Austrian citizenship by naturalization

Residence periods

Time on a tourist entry or a visa does not count, and long absences break the continuity of residence. If you are currently in Austria on a visa, the clock towards citizenship starts only with your first residence permit, so it is worth not delaying it. Time on a student permit counts towards the total period, but settled status requires separate years.

Requirements

• German at B1, or B2 for the faster route.
• A test on the democratic system and the history of Austria and the federal state.
• Stable income: on average over 36 months within the last 6 years, not below the social minimum rates after housing costs.
• No convictions or serious administrative offences.
• Renunciation of previous citizenship within 2 years of the preliminary citizenship decision, with rare exceptions.

The faster route in 6 years

You can apply after 6 years with German at B2 or with special sustainable integration. Integration is proven, for example, by three years of volunteering in a non-profit, three years of work in education, social services or healthcare, or an elected office in a public organisation. The other requirements - income, the test, no convictions and renunciation of previous citizenship - are the same as in the general case.

How income is assessed

The authority takes average income over 36 months within the last 6 years and compares it with the social minimum rates. Regular expenses are deducted, above all rent and loans above a set amount, as well as maintenance obligations. Social benefits do not count as income. So families with high rent may find the threshold harder to meet than their salary suggests, and we do the calculation in advance.

The history and system test

The test checks knowledge of Austria's democratic system, its history and the history of the federal state where you live. Questions are multiple choice, and the state publishes preparation materials, and the test can be retaken if failed. Children under 14 and people unable to take it for health reasons are exempt.

How to get residence to start naturalization

The clock towards citizenship only starts with lawful residence, so the first step is a residence permit. The main routes are: the permit for financially independent people without the right to work, the Red-White-Red card for skilled workers, permits for the self-employed, researchers, artists, students, and family reunification. More on the permit for financially independent people on the Austria residence page.

What it costs

Federal state fees differ, so we calculate the exact amount for the place of filing.

Documents

• Passport, birth certificate and, if married, a marriage certificate, apostilled and translated into German.
• Residence permit and residence registration documents for the whole period.
• Proof of income for 36 months: salary statements, tax documents, bank statements, a lease.
• A German language certificate and the result of the history and system test.
• Police certificates from Austria and countries where you lived.
• For children, birth certificates and Austrian school documents.
• The citizenship application form and photos meeting the federal state authority's requirements.

Step by step

1. A residence permit and the move, then years of lawful residence with registration at your address.
2. German at B1 or B2 and preparation for the history and system test.
3. Filing with the authority of the federal state where you live.
4. A preliminary citizenship decision and renunciation of previous citizenship within 2 years.
5. The final decision, the oath and the passport.

Processing usually takes from several months to a year or more, with especially long queues in Vienna, so we file a complete package at once.

How to get approved the first time

• Residence was interrupted or part of it was spent on a visa rather than a residence permit.
• Income over 36 months is below the threshold after rent.
• No German certificate at the required level, or the test was failed.
• A criminal record or serious administrative offences, for example traffic offences.
• Previous citizenship could not be renounced within the deadline.

Most refusals can be foreseen, so we check the period, income and documents before filing.

Dual citizenship

Austria generally requires giving up previous citizenship. Exceptions are rare: for example, descendants of victims of National Socialism and those permitted to keep it on special grounds may retain it. For Russian citizens renunciation is a separate consular procedure taking months, so we plan it in advance and allow for it in the overall timeline.

Renouncing your previous citizenship

After the preliminary decision, the Austrian authority gives 2 years to prove renunciation of previous citizenship. Russian citizens apply to leave citizenship through a Russian consulate, attaching Austria's preliminary decision, and wait for the decree. The procedure takes months, so we prepare the consular documents right after the decision and, if there are delays, inform the Austrian authority in time.

Continuity of residence

The period towards citizenship must be continuous: long absences from Austria can break it, and the count then starts again. So from the first year we keep track of trips, maintain registration at your address and renew the residence permit on time so there is no gap between permits.

What an Austrian passport gives

An Austrian passport gives visa-free or simplified entry to 189 countries and the right to live and work in any European Union country and Switzerland. Citizenship passes to children, and Austrian citizens enjoy consular protection of any European Union country abroad. A citizen can vote in Austrian and European Parliament elections and work in the civil service.

Taxes

Tax residence depends not on citizenship but on housing and the centre of vital interests. Austrian residents pay income tax of 0-55% on worldwide income, capital income is taxed at 27.5% and there is no inheritance tax. The double tax treaty with Russia has barely worked since December 2023, see taxes in Austria.

What changes in 2026

Austria's government announced a citizenship reform: German at B2 instead of B1 for the general route, a mandatory course on democracy and values, and softer treatment of minor administrative offences. There is no draft law yet, so the previous rules with B1 apply. Those who already qualify are better off applying before the changes take effect.

Alternatives

Germany currently grants a passport faster than Austria and does not require giving up previous citizenship.

Who it suits and who it does not

Naturalization suits those already living in Austria on a residence permit or ready to move long-term, learn German and live in the country for 6-10 years. It does not suit those who want a European Union passport quickly or are not ready to give up Russian citizenship: in those cases we look at Germany with dual citizenship or passports by descent.

Children and family

Minor children are included in the parents' application if they live lawfully in Austria. A spouse files their own application and meets the requirements themselves, but for spouses of Austrian citizens the period is cut to 6 years with 5 years of marriage. Children born after a parent's naturalization are Austrian citizens from birth.

Where to start

Send us in the chat on what basis and how long you have lived in Austria, your German level and approximate family income and rent. We calculate when you can apply, whether income meets the threshold, whether the faster route is needed and how to plan renunciation of previous citizenship so as not to lose time.

What we do

Murblz specialists choose a residence permit to start, track deadlines and income documents, prepare you for the test and the citizenship application and support renunciation of previous citizenship. A consultant will calculate the cost in the chat, and we fix the estimate in writing.

Benefits of an Austrian passport

How to get Austrian citizenship: step by step

FAQ

189 countries visa-free with an Austrian passport