Austrian citizenship by merit
Austria rewards exceptional individuals with the opportunity to obtain citizenship — without the standard residence requirement, without a German language test, and without being required to give up an existing citizenship.
Austrian citizenship is highly coveted:
- An Austrian passport can be helpful when traveling to the EU, when acquiring companies in the EU or when investing in real estate in the EU (since Austria is an EU Member State).
- An Austrian passport can be helpful when traveling to countries outside of the EU (since an Austrian passport is one of the top ten passports worldwide and allows visa-free travel to approx. 190 destinations).
- Austria offers exceptional healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public safety. Vienna consistently ranks among the world's most liveable cities.
- Situated at the crossroads of Europe, Austria borders Germany, Italy, Switzerland, and six other nations, with a robust, export-oriented economy and political stability.
The legal pathway
Austrian citizenship by merit is a discretionary naturalisation route under sec. 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985), under which citizenship may be granted in recognition of exceptional achievement once the Federal Government confirms that doing so is in the particular interest of the Republic.
It sets aside the requirements that define the standard route: no ten years of residence, no German language proof, no citizenship test, and no need to surrender an existing citizenship. The Federal Government's confirmation is discretionary and final; the citizenship itself is granted by the provincial government.
Who qualifies for citizenship by merit?
Ministerial guidelines identify four primary categories of exceptional achievement — business and economics, science and research, sport, and arts and culture — with philanthropy and other fields also capable of qualifying.
A contribution has to significantly exceed average performance in its field, and granting citizenship has to lie in the particular interest of the Republic of Austria.
How can we assist you?
As Austria's largest law firm, we are uniquely set up to assist you:
- Our citizenship practice has successfully advised a significant number of applicants in respect of sec. 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act. Our unique advantage lies in the combination of our extensive network of contacts - a direct result of our firm's size and regional reach - and our deep experience with this specific procedure.
- We are uniquely positioned to assist you in bringing an application for Austrian citizenship by exceptional achievement to a successful conclusion. Our team accompanies clients throughout the entire process, from initial assessment through to the final governmental decision.
- We combine rigorous legal preparation with strategic stakeholder engagement, itinerary planning for visits to Austria, and, where useful, press and media support through our PR partners.
A proven five-step process
We assess your background and its risks, identify projects and stakeholders that align with Austria's national interests, prepare your visits and any media support, then draft and file the application.
From there the government procedure takes over: provincial review, ministerial assessment, a reasoned recommendation, and a decision by the Federal Government itself.
Begin your journey
Every citizenship by merit case is unique. We invite you to contact us for a confidential initial consultation to assess your eligibility and discuss the strategic options available to you. Common questions are answered on the frequently asked questions page.