Austrian Citizenship

On this page, you will find useful information about

1. obtaining and re-gaining Austrian Citizenship (including for victims of Nazi persecution)
2. losing Austrian citizenship
3. dual citizenship (keeping Austrian citizenship).

Please note that the information provided is meant to give you a general overview of the various regulations pertaining to Austrian citizenship. Due to the complexity of the Austrian Nationality Act not all pecularities and specific exceptions are described fully and in detail.

The Certificate of Citizenship is the only official document giving proof of your Austrian citizenship and must be presented when you apply for a passport. Even if you think you may not need a certificate of citizenship because of dual citizenship, we recommend that you have one issued because it is the basis of your being registered in Austria as an Austrian citizen.

Due to a change in the law, there is the possibility that a child who was born after 31 December 2007 or is, as of today's date, not older than two to get an Austrian citizenship certificate, Austrian passport, Austrian passport with a chip and/or for you to have your child entered into your passport free of charge until the child turns two.

Whether you are applying for an Austrian Certificate of Citizenship for yourself or for your new-born child, the following documents must be presented:
1) Application form - signed by applicant or his / her parent(s)
2) signed Affidavit
3) Birth certificate of applicant - original
4) Certificate of Citizenship of parent(s) - original
5) Marriage certificate (of parents) - original
6) Proof of legal stay in US ("Green Card", valid visa) - original
7) Copy of utility bills, driver's license etc. showing applicant's residential address

If you apply by mail and you would like to have your documents sent back to you, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope (certified mail, return receipt requested).

Application for an Austrian Citizenship Certificate
Affidavit for Adults
Affidavit for Minors

1) by descent:

a) Children born in wedlock obtain Austrian citizenship if:
i) born before 09/01/1983: father is Austrian citizen at time of child's birth
ii) 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:
i) if mother is Austrian citizen at time of child's birth
ii) 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.

2) by marriage:

The alien husband or wife of an Austrian national may be granted Austrian citizenship only if they:
a) have been married to each other for at least five (5) years
b) have had ongoing legal residency in Austria for at least six (6) years and 
c) are living in the same household.

EEA citizens may also be granted Austrian citizenship after at least six (6) years of permanent residence in Austria.

Otherwise, Austrian citizenship may be granted to an alien only after at least ten (10) years of residence in Austria, and subject to certain conditions.

Applicants must renounce their present citizenship when adopting Austrian nationality. A good knowledge of the German language, as well as Austrian history and current affairs, is essential when applying for Austrian citizenship.

3) by application:

An alien has a right to obtain Austrian citizenship if:
a) he / she has lived in Austria permanently for at least 30 years or
b) he / she has lived in Austria permanently for at least 15 years and may prove his / her successful integration into Austrian society.

Aliens may apply for Austrian citizenship under the following preconditions:
a) at least 10 years of permanent residence in Austria
b) sufficient financial means / secure income
c) no criminal record
d) sufficient knowledge of the German language
e) positive attitude towards the Republic of Austria.
In rare cases, an alien may apply for citizenship after six years of permanent residence in Austria.

4) by re-acquisition:

Naturalization of former Austrian citizens (who held Austrian citizenship for at least ten years and lost citizenship due to certain circumstances) can be applied for on arrival in Austria. Applicants must receive Austrian citizenship during their stay in Austria.

5) re-gaining citizenship by declaration based on paragraph. 58c of the Austrian Nationality Act (Victims of Nazi persecution):

All former Austrian citizens who were forced to leave Austria before 9 May 1945 because:
a) they feared or suffered persecution by the NSDAP and / or the authorities of the Third Reich or
b) they feared or suffered persecution for defending the democratic Republic of Austria
may re-acquire their Austrian citizenship by declaration.

Neither permanent residency in Austria, nor the renouncing of present citizenship is 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 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 [or Nazi-German] passport)
h) U.S. (or other) naturalization papers
i) proof of date of emigration from Austria

Notification Form

1) acquiring foreign citizenship:

An Austrian citizen applying for foreign citizenship will automatically lose his / her Austrian citizenship upon obtaining foreign citizenship. Children under the age of 18born in wedlock usually also lose their Austrian citizenship, along with their parents.

2) entering the armed forces of a foreign country:

An Austrian national voluntarily entering the armed forces of a foreign country loses Austrian citizenship.

3) revocation:

An Austrian citizen who is both working for a foreign state and adversely affecting the interests and reputation of the Republic of Austria loses his / her 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.

In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for those 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 citizenship 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 paragraph 28 of the Austrian Nationality Act:

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

The authorities in Austria responsible for the granting of dual citizenship are the "Ämter der Landesregierungen" - the provincial government of the province where the applicant was born. If the Austrian was born abroad and has never lived in Austria, the "provincial government of Vienna" will handle the case.

The application to keep one's Austrian citizenship must take the form of a written request addressed to the "Amt der Landesregierung", together with:
a) certified copies of birth certificate
b) certificate of citizenship
c) marriage certificate (if applicable)
d) detailed curriculum vitae
e) criminal records (certificates of good conduct) from all countries where one has lived for more than six months (please be aware that the issuing police department(s) could ask you for a letter from the Consulate stating that the certificate is required) will be forwarded to the provincial government handling the case.

Please note:An Austrian citizen who wants to keep his / her Austrian citizenship when acquiring US citizenship must be granted the right to keep Austrian citizenship before he / she pursues any action towards 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, he/she must file for an extension.