How to Obtain Austrian Citizenship in 2026: The 6- and 10-Year Routes, Requirements and Fees

If you have lived in Austria for several years, you may eventually consider applying for Austrian citizenship. The relevant route depends on your lawful residence, settlement status and whether you meet the additional conditions for early naturalisation. This overview reflects the information available as of 29 January 2026.

How can you obtain Austrian citizenship?

There are several ways to acquire Austrian citizenship: by descent (Erwerb durch Abstammung), by granting (Erwerb durch Verleihung) and by declaration (Erwerb durch Anzeige). For adults who have moved to Austria, granting—also referred to as naturalisation—is generally the relevant route.

Granting citizenship is based on two main requirements:

1. meeting the general naturalisation requirements (allgemeine Einbürgerungsvoraussetzungen); and
2. proving the required period of residence.

An application (Antrag) must always be submitted. Citizenship is not granted automatically.

When is six years enough?

Early granting after six years (Vorzeitige Verleihung nach sechs Jahren) requires six years of lawful and uninterrupted residence in Austria, in addition to the general naturalisation requirements. At least one of the following additional conditions must also be met:

• citizenship of an EEA state;
• at least five years of marriage or a registered partnership (eingetragene Partnerschaft) with an Austrian citizen, together with five years of living in a shared household;
• birth in Austria;
• proof of German language skills at B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference (GERS);
• proof of sustained professional and personal integration, in particular:
• at least three years of voluntary work for a public-benefit organisation;
• at least three years of work in education, social services or healthcare, with income continuously reaching the monthly marginal-employment threshold (Geringfügigkeitsgrenze); or
• at least three years holding a position in an employee or professional representative organisation, such as a trade union.

Citizens of an EEA state meet the additional condition through their citizenship, but they must still satisfy all general naturalisation requirements.

What does the 10-year route involve?

Granting citizenship after ten years (Verleihung nach zehn Jahren) requires ten years of lawful and uninterrupted residence, including five years as a settled resident (niedergelassen), alongside the general naturalisation requirements.

A separate version applies to recognised refugees: they need ten years of lawful and uninterrupted residence as recognised refugees.

• Early granting: 6 years, plus an additional condition such as EEA citizenship.
• General granting: 10 years, including 5 years with settled status.
• Recognised refugees: 10 years as recognised refugees.

There are also 15-year and 30-year routes, but the source information does not provide further details about them.

What do lawful, uninterrupted and settled residence mean?

• Lawful (rechtmäßig) means that you are officially entitled to live in Austria, for example with a residence permit or visa.
• Uninterrupted (ununterbrochen) means that you have spent no more than 20 percent of the required period outside Austria. You must prove that you were physically present in Austria for most of the relevant period. The period is calculated up to the date on which the decision (Bescheid) is issued.
• Settled (niedergelassen) means that you hold an appropriate residence status in Austria, such as Daueraufenthalt, EU, Rot-Weiß-Rot, Karte or Niederlassungsbewilligung, Künstler. A person who holds only an Aufenthaltsbewilligung is not considered settled.

Where must you submit the application?

The application must be submitted to the citizenship department of the provincial government office (Amt der Landesregierung) responsible for your place of residence. In Vienna, the responsible office is the city department called Einwanderung und Staatsbürgerschaft.

Each of the nine provinces has its own information page with contact details: Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, Vorarlberg and Vienna. Your registered address (Meldezettel) is the starting point for determining the responsible office.

How much does Austrian citizenship cost?

Fees are payable for the procedure. The legal basis includes the Fees Act (Gebührengesetz, GebG). No specific amount is available in the source information, so the exact fees must be confirmed with the office handling your application.

Frequently asked questions

Is six years of residence enough for an EEA citizen?

Regarding the residence period, EEA citizenship fulfils one of the additional conditions for the six-year route. However, all general naturalisation requirements must also be met.

How much time can I spend abroad?

You may spend no more than 20 percent of the relevant period outside Austria. This applies to the six-year period for the early route and to the ten-year period for the general route, calculated up to the date the decision is issued.

Is a B2 German certificate required for the six-year route?

B2 German is only one possible additional condition. An EEA citizen already fulfils the additional condition through EEA citizenship, but the general naturalisation requirements still apply.

Can I keep my existing citizenship?

Dual citizenship (Doppelstaatsbürgerschaft) is a separate issue and should be checked independently before applying.

Practical steps

1. Check whether you meet the general naturalisation requirements.
2. Calculate your lawful and uninterrupted residence period, including time spent outside Austria.
3. Check whether you qualify for the six-year route or whether the 10-year route applies.
4. Confirm whether your residence status counts as settled for the 10-year route.
5. Identify the citizenship department of the relevant Amt der Landesregierung; in Vienna, contact Einwanderung und Staatsbürgerschaft.
6. Ask the responsible office for the current document list, application procedure and exact fees under the Gebührengesetz, GebG.
7. Submit the application and retain evidence of your residence, absences and status.

This information is based on publicly available sources and is not legal advice. For individual guidance, consult a lawyer or another suitably qualified professional. Source: oesterreich.gv.at.