Austria · Citizenship
Naturalization rules: required residence years, language and civics requirements, and each country's dual-citizenship policy.
AI-drafted, editorial review pending. The official links below are checked — confirm specifics with the authority.
Austrian citizenship by award normally requires ten years of lawful and uninterrupted residence, at least five of them as a settled resident — that is, on a settlement title such as the Red-White-Red Card or Long-term Resident – EU, not on a temporary stay permit such as the student permit. Six years is enough for people married to or in a registered partnership with an Austrian for five years and living together, EEA citizens, people born in Austria, and applicants who prove German at B2 level or lasting integration, such as three years of voluntary work for a non-profit organisation or of work in education, social care or health. “Uninterrupted” means spending no more than 20% of the required period outside Austria. The general conditions also include a clean criminal record; secure income of one’s own over an average of 36 months within the last six years, including the six months immediately before applying; German at B1 (Module 2 of the Integration Agreement); and a written multiple-choice test on Austria’s democratic system and history and that of the province. As a rule, applicants must give up their previous citizenship: Austrian law generally does not allow dual or multiple citizenship, with exceptions only in special cases. Citizenship is handled by the provincial governments — the province of one’s main residence decides — and they also tell applicants which documents are required.
- Ten years’ lawful, uninterrupted residence, at least five of them on a settlement title.
- Six years with German at B2, an Austrian spouse of five years, EEA citizenship or birth in Austria.
- German B1, a civics and history test, and 36 months of secure income in the last six years.
- Previous citizenship generally has to be given up.
- Migration platform of the Austrian Federal Government — Citizenship
General requirements for naturalisation, in English.
- oesterreich.gv.at (Ministry of the Interior) — Early award after six years (in German)
Who qualifies after six years and the 20% absence rule.
- oesterreich.gv.at (Ministry of the Interior) — Award after ten years (in German)
The ten-year route and what counts as settled residence.
- oesterreich.gv.at (Ministry of the Interior) — Dual citizenship (in German)
The general bar on dual citizenship and its exceptions.
Government portals
- oesterreich.gv.at — Austrian Government Portal — Guidance and online services for residents, including residence registration and ID Austria.
- USP — Business Service Portal — Online company formation (e-start-up), beneficial-owner filings and business dealings with the authorities.
- Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF) — Tax, customs and online filing through FinanzOnline.
- Migration Platform of the Austrian Federal Government — Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card and family reunification, with a points calculator.