Austria

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior — Citizenship

Embassy Finder: Austrian Embassies and Consulates

Quick Facts

Category	Details
Residency for naturalization	10 years continuous lawful residence (minimum); 6 years under certain conditions
Language requirement	B1 German (CEFR) for standard naturalization; B2 for the 6-year pathway
Civics test	Yes — knowledge of Austrian democratic system, history, and the respective federal state
Processing time	6—18 months
Naturalization fee	EUR 1,115 per adult (federal); additional state fees vary by Bundesland (total typically EUR 1,500—2,500)
Dual citizenship	Generally prohibited; exceptions for birth acquisition and cases where renunciation is impossible or unreasonable
Citizenship by birth in Austria	No jus soli — birth on Austrian territory does not confer citizenship
Citizenship by descent	Yes (jus sanguinis) — automatic if at least one parent is Austrian at the time of birth
Governing law	Staatsbuergerschaftsgesetz 1985 (StbG) — Austrian Citizenship Act

Dual Citizenship

Austria maintains one of the strictest dual citizenship regimes in Europe. The general rule is that acquisition of Austrian citizenship requires renunciation of all prior citizenships, and voluntary acquisition of a foreign citizenship causes automatic loss of Austrian nationality.

Key principles:

Applicants for naturalization must renounce their existing citizenship before the Austrian certificate is issued. Failure to provide proof of renunciation within 2 years results in the naturalization being voided.
An Austrian citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship automatically loses Austrian citizenship (Section 27 StbG), unless prior permission to retain it (Bewilligung zur Beibehaltung) has been granted.
The retention permission is rarely granted and requires demonstrating that the acquisition of the foreign citizenship is in Austria’s interest or based on particularly noteworthy personal circumstances.

Exceptions where dual citizenship is tolerated:

Birth acquisition — A child who acquires Austrian citizenship at birth by descent AND simultaneously acquires another citizenship at birth (e.g., by jus soli in the birth country) may hold both. There is no obligation to choose.
Impossibility of renunciation — Where the country of origin does not permit renunciation (e.g., Iran, Morocco, Argentina under certain conditions), the renunciation requirement is waived.
Unreasonable hardship — Where renunciation would cause disproportionate consequences (e.g., financial penalties, loss of inheritance rights).
Restoration cases — Victims of Nazi persecution and their descendants may acquire Austrian citizenship without renouncing other citizenships.

Austria resisted the broader European trend toward accepting dual citizenship. Despite periodic political debate, no reform comparable to Germany’s 2024 liberalization has occurred.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Soli)

Austria does not follow the jus soli principle. Birth on Austrian territory to non-Austrian parents confers no entitlement to Austrian citizenship. The child takes the nationality of the parents.

Foundlings: A child found on Austrian territory whose parents are unknown is deemed to possess Austrian citizenship until proven otherwise (Section 8 StbG).

By Descent (Jus Sanguinis)

Austrian citizenship is acquired automatically at birth if:

The mother is an Austrian citizen at the time of birth (regardless of marital status), OR
The father is an Austrian citizen and the parents are married at the time of birth, OR
The father is an Austrian citizen, the parents are unmarried, and paternity is established (by acknowledgment or court determination) within 8 weeks of birth. If established later, citizenship takes effect from the date of establishment.

Historical note: Before 1 September 1983, citizenship was transmitted exclusively through the father (for children born in wedlock) or the mother (for children born out of wedlock). Persons who missed out on Austrian citizenship due to this gender discrimination may be eligible for restoration under the 2019 amendment (Section 58c StbG).

No generational limit: Unlike some countries, Austria does not impose a generational cutoff for descent-based citizenship. A child born abroad to an Austrian parent acquires citizenship regardless of how many generations have lived outside Austria — provided the chain of transmission has not been broken by voluntary acquisition of another nationality.

By Adoption

A minor (under 18) adopted by an Austrian citizen acquires Austrian citizenship automatically upon the adoption becoming legally effective under Austrian law, provided:

The adopted child is under 18 at the time of the adoption order.
The adoption is recognized under Austrian law.

Adults adopted by Austrian citizens do not acquire citizenship through adoption and must pursue naturalization.

By Marriage

Marriage to an Austrian citizen does not automatically confer citizenship. However, the foreign spouse benefits from a reduced residency requirement:

Requirements (Section 11a(1) StbG):

Requirement	Details
Residency	6 years lawful continuous residence in Austria
Marriage duration	At least 5 years of marriage AND living together in a shared household
Language	B1 German (CEFR)
Civics knowledge	Pass the citizenship test
Financial self-sufficiency	Sufficient income to support oneself without social assistance for the preceding 3 years
No criminal record	No convictions that would bar naturalization
Renunciation	Must renounce prior citizenship(s)

By Naturalization (Residency)

The standard naturalization pathway requires a long residence period and strict conditions.

Standard pathway (Section 10 StbG):

Requirement	Details
Lawful continuous residence	10 years (minimum), with at least 5 years of settled residence (Niederlassungsbewilligung or equivalent)
German language	B1 level (CEFR) evidenced by a recognized certificate (OeIF, OeSD, Goethe-Zertifikat)
Civics knowledge	Written test on Austrian democratic system, history, and the applicant’s specific federal state
Financial self-sufficiency	Sufficient income for the past 3 years; no receipt of social assistance (Sozialhilfe/Mindestsicherung)
No criminal record	No serious criminal convictions; no pending proceedings
Positive attitude toward Austria	No danger to public peace, order, or security
Renunciation of prior citizenship	Must provide proof of renunciation or loss of prior citizenship within 2 years
Fee	EUR 1,115 federal fee + state surcharges (total varies by Bundesland)

6-year pathway (Section 11a StbG): Available with demonstrated personal integration, including:

EEA/Swiss nationals — 6 years residence
B2 German proficiency — 6 years residence
Birth in Austria — 6 years residence
Sustained civic engagement — 6 years residence with proof of voluntary community service over 3+ years
Recognized refugee status — 6 years (Section 11a(4))

Discretionary award (Section 10(6) StbG): In exceptional cases, citizenship may be granted to persons who have rendered or are expected to render extraordinary services to Austria (arts, science, sports, economy). This is rare and decided at the ministerial level.

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

An Austrian citizen may renounce citizenship (Section 37 StbG) provided:

They hold another citizenship or have been assured one.
They are not subject to military service obligations.
Renunciation will not render them stateless.

Fee: Approximately EUR 120—200 depending on the state.

Involuntary Loss

Ground	Details
Voluntary acquisition of foreign citizenship	Automatic loss upon voluntarily acquiring another nationality, unless prior retention permission was granted (Section 27 StbG). This is the most common cause of involuntary loss.
Voluntary service in foreign armed forces	Loss upon entering foreign military service without permission (Section 32 StbG).
Fraud	Citizenship obtained through fraud, false statements, or concealment may be withdrawn (Section 34 StbG).

Restoration of Nationality

Nazi-era Victims (Section 58c StbG, 2019 Amendment)

Persons who were Austrian citizens or were entitled to become citizens, and who were victims of Nazi persecution between 1933 and 1945, as well as their direct descendants, may acquire Austrian citizenship by declaration (Anzeige):

No residency requirement.
No language or civics test.
Dual citizenship is permitted — no renunciation required.
Effective since 1 September 2020.
Applications submitted to Austrian missions abroad or directly to the provincial government (Landesregierung).

Gender Discrimination Victims (Section 58c(1a) StbG)

Persons who lost or could not acquire Austrian citizenship due to the pre-1983 patrilineal-only transmission rule may also acquire citizenship by declaration under the same provision.

Re-naturalization (Section 10(4) StbG)

Former Austrian citizens who lost citizenship (e.g., by acquiring another nationality) may apply for re-naturalization. The standard requirements apply, but the authority may exercise discretion favorably.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

Foundlings born or found on Austrian territory are deemed Austrian citizens until another citizenship is established (Section 8 StbG).
Stateless persons born in Austria may apply for citizenship after 6 years of continuous residence if born stateless on Austrian territory.
Austria is a party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons.

Document Checklist

Sources

Staatsbuergerschaftsgesetz 1985 (StbG) — Austrian Citizenship Act, as amended. https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10005579
Federal Ministry of the Interior — Citizenship Information. https://www.bmi.gv.at/312/Staatsbuergerschaft/start.aspx
Austrian Integration Fund (OeIF) — Language and integration exam information. https://www.integrationsfonds.at/
Austrian Embassies and Consulates — Embassy finder. https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/embassies-consulates/search-for-austrian-representations/
Section 58c StbG — Nazi-era Restoration. BGBl. I Nr. 96/2019, effective 1 September 2020.
European Convention on Nationality (1997) — Austria is a signatory. https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=166

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