General Information

The information provided on this page is intended to give a general overview on how to obtain Austrian citizenship. Due to the complexity of the Austrian Citizenship Act (1985) (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz, available in German only), not all the specific regulations and exceptions will be described in their entirety and in detail.

For additional information, please contact the Austrian Embassy at consularsection(at)austria.org or the competent Provincial Government Authorities

• Burgenland,
• Kärnten [Carinthia],
• Niederösterreich [Lower Austria],
• Salzburg,
• Steiermark [Styria], 
• Tirol [Tyrol],
• Oberösterreich [Upper Austria],
• Wien [Vienna],
• Vorarlberg)

or visit http://www.bmi.gv.at/cms/bmi_staatsbuergerschaft

Records of citizenship are kept by the competent local authorities:

a) Persons born before 1 July 1966:

• in case of birth in Austria, the local authority of the place of birth
• in case of birth in a foreign country, the City of Vienna

b) Persons born on or after July 1, 1966:

• the local authority of the municipality, where the relevant person's mother had her domicile (according to the certificate of birth of the relevant person)
• if the domicile of the mother was in a foreign country, the city of Vienna
• if the domicile of the mother was in a foreign country, but the relevant person's place

Certificate of Citizenship

The Certificate of Citizenship is the only official document offering proof of your Austrian citizenship. It must always be presented when applying for an Austrian passport.

The following documents must be presented in any case:

1. Application form - dated and signed by the applicant. In case of children under 18, application must be signed by parents either at the Embassy or before a notary public.
2. Affidavit or Affidavit for Minors  - completed and signed either at the Embassy or before a notary public.
3. Original Birth Certificate of the applicant and of his/her parents in case the applicant is under 18 (American birth certificate must show the city of birth, not just the county; "long form, "book copy")
4. Original Certificate of Citizenship of the applicant and that of his/her Austrian parent(s) if the applicant is under 18.
5. Original Marriage Certificate or divorce papers (including custodial agreement) of parents (if applicable).
6. Original Alien Registration Card or valid visa of the applicant and his/her Austrian parent for children under 18.
7. Consular fees: payment must be made in US$ per money order (payable to Embassy of Austria) or cash (exact change only please)
8. Self-addressed and stamped envelope (certified mail, return receipt requested) if you want your documents returned by mail. The Embassy cannot be held liable for any loss or theft of documents while handled by a mail/postal service. 

Application for Citizenship
Affidavit adults
Affidavit minor (German only)

Obtaining Austrian Citizenship

Austrian citizenship can be acquired by descent, marriage, award, extension of the award, etc.

Acquisition by descent

a) Children born in wedlock obtain Austrian citizenship if

• born before 09/01/1983: father is Austrian citizen at time of child's birth
• born on or after 09/01/1983: one parent is Austrian citizen at time of child's birth

b) Children born out of wedlock obtain Austrian citizenship

• if mother is Austrian citizen at time of child's birth
• by legitimation if child (whose mother is a non-Austrian citizen) is still a minor and unmarried at the time of his/her parents' marriage and the father is an Austrian citizen at this time. If the legitimated child is over the age of 14 (but still a minor), he/she must consent to the acquisition of Austrian nationality.

By Marriage:

The alien husband or wife of an Austrian national may be granted Austrian citizenship only after at least six years of lawful residence in Austria if they have been married and being living in a common household for at least five years.

Applicants will have to renounce their present citizenship when adopting Austrian nationality. A good knowledge of the German language, Austrian history and current affairs in Austria is essential when applying for Austrian citizenship.

Acquisition by award

The process of acquisition by award applies particularly to foreigners who have established themselves in Austria (minimum 10 years legal and nonstop residence, therefrom minimum 5 years with a settlement permit), and now want to completely integrate themselves into the society.

In case of an acquisition of the Austrian citizenship by award the general requirements for naturalization [allgemeine Einbürgerungsvoraussetzungen] must be fulfilled and an application must be filed.

Further requirements for an award either depend on the acquisition due to legal claim or on the the authority’s discretion.
General Requirements for Naturalization

* Minimum of 10 years legal and nonstop residence in Austria, therefrom minimum of 5 years with a settlement permit
* Integrity
o No judicial condemnation
o No pending criminal action (both in Austria and abroad)
o No severe administrative offences with special degree of unlawfulness
* Sufficiently secured maintenance
o Proof of one’s own fix and regular earnings out of acquisition, income, judicial claim to maintenance or insurance benefits for the last three years up to the point of decision
* German language skills and basic knowledge of the democratic system, the history of Austria and of each province
o Proof of a written exam unless there are any exceptional regulations (e.g. German as mother tongue, minority, attendance of school with a positive grade in the subject “German”)
* Positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria and warranty that there is no danger for the public peace, order and security
* No current prohibition of residence (in Austria and any other EEA-country) and no pending process concerning the end of the residence
* No eviction order within the last 12 months
* No close relationship to any extremist or terrorist group
* Principally loss of previous citizenship
* Due to the acquisition of the citizenship
o The international relations to the Republic of Austria must not be significantly affected and
o The interests of the Republic of Austria must not be harmed

Responsible Authority

The office of the provincial government [Amt der Landesregierung]

 The application can either be filed with ([“Verleihung bzw. Erstreckung der Verleihung der österreichischen Staatsbügerschaft“]) or without an official form.

The actually required documents can only be determined according to your personal details. Please contact the responsible department of citizenship.

Please note: More precise information about the above, and further possibilities concerning the acquisition of Austrian citizenship regulated in the citizenship law are available at the citizenship department of the office of the provincial government [Staatsbürgerschaftsabteilung des Amtes der Landesregierung] of your primary residence [Hauptwohnsitz].

By Re-Acquisition:
a) A female (Austrian) citizen who lost Austrian citizenship prior to 09/01/1983 because of getting married to an alien may re-obtain her Austrian citizenship if she applies for it within two (2) years after her husband's death or her being divorced from him.
b) An Austrian national who had lost Austrian citizenship may regain it if at this time he/she has lived in Austria (permanent residence) for at least one year and was an Austrian national for at least ten (10) years before losing Austrian citizenship.

By Declaration based on Sec. 58c of the Austrian Nationality Act:
All former Austrian citizens who were forced to leave Austria before May 9, 1945 because
a) they had to fear or even suffered persecution by the NSDAP and/or the authorities of the Third Reich or
b) they had to fear or suffered persecution because of defending the democratic Republic of Austria may re-acquire their Austrian citizenship by declaration.
Neither permanent residence in Austria nor renouncing present citizenship are required; no fee will be charged.
By virtue of a 1999 amendment to the Austrian Nationality Act it is now possible for persons who meet the above-mentioned criteria (lived in Austria and had to flee the country) and who were not Austrians but citizens of successor states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to also become Austrian Citizens. Fees do apply.

Former Austrians should present the following documents (originals):
a) signed notification form
b) birth certificate
c) marriage certificate
d) proof of legal change of name (if applicable)
e) proof of academic degree (if applicable)
f) valid passport
g) proof of Austrian citizenship at the time of emigration from Austria (Heimatschein, Heimatrollenauszug, old Austrian Passport
h) U.S. (or other) naturalization papers
i) proof of date of emigration from Austria

Losing Austrian citizenship

1) Acquiring foreign citizenship:
An Austrian citizen applying for foreign citizenship will automatically lose his/her Austrian citizenship upon obtaining foreign citizenship. Minor children born in wedlock usually also lose their Austrian citizenship (because of their parents' losing theirs).

2) Entering the armed forces of a foreign country:
An Austrian national voluntarily entering the armed forces of a foreign country loses his/her Austrian citizenship.

3) Revocation:
An Austrian citizen both working for a foreign state and adversely affecting the interests and reputation of the Republic of Austria loses his/her Austrian citizenship. In addition, newly naturalized Austrians who do not renounce their previous citizenship within two years (as required) lose their newly acquired Austrian citizenship.

4) Giving up Austrian citizenship:
An Austrian citizen may, under certain circumstances, renounce his/her Austrian citizenship.

Dual Citizenship

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born (e.g. a person born to Austrians living in the US acquires both Austrian and US citizenships at the time of birth).

Thus, if a person acquires US citizenship, he/she usually has to renounce the actual citizenship he/she is holding. The only exception is stated in Section 28 of the Austrian Nationality Act:

A person shall be permitted to maintain Austrian citizenship
a) if the maintenance is in the interest of the Republic of Austria, or
b) if personal reasons are worth considering (the law does not provide for examples of specific reasons that are worth considering but one may think of older relatives living in Austria, career prospects, reasons related to property issues etc.).
Only born Austrians may make use of this legal provision stated under b).

The authorities in Austria charged with deciding on the granting of dual citizenship are the Ämter der Landesregierungen (provincial governments) of the province where the applicant was born, for those born before July 1, 1966. For everyone born after July 1, 1966 the provincial government of the province where the mother of the applicant had her legal residence at the time of the applicant's birth, will decide. If the Austrian was born abroad and never lived in Austria, the provincial government of Vienna will handle the case.

The application to retain the Austrian citizenship (= a written request addressed to the provincial government), together with the listed documents below, will be forwarded by the Austrian Embassy to the provincial government handling the case.

a) Original Citizenship Certificate
b) Original Birth Certificate
c) if applicable: Original Marriage Certificate and/or divorce papers
d) Certificates of good conduct (criminal records) from all countries where one lived for more than six months (please be aware that the issuing police department(s) could ask you for a letter from the Embassy in which it is stated that the certificate is required by the Embassy). You can obtain a FBI certificate of good conduct in Clarksburg, West Virgina.
e) Detailed curriculum vitae
f) Affadavit

PLEASE NOTE: An Austrian citizen who wants to keep his/her Austrian citizenship in the case of acquiring US citizenship must be granted the right to keep the citizenship before he/she pursues any steps directed at obtaining US citizenship. The right to keep one's citizenship is granted (if it is granted) under the condition that US nationality is then acquired within a period of two years. As soon as it becomes known that US citizenship will (most likely) not be obtained within these two years, please file for an extension immediately.

Records of citizenship are kept by the competent local authorities:
a) Persons born before 1 July 1966:
• in case of birth in Austria, the local authority of the place of birth
• in case of birth in a foreign country, the City of Vienna

b) Persons born on or after July 1, 1966:
• the local authority of the municipality, where the relevant person's mother had her domicile (according to the certificate of birth of the relevant person)
• if the domicile of the mother was in a foreign country, the city of Vienna
• if the domicile of the mother was in a foreign country, but the relevant person's place

Embassy of Austria
Consular Section
3524 International Court, NW
Washington, D.C., 20008

Consulate Office Hours:
Monday through Friday,10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(except on Austrian and U.S. holidays )

E-mail: consularsection[at]austria.org