Eligibility quiz
Are you married to an Austrian citizen, and have you lived together for at least five years while married?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Austrian passport and ID
Austrian citizens can have an Austrian passport and identity card.
A passport is normally valid for ten years and must be replaced when it expires.
Live in Austria for life
Austrian citizens can enter, live in and return to Austria for life without renewing a residence permit.
Study in Austria
Austrian citizens can study in Austria without immigration permission.
Work in Austria
Austrian citizens can work or start a business in Austria without immigration permission.
Retire in Austria
Austrian citizens can retire in Austria without immigration permission.
Get help abroad
Austrian citizens can get consular help abroad, including emergency travel documents and help after arrest, serious illness or an accident.
Help can include contacting doctors, lawyers or relatives and arranging a return home; fees or repayment can apply.
Vote in elections
Austrian citizens can vote from age 16 in presidential, national, provincial, local and European elections, unless excluded by certain court convictions.
Citizens abroad can vote by post in federal and European elections if registered; provincial voting depends on the province.
Use public healthcare
Austrian citizens can use public healthcare when they meet the conditions for coverage, which generally depend on insurance, work or residence.
Access social support
Austrian citizens can access pensions, unemployment insurance and family benefits when they meet each benefit’s conditions, which can depend on insurance, work or residence.
How to apply
Applying at a local officeApplying at a local office
Find your citizenship office
Find the citizenship department of the provincial government for the place where you have your main home in Austria.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Austrian citizenship department serves your city?”
Ask for your document list
Contact your provincial citizenship office and ask which documents you need for your application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I contact the Austrian citizenship department serving your city about documents for naturalisation?”
Get the application form
Obtain the citizenship application form from your provincial citizenship office.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Where can I get the Austrian citizenship application form for the citizenship department serving your city?”
Fill in the form
Fill in and sign your citizenship application form.
See how to applySearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in an Austrian citizenship application for a spouse of an Austrian citizen?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your provincial citizenship office.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Book an appointment with your provincial citizenship office if it requires one.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book an Austrian citizenship application appointment with the citizenship department serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Bring your signed application and your original documents and copies to your provincial citizenship office in person. Ask the office when and how to pay the fee, and pay it as instructed.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an Austrian citizenship application in person to the citizenship department serving your city?”
Take the citizenship test
Complete the citizenship test if the office requires you to take it.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I take the Austrian citizenship test for naturalisation in your city?”
Give up former citizenship
If the office requires you to give up your current citizenship, follow its instructions on when and how to do so.
Find release informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I give up my current citizenship when applying for Austrian citizenship?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the provincial citizenship office to decide your application. Tell the office about relevant changes and answer its questions or requests for updated documents.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens while I wait for a decision on my Austrian citizenship application?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Get your birth certificate and one for each child applying with you from the offices that hold the birth records. Bring the originals and copies.
Marriage certificates
Get the certificate for your current marriage and for every earlier marriage from the offices that hold the marriage records. Bring the originals and copies.
Spouse's citizenship record
Bring your Austrian spouse's Austrian citizenship certificate or other proof of their Austrian citizenship. Bring the original and a copy.
Divorce documents *
Bring the divorce or partnership dissolution decision, with confirmation that it is final and effective. Get it from the court or office that issued it, and bring the original and a copy.
* Only if you have divorced or ended a registered partnership.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Get their death certificate from the office that holds the death record. Bring the original and a copy.
* Only if a previous spouse or registered partner has died.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Military reporting abroad
Men liable for service who move abroad for over six months must promptly report their address to the military and an Austrian embassy or consulate.
Those permanently declared unfit or who completed basic service and entered the reserve are exempt.
Men abroad generally report for assessment after 17 and, on returning to Austria, report to the military within three weeks.
Military service for men
Military duty for male Austrian citizens begins at 17 and normally lasts until 50, or 65 in special cases.
Basic service can be called up from 18 to 35, and duties include assessment and reserve service.
Those who object on grounds of conscience can do nine months of civilian service instead.
Citizenship can be lost
A new citizenship gained voluntarily ends yours unless Austria approved keeping it in writing before you took steps to get it.
It can be taken away for voluntarily joining another military, seriously harming Austria while serving another state, or actively fighting abroad for an armed group in a conflict.
You can give it up if you have another citizenship and receive a written release.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Foreigners and Expats in Vienna and Austria
English Facebook group for people living in Austria interested in Austrian local life
Request to joinExpats World in Vienna
English Facebook group for people living in Austria interested in Austrian local life
Join on FacebookInternationals in Austria 🌎 🇦🇹
Facebook group for people living in Austria interested in Austrian local life (English & German)
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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