AustriaCitizenship

Austrian citizenship in Austria

Naturalisation in Austria is open to foreign nationals who meet the general conditions and have lived in the country for a certain period. The process requires proof of financial stability, knowledge of German and a positive attitude towards the state. Once approved, the applicant can renounce their previous citizenship and take Austrian citizenship. The power to decide lies with the provincial government authorities for the place of residence.

Source: migration.gv.at — Citizenship

Four routes to Austrian citizenship

Naturalisation is possible under different residence periods and integration conditions.

The standard route (10 years)

Compliance with the general requirements for naturalisation
10 years of lawful continuous residence in Austria
At least 5 years with a residence permit
German language Module 2, a test on Austria's system of government

The accelerated route (6 years)

6 years of lawful continuous residence
Marriage to an Austrian for 5+ years with a joint household
Or citizenship of an EEA state
Or birth in Austria, or German at B2

The long route (15 years)

15 years of continuous lawful residence
Personal and professional integration
Compliance with the general requirements for naturalisation
No interruptions exceeding 20% of the period

The maximum route (30 years)

30 years of continuous main residence in Austria
The principal place of residence must be in Austria
Compliance with the general requirements for naturalisation
Continuous residence throughout the whole period

When this programme will not suit you

There are unspent convictions, unfinished criminal proceedings or serious administrative offences

Resolve the legal issues first; naturalisation requires good character

You cannot prove a stable income over 36 months out of the last six years

Improve your financial position; a regular and sufficient income is required

You do not speak German at least at level B1 and do not wish to learn the language

Module 2 of the Integration Agreement is compulsory for everyone apart from certain groups

Your country of origin does not permit renunciation of citizenship and you refuse to give it up

In rare cases Austria may waive the requirement, but renunciation is normally required

What it costs

Federal charge for lodging the applicationPer person, charged once when the application is lodged	163 EUR
Federal charge for issuing the decisionThe minimum amount; it varies depending on the federal province	1 202 EUR
Confirmation certificate (optional)Issued if you renounce your previous citizenship within two years	+40 EUR
Fee for official documents (per document)At least two documents are required; collection of records and certificates	+3,99 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Confirmation certificate (optional)” adds 40 EUR; “Fee for official documents (per document)” adds 3,99 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1,365–1 408,99 EUR

Paid separately

Translation and notarisation of documents — All foreign documents require translation by a translator authorised in Austria; the cost is paid separately
German language and integration examinations — Taken through approved courses and institutions; the cost varies, and a federal grant reimburses up to EUR 750
Passport and identity card — Issued after citizenship is granted; charged separately

Documents to gather

The documents required vary depending on your personal situation. The citizenship authorities will draw up the exact list for your circumstances. All foreign documents must be translated by an official translator and bear an apostille if the country of origin has signed the Hague Convention.

The naturalisation application (on the prescribed form)
Proof of the period of residence (residence registration, certificates from the authorities)
Income documents for 36 months out of the last 6 years (bank statements, employment contracts, tax returns, court decisions on maintenance or certificates of insurance payments)
A criminal record certificate
Proof of knowledge of German (Module 2) and completion of the test on Austria's system of government
A passport or identity document
A birth certificate (with an apostille)
A marriage or registered partnership certificate (where applicable)
A certificate showing no housing or administrative penalties

How the process runs

The naturalisation process begins with lodging a complete application and ends with a decision by the provincial government.

1
Preparing the documents and the language preparation
3-6 months
Collect all the required documents, including apostilles and translations. Take the German language test for Module 2 and the written examination on Austria's democratic system and the history of your federal province.
2
Lodging the application at the provincial government office
1 day
Lodge the application in person at the citizenship department (Staatsbürgerschaftsabteilung) of the provincial government office (Amt der Landesregierung) for your main place of residence. Provide all the necessary documents and pay the federal charge for lodging (EUR 163).
3
Examination of the application by the authorities
4-6 months
The authorities will examine your application. By law they have 6 months to take a decision. They will check all the documents, your financial stability, the absence of criminal convictions and your positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria.
4
Receiving the decision and paying the issue charge
1-2 days
If the decision is positive you will receive a notification. Pay the federal charge for issue (from EUR 1,202, varying by province) and the provincial fee at the rate set by your federal province.
5
Issue of the citizenship certificate and the identity documents
1-2 weeks
Once payment has been made you will receive the citizenship certificate. You then apply for an Austrian passport and identity card through the local authorities. Preparing the documents takes 5-10 working days.

Who you can bring with you

Family members can acquire Austrian citizenship through various channels depending on their situation and their relationship to the applicant.

Spouse or registered partner

May lodge their own naturalisation application. If the marriage has lasted 5+ years with a joint household, they may use the accelerated route (6 years instead of 10). Otherwise the standard naturalisation requirements apply.

Children born within a marriage where one parent is Austrian

Acquire Austrian citizenship automatically at birth. No application is required.

Children of an unmarried Austrian father

Acquire citizenship if the father acknowledges paternity within 8 weeks of the birth or if paternity is established by a court. Where paternity is established later, a simplified procedure for acquiring citizenship may be available.

Children living abroad after a parent's naturalisation

Cannot automatically acquire the parent's citizenship if the parent was naturalised while already abroad. They must lodge their own application if they meet the general naturalisation conditions and live in Austria.

Adopted children

Do not acquire citizenship automatically on adoption. They must meet the standard naturalisation requirements in order to apply, if they wish to acquire citizenship.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

As a rule 10 years of lawful continuous residence, of which at least 5 years with a residence permit. Knowledge of German through Module 2 and basic knowledge of the democratic system, the history of Austria and of the federal province are required, confirmed by a written examination.

Austrian citizenship acquired through naturalisation (Verleihung) does not need to be renewed and is valid indefinitely. Citizenship is held for life unless you take specific steps to renounce or lose it voluntarily (for example by voluntarily acquiring a foreign citizenship). However, the documents proving citizenship (passport, identity card) have periods of validity set by law and must be renewed within the relevant time limits.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The application is accepted after 10 years of lawful and continuous residence in Austria, 5 of which must be with settlement (Niederlassung), for example under the "Daueraufenthalt — EU" title. Over those years you may spend no more than 20% of the period outside the country.

Route to citizenship

As a rule you must renounce your previous citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about Austrian citizenship

Can I keep my previous citizenship when I become Austrian?

As a rule, no. Austria generally does not allow multiple citizenship. On naturalisation you must renounce your previous citizenship either before, or (if the law of your country of origin does not allow it) within 2 years after acquiring Austrian citizenship. An exception is possible in rare cases where the applicant has made outstanding contributions for the benefit of Austria. If your country of origin does not provide for renunciation of citizenship, you must have written permission from Austria to keep dual citizenship.

How much income do you need in order to apply for naturalisation?

The law does not set a minimum income figure, but it requires you to have a stable and regular income. The income must be sufficient to support yourself and your dependants without state assistance. The income must be evidenced over 36 months on average within the last 6 years, and the last 6 months before the application must be fully documented. Acceptable sources are: salary, income from your own business, a court decision on maintenance, insurance payments.

Do periods when I was outside Austria count towards the overall period of residence?

No. Under the law, continuous residence means you may spend no more than 20% of the required period outside the country. For example, with a 10-year period you may be absent for a maximum of 2 years. Any absence longer than 20% breaks the continuity and means the count must start again. Temporary trips for holidays or business do not affect the status, but long periods (work abroad, study) do count.

Can a criminal conviction prevent me from obtaining Austrian citizenship?

Yes. One of the main requirements for naturalisation is good conduct. This means no criminal convictions, no unfinished criminal proceedings and no serious administrative offences. A conviction, particularly for serious offences, will almost certainly lead to refusal. Even a criminal case that is still pending can be grounds for refusal or for postponing examination of the application until the proceedings are complete.

How long does it take for a naturalisation application to be examined?

By law the authorities must examine the application within 6 months. In practice, however, the process can take longer, especially if further documents or checks are required. The count runs from the moment the authorities receive all the material after a complete set of documents has been lodged. If no decision has been received after 6 months, you can send an enquiry to the authorities to clarify the status of the examination.

Other ways to move to Austria

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Austria.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.