Citizenship / Naturalization in Austria
2 documented routes of this kind in Austria, each with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Naturalisation by Residence (StbG section 10 / 11a)
Standard naturalisation after 10 years lawful residence (6 with B2/sustained integration), requiring stable income, German, a citizenship test and renunciation of prior nationality.
- Processing time
- No statutory ceiling published; in practice several months to over 1 year depending on province
- Validity
- Permanent (citizenship)
- Language requirement
- German B1 (or B2 for the 6-year reduced route) plus citizenship test
- Citizenship
- 10 years lawful residence, or 6 years with B2/sustained integration
Requirements
- 10 years lawful residence (or 6 with B2/sustained integration)
- 36 months of stable own income within the last 6 years (including last 6 months)
- German certificate (B1, or B2 for reduced route)
- Pass the citizenship test (democratic system + Austrian + provincial history)
- Criminal-record extracts (Austria and abroad)
- Renunciation of prior nationality (with exceptions)
Required Documents
- Passport plus all residence titles required
- Birth certificate required
- Marriage/divorce certificates
- Proof of 36 months stable own income within last 6 years (incl. last 6 months) required
- German certificate (B1, or B2 for reduced route) required
- Citizenship-test pass required
- Criminal-record extracts (Austria and abroad) required
- Evidence supporting renunciation of prior nationality required
Official fees
- Federal application fee (adult) 163 EUR
- Federal conferral fee (standard) 1,448 EUR
- Provincial fee (Landesverwaltungsabgabe, varies by state)
Process Steps
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1
Confirm eligibility
Confirm 10 years (or 6 with B2/sustained integration).
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2
Book appointment
Book an appointment at the provincial citizenship office (Amt der Landesregierung).
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3
Submit
Submit application, documents and test results.
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4
Assurance and conferral
Await Zusicherung (assurance), renounce prior citizenship, then final conferral.
Official Sources
- Citizenship - oesterreich.gv.at Official
- Citizenship Act (StbG) full text - RIS Official
Naturalisation by Marriage / Registered Partnership (StbG section 11a)
Reduced-residence naturalisation for spouses/registered partners of Austrian citizens.
- Processing time
- No statutory ceiling; several months to over 1 year
- Validity
- Permanent (citizenship)
- Language requirement
- German plus citizenship test (as for residence-based naturalisation)
- Citizenship
- At least 6 years continuous lawful residence with at least 5 years marriage in a joint household
Requirements
- At least 5 years marriage/partnership in a joint household
- At least 6 years continuous lawful residence
- Stable income, German, citizenship test, clean record (as section 10)
- Renunciation of prior nationality (with exceptions)
Required Documents
- Marriage certificate required
- Proof of at least 5 years marriage in a joint household required
- Documents as for residence-based naturalisation (passport, income, German, test, records) required
Official fees
- Federal application fee (adult) 163 EUR
- Federal conferral fee 1,448 EUR
Process Steps
-
1
Confirm eligibility
Confirm marriage and residence periods.
-
2
Apply
Apply at the provincial citizenship office with marriage and standard documents.
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3
Assurance and conferral
Await assurance, renounce prior citizenship, then conferral.