The acquisition and loss of Austrian citizenship are governed by the Citizenship Act of 1965, as amended. Citizenship can be obtained in several ways: by birth, by descent, by naturalization, or by rendering special services to the Republic of Austria (for example, in the fields of sports, culture, science, or the economy).

Citizenship by Birth

A child born in Austria acquires citizenship if at least one parent is an Austrian citizen. However, a child born out of wedlock to a foreign mother and an Austrian father does not automatically receive citizenship unless the parents marry. In such cases, the child initially acquires the mother’s citizenship.

Citizenship by Descent

A child born abroad acquires Austrian citizenship if one of the parents is an Austrian citizen. If the mother is foreign and only the father is Austrian, the same marriage rule as above applies.

Citizenship by Naturalization

Austrian citizenship may be granted under several conditions, including:

• At least 10 years of legal residence in Austria.
• Appointment as a professor at an Austrian university.
• Marriage to an Austrian citizen with at least 5 years of residence in Austria.

Citizenship by Investment or Special Contribution

In exceptional cases, significant investors may apply for Austrian citizenship without prior residence or the requirement to renounce their previous citizenship. Investments typically need to exceed €10 million and must be directed into venture capital, innovative businesses, or industries prioritized by the Austrian government.

Citizenship for special merits is also available to individuals who make substantial contributions to Austria’s national interests — such as artists, scientists, athletes, or philanthropists. Applications of this kind are usually processed within 12–18 months. Successful applicants receive full Austrian citizenship by government decree and may obtain their passport immediately. Passports are typically issued within a few days. The grant of citizenship is confidential and not disclosed to other countries, as it falls under privacy and official secrecy regulations.

Passport Alternatives in Europe

Strictly speaking, Austria does not officially operate a citizenship-by-investment program. In the European Union, similar programs previously existed in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Malta — all of which have now been discontinued (Cyprus in 2020, Bulgaria in 2022, and Malta in 2025).

Advantages of Austrian Citizenship

As an Austrian citizen, you may live and work not only in Austria but anywhere within the European Union. In addition, EU citizens may reside in Switzerland, which is an attractive jurisdiction for tax-advantaged residence. If you do not actually reside in Austria, you are generally not subject to Austrian taxation.

An Austrian passport grants the right to legally reside, work, and conduct business in any EU country, including Germany, Italy, and France. It is highly reputable globally and provides excellent visa-free access — including to the United States.

Dual Citizenship

Austria does not generally permit dual citizenship. Exceptions include:

• Children born abroad to Austrian parents who automatically acquire another citizenship by birth.
• Individuals who receive special government permission due to exceptional circumstances — typically those granted citizenship for extraordinary merits.

Loss of Citizenship

Voluntary renunciation is possible under the following conditions:

• The person already holds another citizenship.
• There are no ongoing criminal proceedings or convictions exceeding six months in Austria.
• Male applicants must have completed their compulsory military service.

Involuntary loss may occur if:

• A person acquires foreign citizenship without authorization.
• A person performs voluntary military service for a foreign state.
• A person accepts employment with a foreign government that is deemed harmful to Austrian interests.

Questions & Answers

Q: My wife and I have lived in Austria for a year, and our first child was recently born here. Neither of us is Austrian — I am Serbian and my wife is Slovene. Does our child receive Austrian citizenship by birth, or must we register him as Slovene? If not by birth, when could he qualify for Austrian citizenship?

A: Children born in Austria to non-Austrian parents do not acquire Austrian citizenship automatically. Naturalization is typically available after 10 years of legal residence. In practice, you may be able to apply for citizenship for your child when he is 4–6 years old. We recommend consulting a local immigration lawyer for an exact assessment.

Q: I was born in Austria in 1923 and immigrated to the United States in 1939. I am now a U.S. citizen. Can I apply for an Austrian passport and hold dual citizenship?

A: You may apply for Austrian citizenship based on ancestry. However, if your application is approved, you will likely be required to renounce your U.S. citizenship. While dual citizenship is allowed in the United States, it is generally prohibited in Austria unless citizenship was granted for exceptional national contributions.

Professional Services

Please note that Elma Capital provides legal services exclusively for citizenship by investment cases. All inquiries related to citizenship by descent should be directed to local service providers in Austria.

If you have questions or would like professional assistance with obtaining citizenship by investment, please contact us today.