for permanent residence together with close relatives. Also, the advantages and benefits of this legal status include:

• visiting popular countries, including North American and Asian countries, without a visa;
• access to the promising European labor market with decent salaries and social guarantees for employees;
• new privileges for business, including participation in EU grant programs and the possibility of cooperation with foreign partners;
• free prestigious education at universities whose diplomas are recognized worldwide;
• unrestricted service in European clinics with competent doctors and innovative equipment;
• transfer of legal status to descendants by inheritance without additional requirements.

Methods and conditions for obtaining Austrian citizenship

There are many options for acquiring an Austrian passport, but, in fact, they boil down to three main ones - naturalization (regular or accelerated), repatriation (restoration of rights of former residents of the country and their descendants) and birthright (transfer of status by inheritance). Only standard naturalization is suitable for most foreigners.

It is impossible to officially buy an Austrian passport. Nor is it granted for investing in the economic development of the country, even in large amounts. Also, in the republic does not apply the right of soil, that is, having given birth to a child on the territory of the state, you cannot obtain citizenship for the child and yourself.

Naturalization

The Austrian passport of sedentary is granted after 10 years of legal and continuous residence in the state, of which 5 years must have a local residence permit. The maximum period of cumulative absence from the country for the entire period should not exceed 24 months. You will also need to:

• demonstrate law-abiding behavior, i.e., have no criminal record, no open criminal proceedings, no links with terrorists and extremists, no cases of deportation from the Schengen area;
• successfully pass the citizenship tests, which include testing knowledge of the political system and basic principles of the constitution of the Republic, historical and socio-cultural aspects;
• prove a German language level of at least B1 on the CEFR (there are exceptions, e.g., for elderly pensioners);
• have a permanent and legal source of livelihood for at least 36 months in the last 6 years, of which 6 months immediately prior to the application;
• provide proof of renunciation of current citizenship in the home state.

Accelerated naturalization

Some of the foreigners can request Austrian citizenship after 6 years of permanent residence in the country. In particular, this is relevant for:

• spouses of citizens of the Republic who are legally married and have been living together for at least 5 years;
• passport holders of any other EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country;
• those who were born in the territory of the state, regardless of the current age and citizenship of their parents;
• outstanding personalities in scientific, economic, artistic or sporting fields.

Also, those who demonstrate a fast pace of professional and personal integration can naturalize in Austria more quickly. This requires a knowledge of German at level B2 or above and at least three years of work for the benefit of society, e.g., as a volunteer, trade union member or specialist in education, health care or social affairs. All basic requirements for naturalization remain valid.

Right of birth/origin

A child whose mother or father (or both parents) holds an Austrian passport becomes an Austrian citizen.  It does not matter whether Austrian children are born in the country or abroad. Until proven otherwise, any person under six months of age who is found within the borders of the state and whose parents are unknown is considered a citizen by descent. If a child obtains dual citizenship (e.g., born into an Austrian family but in the United States or Argentina, where soil law applies), he or she will have to choose which passport to keep after reaching adulthood.

Repatriation of internally displaced persons and their descendants

The right to restore Austrian citizenship is available to those who were forced to leave the country in the mid-twentieth century because of persecution by the National Socialist movements. This is largely relevant for Jews who left the republic on their own or were forcibly expelled by the authorities of the German Reich. The right to repatriation is also available to direct descendants of internally displaced persons, as well as those who died on federal territory as a result of illegal actions on the part of the authorities. In this case, there is no need to renounce their passport in their home country or to comply with naturalization rules.

Other ways of acquiring citizenship

Citizenship in Austria can also be acquired for less common reasons, for example:

• After paternity (if the parent happens to be Austrian);
• If the authorities have mistakenly considered you to be a local citizen for at least 15 years;
• If you are stateless, have reached the age of majority, have lived in the country for more than 10 years and have no criminal record.

As an alternative to Austrian citizenship, you can obtain a similar status in another EU country (e.g., Bulgaria or Slovenia) under simplified conditions. In this case, you can enjoy a full range of rights and privileges throughout the EU as well. Participants of simplified immigration programs are not obliged to live in the country before or after citizenship, to demonstrate the level of income, to renounce a passport in their home country. You can choose the most suitable way of relocation with the help of specialized Immigrantinlaw lawyers.

Procedure for obtaining Austrian citizenship

1. Registration of residence permit and moving to the republic.
   The first residence permit is requested at the Austrian consulate or embassy in the country of your permanent residence. You can move to the republic for labor or commercial activities, as well as for family or humanitarian reasons. The authorities check your request and the documents provided. If your application is approved, you receive an entry visa, with it you move to Austria and apply for a residence permit card at the authorized body of your federal state (usually the district administration or municipality).
2. Residence with a residence permit and processing of a permanent residence permit.
   A temporary residence permit in Austria is usually valid for 12-24 months, depending on the type of document and the reason for its issuance. If the reason for staying in the country is still valid (or a new one has appeared), you can make a request to the authorized body to extend (re-issue) the residence card. After 5 years of legal stay in the country you can claim the status of permanent resident. Permanent residence is granted to those who know German at level B1 or higher, have integrated into society, have a source of income and housing.
3. Residence with a permanent residence permit and preparation for citizenship.
   Another 5 years you will need to spend in Austria with a permanent resident card, after which you can count on naturalization. It is necessary to pass the citizenship test beforehand and confirm your language level by obtaining certificates from the Integration Fund (ÖIF, Österreichische Integrationsfonds). You will also collect the accompanying documents and make an appointment at the Citizenship Office of the relevant authority via the official website or other means provided.
4. Submitting your request and becoming a citizen.
   On the appointed day, you visit the competent authority in your federal state in person, submit your Austrian citizenship application, undergo a personal identification procedure (e.g., fingerprinting) and prepare your application. If your application is approved, you attend an oath ceremony, where you receive your naturalization document in a solemn ceremony, after which you can apply for a national passport.

Dual citizenship in Austria  

Austrian law does not allow dual or multiple citizenship. This principle has exceptions only in some special cases, mainly in cases of legal status by birth or repatriation. If you decide to naturalize in the republic, you will need to give up your passport in your home country. You will also lose your Austrian citizenship if you later wish to apply for a similar status in other countries. You can apply for a second citizenship if your home country does not offer you the possibility of renouncing the status or if it is in Austria's interest to do so.

How much does it cost to apply for Austrian citizenship and get a passport?

To calculate how much it costs to naturalize in Austria, it is necessary to sum up the costs of administrative fees, moving, long-term residence in the country, rent or purchase of real estate and basic living expenses. In total for 10 years of stay in the European country will have to spend tens of thousands of euros, for example, only renting a one-room apartment in Vienna costs 800-1000 EUR per month. Also, to pass the immigration procedures will have to pay for the services of a notary, translator and legal assistance. Below are the rates of state fees for each of the stages of naturalization, relevant in 2025.

The rates of administrative fees may vary depending on the federal state where you are applying for Austrian citizenship.

What do you need to become an Austrian citizen?

Immigrants undergoing the naturalization procedure in the Republic of Austria need to prepare a dossier, whose contents are regulated by the current legislation. As a rule, an applicant for citizenship needs to confirm the legality of his stay in the country, prove the availability of housing and sufficient income, as well as to demonstrate his law-abidingness.

You can delegate documentary and other immigration tasks when applying for EU citizenship to skilled Immigrantinlaw specialists. International legeslation lawyers will do everything necessary for you to get the desired passport quickly and without unnecessary worries.

What documents are needed to obtain citizenship

The full list of required documents depends on your personal situation - your current citizenship, how you obtained your status, how long you have lived in Austria, and the federal state in which you are applying. In general, for naturalization in Austria you must prepare:

• valid identity document (passport);
• civil status certificates (if applicable);
• card of a permanent resident of the country;
• information on stable and legal income;
• address registration on the territory of the country;
• certificate of absence of criminal record from the home country;
• receipt of stamp duty payment;
• results of integration and language testing;
• a declaration of renunciation of former citizenship in the home country.

The authorities may, at their discretion, require additional certificates and evidence. If your documents were issued abroad, they usually need to be officially translated into German or English and notarized. An apostille may also be required for the dossier.

What documents are needed to apply for a passport

To obtain an Austrian passport, you will need a certificate of naturalization, a birth certificate, an up-to-date (no more than half a year) color photo of 35 x 45 mm. Foreign documents are also translated into German/English and notarized.

Registration of citizenship for a child

Children can acquire Austrian citizenship by descent after their parents. To do so, you need to provide a birth certificate (your own and the child's), your citizenship identity card and address registration as well as an administrative fee payment.

Obtaining an Austrian passport

After becoming an Austrian citizen, you must obtain a new internal passport. It looks like a plastic ID-card, which is valid for 10 years and contains basic information (including biometric) about the owner. During the initial issuance of the document, you will need to come to the passport office with a witness who can confirm your identity.

After the ID-card you also have the right to issue a second Austrian passport for traveling abroad.  With it you can visit more than 160 visa-free countries around the world, including popular countries like the United States, Canada, Australia and China. The document is issued for 10 years. The procedure for obtaining both documents in general looks the same:

1. Making an appointment and visiting the passport service.
2. Submission of documents and taking fingerprints.
3. Waiting for the passport for a maximum of 10 days.
4. Receiving the finished document by mail to your address.

Refusal to grant citizenship – reasons and solutions

An Austrian passport will not be issued if a check of the applicant's status reveals that he or she poses a threat to national security or public safety. Citizenship is also denied to those who have not sufficiently integrated in the state, previously violated the laws, have no means of subsistence. The application is rejected if you have not renounced your passport in your home country. From the reviews of people who received citizenship, it follows that it is extremely important to be attentive to each stage of the procedure. Particularly attentive should be in the preparation of documents, and it is worth delegating this task to experienced lawyers.

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Alternatives to Austrian citizenship

The citizenship procedure in Austria has many disadvantages, the main ones being a long period of residency, renunciation of the previous passport, the need to learn German and receive a stable income in a considerable amount. As an alternative, you can acquire EU citizenship under more affordable programs in other states of the association. The best conditions are offered by Romania, Slovenia and Bulgaria, where, with the help of specialized specialists, you can obtain a passport in 12-14 months without taking an integration exam and demonstrating financial security.

All EU passport holders are equal in rights, so after obtaining European citizenship you will have all the benefits of this status. You will be able to move to Austria together with your close relatives, get an official job or do business internationally. You will also have access to any social benefits provided by the state.

Immigrantinlaw's international law specialists can analyze your personal request and the nuances of your dossier, and then find the best program for acquiring a second citizenship in the European Union with the possibility of keeping your former passport. To learn more about this, schedule a free legal consultation.

About the author

Diana Weber

Lawyer of international law

Diane Weber is an international law specialist with 10 years of legal practice experience. Her portfolio includes successful stories of citizenship in different European Union countries under simplified procedures. Diana provides detailed advice and helps many people to achieve their immigration goals in a short period of time, including resolving visa issues, assisting in obtaining residence permits and citizenship in the EU countries. In her blog, Diana Weber enjoys providing readers with detailed information about the features of most popular programs for obtaining a second passport.