Citizenship in Austria

Citizens who have lived in Austria for at least 10 years can apply for citizenship in Austria. If you would like to know how to get citizenship in Austria in 2026, and the formalities imposed, we suggest you get in touch with one of our lawyers for legal guidance. Our Austrian citizenship lawyer can provide specialist legal advice.

How can I get citizenship in Austria in 2026?

The formalities for Austrian citizenship are simple if you seek the help of our lawyers. In addition to being required to stay in Austria for at least 10 years, citizenship candidates must also meet other conditions. Let’s review some of these:

1. Authorities are demanding proof of a stable income in Austria. Regular income must be documented (e.g. payslips, pension or tax notices) for 36 months within the last 6 years; bank statements alone are not enough.
2. Applicants must show that they have a positive attitude towards Austria.
3. A clean criminal record is needed.
4. Knowledge of the German language is required.
5. Some standard forms will be filled in with personal data.
6. Proof of domicile in Austria is required. Current bills are sufficient.
7. A birth certificate and identity document (or passport) are required.
8. Proof of payment of the citizenship application in Austria is required.

These are some of the formalities to consider if you are wondering how to get citizenship in Austria in 2026. As the process may seem complicated at first glance, we invite you to talk to our Austrian citizenship lawyer. Also, more about immigration to Austria can be discussed with one of our local experts. Our immigration lawyers in Austria are at your disposal, including for obtaining residency in Austria.

Here is an infographic with information about citizenship in Austria:

How to become a citizen of Austria by making investments

Making investments of a substantial, job-creating size in the form of a joint venture can, only exceptionally and at the government's discretion, lead to citizenship under § 10(6) StbG for extraordinary achievements; Austria has no investment programme with fixed amounts. Also, direct investment in a present business on the market that creates jobs is another option. Such donations to a relevant public project are also permitted. Here are some requests for how to become a citizen of Austria by making investments:

• Applicants must prove that they are active investors in Austria.
• And in this case, the Austrian authorities demand a clean criminal record.
• A birth and marriage certificate, plus a valid passport, are required for an Austrian citizenship application.
• A resume containing business background information is also required by the authorities.
• References from other foreign investors or collaborators are also accepted.
• The key ministries of Austria are the institutions that analyze citizenship by investment in Austria for foreign applicants.
• There will also be a background check when processing the application.
• The family can also be part of the citizenship process in Austria by investment.

What is important to note is that applicants should not give up their current citizenship. So, if you want more information on how to get citizenship in Austria, we invite you to discuss all the details with our Austrian citizenship lawyer.

We invite you to watch a video presentation we have prepared about Austrian citizenship:

Other ways to become a citizen of Austria

Citizenship by marriage and by descent are other ways in which a foreign national can gain this status in 2026. If you are married to an Austrian citizen (generally after 6 years of residence and 5 years of marriage), you may qualify for facilitated naturalisation; however, if you can prove that you have relatives in this country, this alone does not qualify you for Austrian citizenship. All that remains is to discuss all aspects with our Austrian citizenship lawyer.

One should note that if the parents of a child are not married, the father is a citizen of Austria, and the mother is from another state, the child obtains Austrian citizenship by descent. This can happen only if the father recognizes paternity within 8 weeks following the birth of the child.

Citizens who were forced to leave Austria before 15 May 1955 due to fear of persecution or who have suffered such persecution or were mistreated because they defended the democratic Republic of Austria can re-establish their Austrian citizenship by declaration, and no further requirements.

Reacquisition of Austrian citizenship

There are special situations in which various citizens want to reacquire Austrian citizenship. Here are some explanations in this sense:

• Women of Austrian origin who married foreign citizens and thus lost their citizenship can apply for reacquisition only after the death of their husband or after divorce. These rules apply to marriages that took place before September 1, 1983.
• Former Austrian citizens who have had this citizenship for at least 10 years and who lost it at some point can benefit from the simplified procedure. There is the obligation to be present in Austria for this step and to renounce foreign citizenship.
• Likewise, the reacquisition of Austrian citizenship can also involve people who were forced to leave Austria or were persecuted before 15 May 1955. A declaration is sufficient to regain Austrian citizenship.

Certain situations can be complicated from a legal point of view, especially when it comes to the reacquisition of citizenship in Austria. For these reasons, we advise you to talk to one of our lawyers in Austria and find out what steps to follow in the desired approach.

What happens in case of loss of citizenship in Austria?

Austrian citizens who voluntarily acquire a foreign nationality without a prior permit to retain Austrian citizenship (Beibehaltungsbewilligung) automatically lose their citizenship in Austria. Also, people who want to join the army voluntarily in a foreign country can lose this status. There are also cases in which Austrian citizenship can be revoked if the person in question works in a country that is in conflict with Austria or that directly affects the country’s interests.

We also mention that people who fail to revoke their former citizenship within a maximum of 2 years, once they have obtained the Austrian one, can lose the latter one. However, there are also people who want to give up Austrian citizenship willingly, and the process is possible, considering a few formalities.

Obtaining an Austrian passport after citizenship

Once you become an Austrian citizen, you will receive a passport. This document is among the most powerful in the world, respectively joint fourth worldwide in the Henley Passport Index 2026. Also, with an Austrian passport, you can travel without restrictions in the countries that are part of the Schengen area, as well as in other countries, around 185 destinations in total, where entry visas are not required. You can travel to Argentina, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Brazil, Fiji, Hong Kong, Japan, or Malaysia. However, entry visas are offered to countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, the Maldives, Qatar, etc.

Key updates on Austrian citizenship in 2026

If you want to apply for citizenship in Austria in 2026, this information might help you:

• The government plans to change the German-language requirement, but as of October 2026 the reform has not been adopted. Applicants currently must prove B1 (B2 allows naturalisation after 6 years); the plan is to require B2 knowledge of the German language when applying for Austrian citizenship.
• A mandatory citizenship course is planned as part of the naturalization process, but it had not been introduced as of October 2026. This course concentrates on fundamental rights, European values, democracy, etc.
• The government has announced a review of citizenship fees, but no change had been adopted as of October 2026.
• Citizenship for extraordinary achievements (§ 10(6) StbG) remains a discretionary exception, not a programme, decided case by case by the federal government; no new rules had been adopted as of October 2026. A substantial documented contribution to Austria and a clean criminal record are among the requirements for Austrian citizenship by merit.

Want to know more about how to get citizenship in Austria in 2026? We invite you to contact our law firm in Austria. An Austrian citizenship lawyer will take over your case and tell you more about immigration to Austria.