Who and how can quickly obtain Austrian citizenship

Austria is one of the most attractive countries for permanent residence. There is a very high standard of living there. Those who have not yet been to this Alpine country can apply for a visa to Austria and see for themselves.

Many people dream of becoming citizens of this rich state. However, the Austrian authorities have serious requirements for candidates.

Austrian passport and citizenship certificate

It is difficult to emigrate to Austria and obtain a residence permit, and nothing will change in 2021. The process for obtaining citizenship has also not changed.

Benefits of Austrian citizenship

Foreigners choose Austria not only because of the high standard of living, developed infrastructure and clean environment. The main advantages of obtaining Austrian citizenship are:

• the opportunity to study at a university at prices for Europeans;
• free education in public schools;
• free health insurance;
• free movement within the countries of the European Union;
• visa-free regime with more than 100 countries;
• the right to receive social benefits;
• the right to vote in elections;
• high profit payment;
• political stability.

More details about salaries in Austria in the video:

Free movement and life in EU countries

With an Austrian passport, you can move freely throughout the EU countries, study, work and open a business in other countries without hindrance. For example, to move from Austria to Germany, you no longer need to wait 3 months for a residence permit to be issued. It is enough to come to the country, register at your place of residence, find a job and pay taxes.

Visa-free visits to foreign countries

Austrians can visit any EU country and 115 countries around the world. The list includes the USA, Canada, Australia, where obtaining a visa is not so easy. For 30 countries you do not need to apply for a visa in advance; it is issued upon arrival. And only 29 countries (which include Russia) require entry permission.

Visa regime map for Austrians: countries for which a visa is required are highlighted in grey.

Austrians can only come to Russia with a visa. Therefore, for some, the disadvantage will be the renunciation of previous citizenship. But compared to the advantages of an Austrian passport, this is only a small drawback.

Residence permit for investment

Financially independent individuals and senior managers have the opportunity to obtain the right to reside in Austria. Initially, a residence permit is issued for a period of one year; in the future, it can be renewed annually. After ten years of residence, the investor has the right to apply for Austrian citizenship.

Requirements for financially independent persons

The main criteria for issuing a residence permit to financially independent persons are proof of the availability of funds (at least €40 thousand for an adult and at least €10 thousand for children under 18 years old), the presence of permanent housing in Austria (it can be rented) and a health insurance policy . Please note that a residence permit on this basis does not give the right to work in Austria.

You can include your spouse and children under 18 years of age in your application. Due to the strict quota system (about 300 per year), the processing time for a residence permit application can be quite long, reaching four to six months.

Required documents:

• International passport.
• Birth certificate.
• A photograph measuring 45x35 mm and not older than six months.
• Marriage certificate (for those who are planning to move with their spouse).
• Confirmation of the availability of housing in Austria (for example, a rental agreement or a purchase and sale agreement).
• Insurance.
• Proof of sufficient funds in the bank account (based on the specified requirements).

Requirements for senior managers

The basis for this category of applicants is work in a managerial position in an Austrian company with a salary of at least €2.5 thousand per month. Monthly expenses for taxes and social needs must be at least €800.

You can include your spouse and children under 18 years of age in your application. The period for obtaining a residence permit and work permit takes no more than three months.

Required documents:

• International passport.
• Birth certificate.
• A photograph measuring 45x35 mm and not older than six months.
• Marriage certificate (for those who are planning to move with their spouse).
• Insurance.
• Contract with the employer.

Irina Simonyan: “It is worth noting that in Austria there is no investment program for obtaining a residence permit in the usual sense, when there is a certain amount of necessary investment. There is an option to obtain a residence permit for financially independent persons who are ready to demonstrate the availability of sufficient funds.

This scheme is of main interest not for investors, but for wealthy “financially independent” citizens who want to move to Austria without applying for jobs in the country (for example, for pensioners). Citizens of Russia and post-Soviet countries are actively interested in this opportunity. We also see great interest among citizens of the Middle East, Asia, and countries of North and South America.”

Examples of real estate in Austria

Apartment in Schladming, Austria 449,000 € Area 100 m2, 5 rooms Benesteem Executive Con…

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Apartment in Vienna, Austria €695,000 Area 127 m2, 4 rooms Knight Frank

Penthouse in Austria €5,800,000 Area 480 m2, 7 rooms Immotrading GmbH

Office in Vienna, Austria €700,000 Area 218.3 m2 Immotrading GmbH

Chalet in Styria, Austria €360,000 Area 169 m2, 4 rooms Crown Consulting

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Ways to obtain Austrian citizenship

You can obtain Austrian citizenship (Österreichischen Staatsbürgerschaft) in 2021:

• by birth;
• through marriage;
• by naturalization;
• through investments.

The grounds for obtaining citizenship are specified in Austrian law (citizenship act).

Austrian citizenship by birth

Children who have at least one parent is an Austrian citizen can obtain Austrian citizenship. If the child’s mother is Austrian, then there are no problems with obtaining citizenship.

If the mother is a foreigner and the father is Austrian, then he must recognize the child. A personal statement authorizing the father's name to be included on the birth certificate is usually sufficient.

Birth certificate in Austria: recently it is possible to indicate the gender of the child as “other”.

If the father does not recognize the child, then paternity can be forced to be recognized through the court. If the court approves the application, it will be entered on the birth certificate, and the child will be able to apply for citizenship.

Adopted children from abroad can also obtain Austrian citizenship. The main condition is that the child must be under 14 years old.

Through marriage

When marrying an Austrian man or an Austrian woman, a foreigner has the right to obtain citizenship. The main condition is that the married couple has lived in the same territory for at least 5 years. Even in this case, the immigrant will have to pass German language tests to obtain citizenship.

Financial investments and investments

Austria is not a country where you can obtain a residence permit through investment. Investors are immediately given citizenship. True, this method will be unrealistic for many. To obtain an Austrian passport, you need to invest 3 million euros in the state treasury or 10 million euros in an existing business in Austria.

The embassy discusses obtaining Austrian citizenship through investment with the candidate individually. There are no clear requirements.

Naturalization

Obtaining Austrian citizenship through naturalization is the path of almost every emigrant. This method is chosen by students who received their education in Austria and remained to work, participants in emigration programs (Red-White-Red Card, EU Blue Card) and entrepreneurs operating in Austria.

The main requirements for obtaining citizenship: continuous residence in Austria for 10 years, knowledge of the language, culture, history and laws of the country, conducting income-generating activities (work, business).

Continuous residence means that the foreigner must have a valid residence permit all this time. You can safely travel from Austria on vacation or to your homeland.

Life under a temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltstitel) is not fully counted towards this period. That is, if a foreigner studied in Austria for 5 years, only 2.5 years will be counted towards him. But for a permanent residence permit (Niederlassungsbewilligung), the years are counted in full.

Mandatory conditions for obtaining Austrian citizenship in 2021 by naturalization:

• 10 years of legal life (with a residence permit) in the country;
• absence of criminal records, lawsuits (in Austria and abroad), administrative offenses, debts;
• stable income (minimum 36 months of employment or other activity over the last 6 years. During this time, a minimum of 30,000 euros must be earned, which is not a problem with Austrian salaries);
• knowledge of German at level B1;
• knowledge of the history, culture and laws of Austria;
• renunciation of previous citizenship.

A candidate for citizenship should not pose a threat to society, be a member of extremist groups, etc.

Detailed instructions for immigration to Austria:

Exceptional cases of obtaining citizenship

Other ways to obtain Austrian citizenship are available:

• Austrian women who lost their citizenship due to marriage before September 1, 1983;
• former citizens of Austria who voluntarily renounced citizenship due to immigration to another country;
• victims of Nazism;
• honored workers of science or art.

How to obtain Austrian citizenship in 2021 - for a Russian citizen, for investment, for children

Austria attracts Russian tourists due to the huge number of attractions, clean mountain air, the beauty of the Alpine landscapes and centuries-old history.

Many Russians dream of staying here due to the high standard of living, the best wage system and high-quality education and medical services. What is needed to obtain Austrian citizenship?

Requirements for candidates

• For candidates without special conditions who have a temporary or permanent residence permit, in order to obtain Austrian citizenship, they must live in the country for at least 10 years with the possibility of short trips out of the country.
• For candidates under special conditions, long-term residence in the country is not necessary; this could be marriage to an Austrian, investment in the state’s economy, or residence of wealthy citizens.
• There are general requirements for all candidates to obtain citizenship:

• no criminal record or ban on residence;
• valid residence permit;
• a sufficient level of income for all members of the migrant’s family;
• a friendly attitude towards the mentality of the country’s inhabitants, the political situation;
• knowledge of German depending on the purpose of obtaining a permit (usually at level B1, B2).

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Methods of obtaining

Ways to obtain Austrian citizenship:

• for investments;
• naturalization;
• by blood;
• through marriage.

For investment

Wealthy citizens often move to Vienna with their family and children through investment in the country's economy. The amount of such investments in the state economy is approximately $10 million.

At the same time, the businessman undertakes to employ at least 20 Austrian citizens in his office work and regularly pays all taxes. The advantage of this type of citizenship is the possibility of dual citizenship and short processing times.

Naturalization

1. Naturalization allows Russian citizens already living in Austria for more than 10 years with a residence permit to obtain citizenship.
2. The duration of stay under a residence permit, according to the latest changes to the law in 2019, is 6 years for persons confirming official income at a permanent place of work.
3. Also, the migrant must integrate into society, have a local education, but must serve in the Austrian army for 6 months before the age of 35.
4. A minor child, one of whose parents is Austrian or both parents are natives, can obtain citizenship by blood.
5. The document will be received even if the baby is born and lives with his parents in the territory of another state.

Through marriage

Through marriage, you can obtain Austrian citizenship 2 years from the date of its conclusion. Proof of cohabitation is required, even if the spouses were in another state during this period.

How to obtain Austrian citizenship for a Russian citizen

It is not easy for a Russian citizen to obtain citizenship in Austria; you just need to be patient and not worry. First of all, it is necessary to collect the entire evidence base of professional and social integration, the necessary documents, pass a German language exam and undergo an interview.

After receiving the coveted document, it will be possible not only to live in one of the ancient and environmentally friendly countries of the world, but also to freely travel to other EU countries without any problems.

To obtain Austrian citizenship, a Russian citizen must:

1. Collect a package of necessary documents.
2. Pass an exam on knowledge of the German language and the history of the country.
3. Pay the state fee.
4. Send the test results and citizenship application documents to the Austrian Embassy.
5. If the application is considered positively, a procedure for renouncing current Russian citizenship is required.
6. After receiving citizenship, apply for a local passport at your place of residence.

The basis for obtaining both permanent residence and citizenship of a given state is passing an exam in the German language and knowledge of the history of the country. Preparation for the exam will be courses, half of the cost of which is paid by the state itself.

For minor children, application for citizenship is made no earlier than 4 years from the date of birth and automatically if one or both parents are Austrian. The application for citizenship of minors is submitted by the child’s parents or guardians

Required documents

The package of documents may vary depending on the method of obtaining citizenship, but the main ones are:

• photo;
• residence permit;
• documents confirming place of residence;
• insurance;
• certificate of income and place of employment;
• autobiography;
• certificate of no criminal record and medical certificate.

For example, investors must provide documentation on investing in a particular fund, which does not provide a full guarantee of obtaining citizenship.

To obtain citizenship by naturalization, it is necessary to provide documents confirming social and cultural integration into the life of Austria, these can be diplomas and participation in public activities, foundations and charity.

Duration and cost of the procedure

• The processing time for each migrant is individual and depends on the method of obtaining permission.
• For investors, the processing time is less than for naturalization, and does not exceed six months.
• The cost of the registration procedure is individual for each migrant, but on average:

Who can be refused

There are not many refusals to obtain citizenship and they are often associated with a violation of the country’s legislation and its foundations.

Reasons for refusal or termination of Austrian citizenship:

1. Existing criminal record.
2. False statements in biography.
3. Falsification in a package of documents.
4. Failed German exam.
5. Lack of integration (financial or social).
6. Violation of Austrian law.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other European state, Austria has its pros and cons for Russian migrants.

The main advantages of Austrian citizenship are:

• high standard of living and medicine;
• the possibility of unimpeded movement within the EU countries;
• getting an education;
• high paying job;
• the opportunity to open your own business;
• the country's mild climate and ecology;
• safety.

Disadvantages of obtaining Austrian citizenship:

1. Long time for consideration of the application and making a decision.
2. High prices for state duties.
3. Sunday is a day off.
4. All shops are open until 18-20, banks until 15.
5. Peculiarities of mentality that are not similar to Russian ones.

1. Among the disadvantages of life in Austria, Russian migrants find many other unpleasant moments for them, because Russian people are very different from other peoples both in mentality and preferences.
2. The time frame for obtaining Austrian citizenship and its cost depend on the method of obtaining it and are most often considered individually for each migrant.
3. The documents required to submit the application also differ depending on the reason for obtaining citizenship.

For those married to an Austrian and for people by naturalization, they will be different. In order for a Russian citizen to obtain Austrian citizenship, he needs to be patient and study the culture and German language.

As for other countries, a candidate for citizenship must be loyal to the country and have no violations of the law, both in the past and present.

Reduced length of stay

In some cases, the period for obtaining citizenship can be reduced to 6 years:

• if you are married to a citizen of Austria (additional condition - cohabitation for 5 years);
• upon receipt of refugee status in Austria;
• if you have citizenship of another EU country;
• while affirming deep personal integration.

The latter method differs from “normal” naturalization by three additional conditions, at least one of which must be met:

• 3 years of volunteer work in a non-profit organization;
• 3 years of experience in health, education or social services;
• 3 years of work as an activist in unions.

Procedure for obtaining Austrian citizenship

If a foreigner meets all the requirements, he should still consult the magistrate in his place of residence. They will explain what documents are needed in a particular case.

Where to apply

The migration police examines applications for citizenship. In Vienna this is the responsibility of the magistrate 35. In other federal states this may be handled by a separate service. It’s worth going or writing to the magistrate at your place of residence and finding out where they accept documents for citizenship.

You can find the desired window by the inscription “Staatsbürgerschaft”

Required documents

An approximate list of documents for obtaining Austrian citizenship in 2021:

• residence permit and registration at the place of residence;
• international passport;
• photographs according to EU standard (35*45 mm);
• certificate of income and its source (the applicant must be employed for 36 months over the last 6 years);
• rental agreement for an apartment or its property;
• a certificate of good conduct (from the home country and the country where the applicant lived for more than 6 months);
• proof of health insurance;
• certificate of marriage/divorce/change of name or surname/birth of a child (if available);
• an extract from the company of creditors confirming the absence of debts;
• German language exam results.

There is no need to confirm that you have lived separately for 10 years in Austria. It is enough to bring a valid residence permit. Magistrate staff have access to history.

The list of documents is general. Magistrate employees have the right to demand additional papers.

Within 6 months the candidate will be contacted and informed of the result of the application. If it is negative, then the applicant will not be expelled from the country and the residence permit will not be taken away. A foreigner can submit documents again if there is a discrepancy with the requirements.

If the answer is yes, then you need to prepare for testing on the history and laws of the country and renounce your current citizenship.

German language exam

The ÖIF (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds) exam is suitable to confirm your language knowledge. Those who moved to Austria to get an education should not have any problems passing the test. If a foreigner studied in a German program, then in order to be admitted he had already passed the B1 level exam. If he graduated from an English-language program, then in 3 years of study and 5 years of living in the country, he definitely learned German to the required level.

To qualify, the level of knowledge of the German language must be B1.

Those who immigrated to Austria through employment (in particular to work in international companies where German is not required) or entrepreneurship will find it a little more difficult. No matter how much a language is needed in life, it is mandatory to take it for citizenship.

Example of a task from the ÖIF testing

The German exam for obtaining Austrian citizenship takes place in a standard format: listening, reading, writing and speaking. You can find sample tests and take a practice exam on the ÖIF website. There you can also find the dates of the upcoming exams (usually one exam per month).

In some cases, a German exam is not necessary. This applies to those whose higher education is closely related to the study of the German language.

Test of knowledge of Austrian culture and laws

To obtain Austrian citizenship, you need to pass an exam on your knowledge of the history and laws of the country. Trial testing can be completed on the state portal. This is not just a demo version: for each question there is a link to the training material. The test has easy questions (for example, what countries does Austria border with) and more difficult ones (the reasons for the revolution, or what important happened in the country in 1955).

Additional study materials are provided by the Vienna City Council. For each part there are questions for consolidation.

There are 27 questions in the test. To pass the exam, you must answer at least 18 questions correctly.

Examples of test questions for obtaining Austrian citizenship

There is no need to take the exam if the foreigner studied at a primary or secondary school in Austria in German or received a diploma from an Austrian university in a similar field.

Terms of consideration

On average, the application review procedure takes from 6 months to one and a half years. If the application is approved, the candidate receives Austrian citizenship, after which he can immediately apply for a passport. The passport is valid for 10 years and can be renewed as usual. Citizenship can be revoked if the application contains false information or is fraudulent.

The timing is also affected by the place of residence. Vienna and Salzburg have a lot of immigrants. And if you submit documents in a small city, you can get an answer a little faster.

Application fee

The cost of applying in 2021 is 776 euros for a single person, 1,552 euros for couples (official marriage), 137 euros for each child. Children under two years old are issued citizenship free of charge. The assistance of a migration lawyer in collecting and processing documents will cost 2,000-3,000 euros.

Required documents

• passport, residence permit;
• the applicant's birth certificate;
• certificate of marriage, divorce (if any), death of husband or wife;
• documents confirming the change of first or last name (if present);
• certificate of citizenship of the spouse (issued no earlier than six months);
• photo;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• certificate of income for the last thirty-six months;
• health insurance;
• certificate of language proficiency;
• document confirming the status of refugee or political asylum (if any).

All documents provided must have an apostille, as well as a notarized translation into German.

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The period for studying documents is two to three months. If the decision is positive in favor of the applicant, the latter must formally renounce his previous citizenship.

Dual citizenship is retained and renunciation of the previous one is not required for the following categories of persons:

• refugees or those receiving political asylum;
• the Austrian state is directly interested in maintaining dual citizenship (potential investor, famous athlete, prominent scientist, etc.);
• Children born in Austria retain dual citizenship until adulthood.

Dual citizenship of Austria and Russia

This country does not recognize dual citizenship. Even spouses of Austrian citizens will not be allowed to have dual citizenship. However, in some situations the authorities still make exceptions for:

• internationally recognized persons who praise Austria;
• those who acquired citizenship of the country at the time of birth;
• foreigners whose home country denies exemption from citizenship;
• pensioners who, if refused, may lose their pension;
• refugees who cannot refuse a passport in their home state.

In other cases, current citizenship must be renounced. To do this, it is not necessary to go back to your homeland. You can apply for a waiver at the embassy. Russians can do this at the Russian Embassy in Vienna.

Refusal to issue an Austrian passport

It would seem that obtaining citizenship is already the finish line of immigration. But here, too, you will have to be careful and collect all the documents correctly. The process of obtaining an Austrian passport is long and not cheap. Therefore, you need to protect yourself from refusal.

Reasons for refusal may be:

• false documents;
• entering into a fictitious marriage for the purpose of obtaining citizenship;
• fake invitation to work/study to enter the country;
• lack of reason to obtain refugee status;
• presence of debts (even unpaid Internet or a fine for traveling without a ticket are taken into account);
• wages below minimum;
• lack of grounds for obtaining citizenship.

If the applicant simply forgot about some document, he will be told about this during the application process and asked to report it. If a foreigner ignores this, then most likely there will be a refusal. In order not to miss anything, you must provide a valid phone number and email so that the migration service employee can contact the immigrant.

Those who followed the laws and lived legally in Austria have nothing to fear. But when applying for citizenship, all documents are raised. And if entry into the country was based on false papers, this fact may come to light and citizenship will be denied.