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Citizenship of Austria is an attractive prospect for relocants due to its high standard of living and the privileges offered by citizenship. Holding an Austrian passport makes one a resident of the European Union, allowing for the freedom to work, study under favorable conditions, access quality healthcare, marry, engage in entrepreneurial activities, and more across the EU. One of the benefits includes visa-free access to 183 countries.
Naturalization as a citizen of Austria requires a full understanding of the laws of the country and their peculiarities. For example, there are no official deadlines for issuing an ID card in the legislative base, which leads to stretching the time of consideration of applications up to several years.
Ways of Citizenship Obtaining
The Austrian Federal Citizenship Act provides several primary methods for acquiring citizenship: filiation, repatriation, naturalization, and investment. Detailed information about the requirements is available on the official website www.ris.bka.gv.at
By Origin (Filiation)
If one or both parents hold Austrian citizenship, the child born automatically acquires the status of an Austrian citizen, regardless of the country of residence at the time. Additionally, there are procedures in place to grant citizenship to a child born out of wedlock to a citizen of the Republic of Austria. In cases of adoption by Austrian citizens, children under the age of 14 are also granted citizenship.
Repatriation
The procedure is available to several categories of foreigners:
- Those who resided in the country before May 15, 1955, and were forced to emigrate due to persecution based on political beliefs.
- Those deported before May 9, 1945.
- Victims of nationalist crimes and their direct descendants.
Under the repatriation program, a foreigner can obtain citizenship within a period starting from 12 months.
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Naturalization
The process is the most accessible way for residents of Russia and CIS countries wishing to obtain an Austrian passport. The procedure is carried out in stages, starting with the issuance of a residence permit (residency), followed by permanent residency, and finally citizenship.
The program is open to all adult applicants who have legally resided in the country for at least 10 years (5 of which must be with "permanent resident" status), hold a German language proficiency certificate at level B2 or higher, and have verified sources of income (at least €1,110 per month).
When selecting the basis for your application, it is essential to understand that full citizenship status can only be obtained if the immigrant qualifies as a temporary resident under one of the following categories:
- Employee
- Businessman
- Scientist
- Artist
- Freelancer
- Relative of a citizen or permanent resident of the country
Advantages of Austrian Citizenship
Unlike residence permits (temporary or permanent), an Austrian passport offers extensive opportunities for living, working, and conducting business.
- EU citizenship. Austrian citizens are EU citizens, granting them the right to freely travel, work, run a business, and reside in any Schengen Zone country without visa restrictions.
- Full access to social services and healthcare. Citizens can receive high-quality medical care and education.
- Developed economy. Austria provides a favorable business environment, making it attractive to entrepreneurs and investors from around the world.
- Stability and security. Austria is renowned for its stable political and economic conditions.
- Quality of life. Austria ranks among the top countries for quality of life, safety, education, and healthcare.
- Visa-free travel to 183 countries. Including the USA and the United Kingdom.
- Lifetime citizenship. The status of Austrian citizenship is permanent and without expiration.
Dual Citizenship
The country has a law prohibiting dual citizenship. This means that anyone wishing to become a citizen must renounce their first passport. However, there are several exceptions to consider for retaining dual citizenship:
- If the second citizenship is acquired at birth.
- The necessity to retain the second passport to fulfill official duties in Austria's interest.
- Personal reasons, provided that permission is granted by the relevant state authorities.
- Obtaining special permission from the Austrian government to retain citizenship of another country.
Citizenship by Investment Program
For applicants seeking an expedited process to obtain Austrian citizenship in recognition of their outstanding achievements and contributions to the economy, sports, culture, or science, a fast-track procedure is available. This process does not require meeting the typical conditions imposed on immigrants, such as a 10-year residence in the country, German language proficiency, or renouncing citizenship of another country.
Investments in the economy play a pivotal role in this process. A significant contribution typically involves injecting funds into a local company or creating a joint venture, generating new jobs, implementing modern technologies, boosting exports, or investing in strategically important sectors.
While the investment amounts are not rigidly fixed, indicative sums for investors range from €8 to €10 million for direct investments or approximately €3 million for charitable donations.
Recent Reforms to the Citizenship Program
One of the latest amendments to the Law on Citizenship and the restoration of Austrian citizenship introduced a provision allowing individuals to initiate the process of citizenship restoration without the need to renounce their existing citizenship. This means that former Austrian citizens and their descendants are eligible to submit such applications.
It is worth noting that the amendments apply to individuals who previously held citizenship of the Republic of Austria or Austria-Hungary and were forced to leave their place of residence due to the establishment of the Nazi regime.
Step-by-step Application Process
Submitting an application at the Austrian Embassy in the applicant's home country. The list of documents required for entry into the country depends on the preferred citizenship acquisition program. A D visa allows staying in the country for up to 90 days within a 6-month period. Upon arrival in Austria, the immigrant must contact the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to replace the visa with a residence permit. The "temporary resident" status is initially granted for one year and can be extended. It is important to note that not every permit (e.g., for studies) can serve as a basis for obtaining permanent residency and a passport.
The process begins with submitting an application to the immigration service before the issued permit expires, but no less than 90 days in advance. A registered applicant’s request allows them to stay in the country legally until the authorities issue a decision on the application. The duration of residence permit renewal ranges from 12 to 36 months, depending on the purpose of staying in the country.
To obtain permanent residency, the applicant must reside continuously in Austria for 5 years with a valid residence permit and possess a German language proficiency certificate (level B2 or higher). The application must be submitted in person at the immigration office.
The applicant must apply for a passport at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. The application must be submitted in person by appointment.
The examination procedure includes a test of the applicant's knowledge of the country's culture, history and political system. Notification of the test date is provided to the applicant by the federal state authorities at least 8 weeks before the test. The applicant is given 2 hours to answer the 18 questions. The test may be repeated without a limit on the number of attempts.
After the application is approved, the applicant receives a written confirmation. The documents received guarantee an Austrian passport if one renounces the citizenship of one's home country within 24 months. Otherwise, Austria's obligation to issue a passport ceases. The procedure for obtaining citizenship involves personal attendance at the ceremony and swearing an oath. Once the procedure is completed, you can apply for a physical passport at the Department of Immigration and Nationality.
Document Gathering and Application Submission
Applications from candidates are handled by the immigration service. In Vienna, this duty is assigned to Magistrate 35. To determine the relevant office accepting citizenship applications, it is recommended to contact the magistrate of your place of residence.
List of Documents
The list of documents includes the preparation of:
- Residence permit and registration at the address.
- International passport.
- Photographs (35x45 mm).
- Proof of income and its sources (employment for 36 months within the last 6 years).
- Documents confirming ownership or rental of housing.
- Certificate of no criminal record (from the country of origin and the place of residence during the past 6 months).
- Proof of health insurance.
- Documents related to family status (marriage/divorce certificate, name/surname change certificate, child birth certificate, if applicable).
- Statement confirming no outstanding debts to creditors.
- Results of the German language examination.
Consideration and Decision
The time required to review an application for citizenship acquisition can range from 3 to 12 months. If the submitted documents do not meet the established requirements, the application may be denied. Common reasons for rejection include insufficient length of stay in Austria with legal status, failure to demonstrate an adequate level of German language proficiency, and missing other necessary documents.
Disadvantages of Austrian Citizenship by Investment
Investing to obtain citizenship has several negative aspects. High financial requirements should be taken into account. To qualify for a passport through investment, one needs to make substantial contributions, which are unattainable for most immigrants.
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