Austria Residence Permit: How to Get a Residence Permit in Austria for Long-Term Stay

The Republic of Austria attracts migrants not only through its high standard of living and stable economy, but also because its passport provides the holder with European Union citizen status. Austrian citizenship grants the right to freely live, work, study under preferential conditions, and conduct business activities throughout the entire EU territory, as well as visit 176 countries without visa requirements.

An Austrian passport can be obtained subject to lawful and continuous residence in the state for 6–30 years (depending on circumstances), proficiency in the German language, knowledge of democratic principles and the republic’s history. Additional requirements include the absence of criminal records, financial self-sufficiency, and some others. The complete list of conditions, standard document requirements according to current legislation, reviews from foreigners who have obtained Austrian citizenship, as well as the cost of the naturalization procedure in 2023 and the stages it includes — all this can be found in this article.

Austrian Migration Legislation

The main document regulating the procedure and conditions for granting status is the federal law «On Austrian Citizenship». The naturalization process involves obtaining temporary and permanent residence permits, the rules for which are established in the legal act «On Settlement and Residence». Persons applying for an Austrian passport should note that local legislation in most cases does not permit granting a foreigner either dual or second citizenship status — renunciation of the current status is mandatory. The exception consists of victims of National Socialism and their descendants.

An Austrian citizen has the right to:

participate in elections and referendums;
freedom of beliefs, religion, and self-expression;
equality before the law;
inviolability of property;
protection from authorities, including abroad;
access to employment in government institutions.

At the same time, Austrian passport holders have obligations, including:

being loyal to the republic;
fulfilling legal requirements;
preserving nature, cultural and historical monuments.

What an Austrian Passport Provides

The advantages of having an Austrian passport, including as a member state of the European Union, are:

the right to visa-free travel to 122 countries and simplified entry to 54 states;
the possibility to choose any EU jurisdiction for unlimited residence, conducting business with favorable taxation, priority employment;
access to education at prestigious European universities at preferential cost or free of charge;
the right to state benefits;
full access to social payments, including for pensioners;
the possibility for children and spouses of Austrian citizens to claim Austrian residency.

Methods of Obtaining Austrian Citizenship

The federal law specifies the following main methods of obtaining Austrian citizenship: by descent, standard naturalization, or simplified naturalization — for special achievements or through marriage to an Austrian, for example. All naturalizing persons fulfill the same mandatory requirements; only the period of residence in the state differs. It is possible to become an Austrian citizen after continuous residence in the republic for the following number of years:

30 — in any legal status;
15 — upon proof of stable professional and personal integration of the person;
10 — in case of having the right to asylum or 5-year possession of Niederlassungsbewilligung status;
6 — subject to registration of legal marriage with an Austrian, birth in Austria, possession of EU/EEA citizenship, outstanding achievements, or sufficient personal integration.

Obtaining Austrian citizenship in most cases takes no less than 10 years. Citizens from post-Soviet countries have the opportunity to obtain a passport from an EU member state within one year with minimal requirements, and then freely relocate for permanent residence to Austria or another jurisdiction of the union. More detailed information about simplified EU citizenship acquisition can be obtained through a free consultation with a migration specialist.

By Principle of Descent

Austrian citizenship is automatically acquired by children if their parents held Austrian citizen passports (or at least one of them) on the date of birth, and their union was officially registered. A child born out of wedlock acquires status if the mother is Austrian or if an Austrian father acknowledged paternity or it was established by court within the legally prescribed timeframe. Citizenship is also granted to children under 14 years old adopted by citizens.

Supporting documents, depending on circumstances, include marriage certificates of parents, adoption certificates, proof of Austrian citizenship of father and/or mother, confirmation of acknowledgment or determination of paternity. If a person acquires status not only in Austria but also in another state at birth, they have the right to retain both.

Long-term Naturalization

The main conditions for acquiring citizenship are legal residence for the legally established period (10, 15, or 30 years), as well as fulfillment of standard requirements. The basis for settlement in the republic and obtaining a temporary residence permit with the goal of future Austrian passport acquisition may be conducting scientific research or innovative activities, family reunification, employment, studies, or other reasons. This method is suitable for the vast majority of applicants.

Granting Status to Victims of National Socialism and Their Descendants

Victims of National Socialism include those who fled from the Austrian Republic before 15.05.1955, stateless persons who were deported or died before 09.05.1945 and permanently resided within the modern borders of the jurisdiction, and those who previously held Austrian citizenship or that of one of the successor countries of Austria-Hungary, as well as Austrians without a primary place of residence on state territory during the period from 30.01.1933 to 09.05.1945. The aforementioned facts must have occurred in connection with persecution by the authorities of the German Reich or the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. These categories of persons and/or their direct descendants have the right to obtain Austrian citizenship.

It is important for the applicant to provide confirmation that the facts listed above apply to them, and for children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. — also irrefutable proof of the existence of family ties. Citizenship is granted to a person upon fulfillment of the same standard conditions that apply to those naturalizing, with the exception of requirements regarding long-term residence in the country, renunciation of current status, and availability of financial support.

Accelerated Naturalization (6 years)

This method may be used by persons who have already achieved or are expected to achieve outstanding (above average) results in the economic, sports, scientific, or artistic sphere. After 6 years of residence in the republic, it is possible to obtain Austrian citizenship upon confirmation of marriage to an Austrian citizen that has lasted at least 5 years, or the right to asylum. Holders of passports from European Union or EEA member states, persons born in the republic, or those who have proven stable personal integration have the opportunity to apply for accelerated naturalization. The latter implies knowledge of German at B1 level and at least 3 years of work for the public good (as a geriatric nurse or volunteer, for example) or only proficiency in the state language at B2 level. Before applying for citizenship through standard naturalization, it is worth checking for the presence of grounds for undergoing the accelerated procedure.

Granting Citizenship in Special Procedure

Applicants residing abroad have the right to submit a request for Austrian citizenship without staying on the republic’s territory if they provide/provided extraordinary services in the special interests of the country as determined by the government. This method of acquiring status also applies to spouses of Austrians working in regional government bodies or local public-legal organizations abroad.

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Conditions for Obtaining Austrian Citizenship

According to paragraph 10 of the federal law, mandatory conditions for obtaining Austrian citizenship in any naturalization are:

absence of threat from the migrant to public order, international relations, interests and security of the republic;
non-affiliation with terrorist or extremist groups;
positive attitude toward the Austrian Republic;
absence of expulsion of the person within the last 18 months, decisions on their deportation, as well as prohibition or incomplete proceedings on termination of residence in the country;
possession by the applicant of sufficient means of subsistence with confirmation of regular and stable income;
absence of open criminal cases, convictions, serious administrative violations of unlawful nature in foreign states and in the republic;
renunciation of previous citizenship;
possession by the applicant of sufficient knowledge of the German language at the established level, as well as of the democratic structure and basic principles, history of Austria and the federal state in which the applicant resides.

How to Obtain Austrian Citizenship: Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1. Choosing the basis for relocation.

Before deciding to relocate to another state, one should determine the basis, which depends on the presence of family ties, qualifications and education, financial capabilities, future plans — this may be studies, employment, self-employment, volunteer activities, marriage to an Austrian, family reunification, or other. After choosing the reason for immigration, appropriate steps are taken if necessary — for example, job search, university admission.

Step 2. Obtaining a temporary residence permit.

As a rule, the request is submitted to the Austrian embassy/consulate abroad. The application review period depends on the basis and in most cases constitutes 8 weeks, but does not exceed six months. Applicants pay a fee of 145–160 EUR. Upon completion of this stage, the foreigner receives a temporary resident card valid, as a rule, for one year and subject to renewal.

Step 3. Obtaining permanent residence.

Most often, having lived in the country for at least 5 years on the basis of an Aufenthaltstitel-type temporary residence permit, a migrant can request permission for permanent settlement. The application is submitted to the local authority, cost — 195–210 EUR. The case review period is no more than six months. The permanent resident card is issued for 5 years and must be timely renewed.

Step 4. Citizenship request.

The applicant must preliminarily schedule an appointment at the citizenship department of the local authority and personally provide a completed application form with a package of documents. The processing time for the application submitted by the foreigner depends on the grounds and attached evidence. No information is available about the possibility of checking case status on the official government website.

Step 5. Testing.

The migrant confirms their possession of basic knowledge about fundamental principles and the democratic system, history of Austria and the federal state in which they reside, by taking an examination. The applicant is notified of the place and time of the test no less than 8 weeks before the scheduled date. Testing consists of three parts, 6 questions each with four answer options. To pass this stage, it is necessary to score at least 3 points in each area. As a result, a certificate of the established format is issued.

Step 6. Obtaining Austrian citizen status and passport.

In case of approval of the request, the applicant receives a confirmation letter guaranteeing receipt of an Austrian passport, after which they have 2 years to renounce their current citizenship. After fulfilling this requirement, one must take an oath, after which a decision on granting status is issued. Based on this document, it is necessary to obtain an Austrian internal passport (ID card), with the application submitted to the appropriate municipal service at the place of residence.

What Documents Are Needed for Citizenship

The standard list of documents submitted by a foreigner when applying for Austrian citizenship consists of:

a completely filled application form;
personal biographical data;
birth, marriage, partnership, divorce, adoption, paternity acknowledgment, name change certificates — all applicable to the applicant’s situation and their children if included in the application;
confirmation of the right to use an academic degree obtained abroad;
a valid travel document (foreign passport);
confirmation of regular income for 36 months within the last 6 years before the application submission date (these may be payslips, salary certificates, benefit receipts, employment contracts);
criminal record extracts from countries where the foreigner resided for more than six months;
a document confirming registration of place of residence in Austria;
a recent photograph sized 3.5 × 4.5 cm to 4 × 5 cm;
confirmation of insurance record from the social protection authority;
a generally recognized language diploma or certificate of course completion confirming German language proficiency according to CEFR at no lower than the legally required level.

All documents are provided in original, and those compiled in a foreign language must have a translation performed by a sworn translator in Austria. To obtain a passport, a decision on granting citizenship, a photo, and a birth certificate will be required.

Cost of Austrian Citizenship Processing

An Austrian citizen passport can be acquired through financial investments in the republic’s economy. Local legislation provides for granting status for special merits, which include investments, however, the amount is not officially established.

Mandatory expenses related to the naturalization procedure are shown in the table below.

Expense Item	Fee Amount in €
Submission and review of application for adult/minor	125.60 / 68.50
Obtaining citizen status	247.90–1,115.30
Foreign passport request	75.90–220 (depending on urgency)
Processing internal identification document	61.50

The table shows only official fees without accounting for charges for temporary residence, permanent residence permits, translations, and other costs related to relocation, which increase the final price. To calculate the full cost and select a more advantageous option for obtaining an EU passport, get a free consultation with a migration specialist.

Dual and Second Citizenship in Austria

The difference between types of multiple status lies in the fact that in the case of dual citizenship, there exists an official agreement between two states recognizing the rights and obligations of an individual in relation to both countries. If there is no such agreement between jurisdictions, a foreigner may be permitted to have second citizenship.

According to Austrian legislation, both options are not permitted. Foreigners obtaining citizen status through naturalization must renounce their current status. There are exceptions to the rules — for example, acquisition by a child of citizenship of another state by descent from one of the parents or by the principle of country of birth. Victims of National Socialism and their descendants need not renounce their current status. Austrians have the right to obtain a second passport abroad only in exceptional cases and with prior state consent.

Austrian Citizen Passports

Austria’s internal identification document is issued as an ID card containing a photo, personal data of the holder, signature, number, date of birth, issuance and expiration date of the document. The foreign passport appears standard for EU member countries, having a burgundy cover with the republic’s coat of arms in the center. Austrians have the right to freely visit 176 states, of which 122 — without visa requirements, for example, Singapore, Japan, Great Britain, Switzerland, and another 54 — under simplified conditions, including the USA and Canada.

Refusal to Grant Citizenship

An applicant for Austrian citizenship may receive a refusal if they have a ban on entry to EU countries, there is a close connection with a terrorist or extremist group, a decision on return to homeland or expulsion by another union state, serious violation of law. Authorities also make negative decisions if proceedings are opened regarding prohibition or termination of the person’s residence in the republic, actions necessary for renouncing previous citizenship are absent, or an attempt has been made to intentionally preserve it.

To minimize the risk of application rejection, the applicant should check in advance whether they fulfill all legal requirements. The possibility of appealing authorities’ decisions must be clarified individually.

Immigrant Reviews and Assistance in Obtaining Citizenship

Foreigners who have legalized their stay in this jurisdiction often mention in their reviews that obtaining status in Austria for third-country nationals is quite difficult due to strict requirements for applicants. Immigrants note that it is more advantageous, faster, and easier to obtain a European Union citizen passport in some other states than through naturalization in the republic. A passport from another EU country provides the opportunity to obtain Austrian citizenship in a shorter time than for migrants from third countries, but even before that, one is permitted to conduct business, work, and study under the same conditions as Austrians.

Any process related to legalizing residence abroad is quite difficult to complete independently due to lack of necessary knowledge and experience. Assistance from specialists in migration law will not only reduce time for document collection but also provide the opportunity to select an optimal option in advance, competently complete the procedure, and minimize the percentage of receiving a refusal.