Becoming a citizen of Austria: residence and dual nationality

Austria is one of the hardest countries in Europe in which to naturalize, and for Americans one rule matters more than any other: Austria generally expects you to give up your previous nationality. Before you plan around an Austrian passport, read what the law actually asks. This guide draws on the federal portal oesterreich.gv.at and the citizenship site staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at, plus the US Embassy in Vienna.

Who decides

The Austrian constitution gives the provinces exclusive responsibility for citizenship. Every case, from receiving the application to the decision, is handled by the citizenship department of your provincial government (Amt der Landesregierung). The application must be filed in person, in writing or on record, usually on the provincial forms. The provincial office tells you which documents to attach, because the list depends on your personal situation.

How long you must live in Austria

### The standard route: ten years

The standard requirement is ten years of lawful and uninterrupted residence in Austria, at least five of them as a settled resident.

• Lawful means you were officially allowed to live in Austria, for example on a residence permit or visa.
• Settled (niedergelassen) means holding a settlement-type title such as Permanent Residence EU, the Red-White-Red Card or a settlement permit. A temporary residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung), the type used by students, does not count as settled.
• Uninterrupted means you spent no more than 20 percent of the relevant period outside Austria, and you must show you were in Austria most of the time.

### The six-year routes

After at least six years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, citizenship must be granted to certain groups, provided the other conditions are met:

• spouses of Austrian citizens, if the couple has lived in a shared household for at least five years;
• people whose naturalization is in Austria's interest because of extraordinary achievements in science, business, the arts or sport;
• people who prove German at level B2;
• people who prove lasting personal integration, for example through at least three years of volunteer work with a non-profit organization such as an emergency service, at least three years working in education, social care or health, or at least three years in a role in an interest group, such as a works council member or parent representative.

### Longer routes

Citizenship must also be granted after at least 15 years of lawful, uninterrupted residence with proof of lasting personal and professional integration, or after at least 30 years with a main residence in Austria.

The general conditions

Every applicant must also meet these conditions.

### German at B1

You need German at level B1 of the Common European Framework. Ways to prove it include:

• passing the B1 integration exam, which also fulfils Module 2 of the Integration Agreement;
• at least five years of compulsory schooling in Austria with a pass in German;
• a pass in German at the level of the ninth school year;
• at least two years enrolled in a German-language degree program with at least 32 ECTS credits, or a completed German-language degree;
• German being your native language.

Children have their own options based on school attendance.

### The citizenship test

You must show basic knowledge of Austria's democratic system and its principles, and of the history of Austria and of your province. This is generally done by an exam at the provincial office. There is an online practice test on staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at. Young children and people whose health makes the test impossible, confirmed by an official medical report, are exempt.

### Secure income

Your livelihood must be adequately secured. This means fixed and regular income of your own from work, earnings, legal maintenance claims or insurance benefits, at the level of the reference rates in section 293 of Austria's General Social Insurance Act. It is measured as an average over 36 months chosen from the last six years before the application, and the last six months counted must come immediately before you apply.

The 2026 reference rates published on staatsbuergerschaft.gv.at:

| Household | Monthly amount | |---|---| | Single person | EUR 1,308.39 | | Married couple or registered partners in a shared household | EUR 2,064.12 | | Each child, in addition | EUR 201.88 |

Regular expenses such as rent, loan payments, garnishments and maintenance paid to people outside your household reduce your counted income. A flat amount, EUR 386.43 in 2026, of those expenses is disregarded.

Exceptions apply if you cannot secure your livelihood because of a disability or a lasting serious illness that is not your fault.

### Clean record

Applicants must have no final conviction by an Austrian or foreign court to a prison sentence for intentional offenses, no Austrian conviction to a prison sentence for a financial offense, and no pending criminal proceedings. Citizenship is also refused if you were penalized more than once for a serious administrative offense, such as driving under the influence or running a business without a trade license, or for a serious violation of the immigration and employment laws.

### Other conditions

• A positive attitude toward the Republic of Austria and no danger to public order or security.
• No residence ban or pending removal proceedings, and no return decision from another EU or EEA state or Switzerland.
• No ties to extremist or terrorist groups.
• The naturalization must not significantly harm Austria's international relations or interests.

Giving up US citizenship

The general conditions include leaving your previous nationality, as far as this is possible and reasonable. For Americans this is the decisive issue. In practice, Austria issues an assurance of citizenship first, and you then give up your other nationality before the grant. Confirm the exact sequence and deadlines with your provincial office.

Giving up US citizenship is done through the US Embassy. The embassy describes renunciation before a US consular officer as a serious and irrevocable act and urges you to understand the consequences fully before you start. Relinquishment through certain expatriating acts is a personal right that nobody can exercise on your behalf. Consider the US tax and family consequences with professional advice before taking this step.

Families

The grant can be extended to a spouse and children through an application for extension (Erstreckung), filed with the same provincial office.

If you keep both passports

Some people hold both nationalities, for example children born with both. The US Embassy reminds dual nationals that US law requires US citizens to enter and leave the United States on a US passport, and that an EU citizen must enter the EU on their EU passport, not a US one.

Planning ahead

1. Choose your residence title carefully: years on a student-type permit count as lawful but not settled.
2. Track days abroad, to stay under the 20 percent limit.
3. Reach German B1 early, or B2 if you want the six-year route.
4. Keep tax assessments and pay slips for six years to document income.
5. Avoid administrative offenses, including traffic offenses, that can count against you.
6. Talk to your provincial citizenship department before deciding about US citizenship.

Common questions

How many years do Americans need to live in Austria for citizenship? Generally ten years of lawful, uninterrupted residence, five of them settled. Six years is possible with German B2, marriage to an Austrian for five years, or proven integration.

Can I keep my US citizenship if I become Austrian? Generally no. Austria requires applicants to leave their previous nationality where possible and reasonable.

What German level do I need for Austrian citizenship? B1, plus a citizenship test on democracy and on the history of Austria and your province. B2 can shorten the wait to six years.

How much income do I need? For 2026, the reference rate is EUR 1,308.39 a month for a single person and EUR 2,064.12 for a couple, plus EUR 201.88 per child, averaged over 36 months.