Eligibility quiz
Was your father an Austrian citizen when you were born, or when he died if he died before your birth?
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 consulateApplying at a consulate
Find your consulate
Find the Austrian embassy or general consulate responsible for the place where you live. An honorary consulate cannot issue a citizenship certificate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Austrian embassy or general consulate handles Erwerb durch Abstammung for someone living in your city?”
Get the application form
Ask your embassy or general consulate for the citizenship application form or the notification form for descendants of persecuted people, as appropriate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get an Austrian Erwerb durch Abstammung application or notification form from the consulate serving your city?”
Fill in the form
Fill in and sign the form. If you are applying for a child, their legal representative fills it in and signs it.
Find form instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in an Austrian Erwerb durch Abstammung application or notification form?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the documents the embassy or general consulate asks for.
See required documentsBook an appointment
Book an appointment with your embassy or general consulate if it requires one. If you are applying for a child, arrange the appointment for the child's application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I book an Austrian Erwerb durch Abstammung appointment at the consulate serving your city?”
Hand in your application
Go in person to your embassy or general consulate with the completed form, originals and copies; a child's legal representative applies for the child. Pay the consular fee in the currency and by the method the office accepts.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit an Austrian Erwerb durch Abstammung application and pay the fee at the consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Respond if the office asks for more information or documents. You will receive the decision or citizenship certificate through the embassy or general consulate, or as the office directs.
See what happens nextSearches DuckDuckGo for “What happens after I submit an Austrian Erwerb durch Abstammung application at a consulate?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificates
Provide your birth certificate and your Austrian parent’s birth certificate. If you were adopted, add the adoption record.
Parent's citizenship records
Provide your Austrian parent’s citizenship certificate. If it is unavailable, provide their birth certificate or other official evidence of their Austrian citizenship. Include evidence of any other citizenship your parent has, such as a passport, identity card or official citizenship confirmation.
Marriage certificates *
Provide the relevant marriage or registered-partnership certificates for you and your parents. Include any divorce, partnership dissolution or name-change records needed to explain your family records. If your application depends on your parents marrying after your birth, include the marriage or legitimation record and, if you were already 14, proof that you remained unmarried.
* Only if you or your parents married, registered a partnership or changed names, or your application depends on your parents marrying.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationPaternity records *
Provide the acknowledgment of paternity or the final court decision establishing paternity. The record should show when paternity was acknowledged or established.
* Only if your Austrian father was not married to your mother when you were born.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationDeath certificates *
Provide the relevant death certificate. If your Austrian parent died before you were born, also provide evidence that they were Austrian when they died.
* Only if your parent or spouse has died and the record is relevant to your application.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's residence record *
Provide records showing your parent’s main residence in Austria. If the records cannot be obtained, ask the office what other reliable evidence it can accept.
* Only if you apply because your parent was persecuted and their residence in Austria is relevant.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's persecution records *
Provide records showing what happened to your parent, such as official archive, deportation, refugee or death records. Include evidence of their departure from Austria or other relevant circumstances. If records cannot be obtained, ask the office what other reliable evidence it can accept.
* Only if you apply because your parent was persecuted.
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
Austrian Citizenship Holocaust Descendants
English Facebook group for people interested in Austrian citizenship
Request to joinHolocaust Descendants with restored citizenship to Austria and Germany
English Facebook group for people interested in Austrian citizenship
Request to joinr/AustrianCitizenship
English Reddit group for people interested in Austrian citizenship
Join on RedditConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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