Dual Citizenship
NOTE: The information provided on this page is intended to give a general overview on how Austrian citizenship may be kept when acquiring a foreign citizenship. Due to the complexity of the Austrian Nationality Act not all specific regulations and pecularities are described in detail. If you need additional information, please refer to the "Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz" (available in German on www.ris.bka.gv.at) or contact the Consular Department at consulate.london-ob@bmeia.gv.at.
In general, the Austrian Nationality Act does not allow dual citizenship except for persons who obtain two citizenships at the time they were born. Thus, if a person acquires another citizenship, he/she usually looses the actual citizenship he/she is holding.
The only exception is stated by Section 28 of the Austrian Nationality Act:
A person shall be permitted to maintain Austrian citizenship
- if the maintenance is in the interest of the Republic of Austria, or
- 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.
The competent Austrian authorities which decide the granting of dual citizenship are the "Ämter der Landesregierungen" (provincial governments) of the province where the applicant had his last residence in Austria. If the Austrian was born abroad and never lived in Austria, the "provincial government of Vienna" will handle the case.
The application to keep one's Austrian citizenship, a written request addressed to the "Amt der Landesregierung", together with
- certified copies of the birth certificate,
- certified copies of the certificate of citizenship,
- certified copies of the marriage certificate (if applicable),
- divorce certificate (if applicable),
- a detailed curriculum vitae and
- police record from all countries where one lived for more than six months. In the UK it is possible to obtain a police clearance certificate from the National Identification Service, Subject Access Office, Room 331, New Scotland Yard, Broadway, London SW1H 0BG
will be forwarded to the provincial government handling the case.
Please note: All documents must be furnished in original and in copy. All documents must be produced with German translation. During the application process, a personal appointment at the Embassy in London will be required.
