Eligibility quiz
Are you married to an Austrian citizen?
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 provincial government citizenship office for your main home in Austria. You must apply to that province.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Austrian provincial government citizenship office handles applications for your city?”
Get the application form
Ask your provincial citizenship office how to get its citizenship application form.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get the Austrian citizenship application form from the provincial government for your city?”
Fill in the form
Fill in your citizenship application form. If your office provides the form at your appointment, staff will help you complete it there.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in an Austrian citizenship application through an Austrian spouse?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents your provincial citizenship office asks for.
See required documentsAttend an information appointment
If your office requires an initial information appointment, arrange and attend it before your filing appointment. Your office may also offer an online assistant to help you prepare.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange an initial information appointment for Austrian citizenship at the provincial government for your city?”
Arrange your filing appointment
Arrange an appointment to submit your application in person, following your provincial citizenship office's instructions.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange an Austrian citizenship application appointment at the provincial government for your city?”
Go to your appointment
Go to your provincial citizenship office in person and hand in your written application and documents. Bring the originals and copies.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an Austrian citizenship application at the provincial government for your city?”
Pay the filing fees
Pay the application and filing charges as your provincial citizenship office instructs you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Austrian citizenship application charges at the provincial government for your city?”
Take the citizenship test
Attend the citizenship test if your provincial citizenship office invites you to take it.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I take the Austrian citizenship test at the provincial government for your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait while your provincial citizenship office considers your application. Answer its questions and send any additional documents using the method it specifies.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens while the provincial government considers my Austrian citizenship application?”
Complete any required renunciation
If your provincial citizenship office gives you a provisional approval and requires you to give up another citizenship, follow its instructions to complete the process.
Find renunciation informationSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I give up another citizenship after provisional approval for Austrian citizenship?”
Pay the award charges
Pay the charges for receiving citizenship as your provincial citizenship office instructs you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I pay the Austrian citizenship award charges at the provincial government for your city?”
Receive your citizenship document
Attend your final appointment at the provincial citizenship office and receive your citizenship document. You can then apply for an Austrian passport.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I receive my Austrian citizenship document at the provincial government for your city?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates *
Bring your birth certificate and the birth certificate of each person included in your application. Get each certificate from the office that registered the birth, and bring the originals and copies.
* Only if you apply in Vienna or your citizenship office asks for them.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationMarriage certificates *
Bring the certificate for your marriage to your Austrian spouse, as well as certificates for any earlier marriages or registered partnerships. If you have divorced or dissolved a partnership, also bring the final decision, proof that it is final and any effective settlement; bring originals and copies.
* Only if you apply in Vienna or your citizenship office asks for them.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationShared household evidence *
Bring evidence that you and your Austrian spouse have shared a household for five years. Ask your citizenship office which records it accepts, and bring originals and copies.
* Only if your citizenship office asks for it.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationSpouse's citizenship records *
Bring proof that your spouse is an Austrian citizen. Ask your citizenship office which records it accepts, and bring originals and copies.
* Only if your citizenship office asks for them.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Bring the death certificate of your former spouse or registered partner. Get it from the office that registered the death, and bring the original and a copy.
* Only if a former spouse or registered partner has died and you apply in Vienna or your citizenship office asks for the certificate.
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
Adavia doesn't provide advice, but we're building a directory of professionals who do. If you'd like, we can notify you when help is available.
Updated