How to obtain Austrian citizenship for a Russian citizen in 2021

Ways to obtain Austrian citizenship

Important! Obtaining citizenship through marriage directly depends on the length of time the applicant has legally resided in Austria.

The total number of years lived must be five. For example, if a foreigner has lived in Austria for three years and been married for two years, then the issue of citizenship will be resolved positively.

Acquiring citizen status through naturalization is a long and complex process. In addition to the above additional conditions, the applicant must not commit actions that undermine the constitutional order of Austria, or support extremism and terrorism.

A permanent, stable income must be sufficient for the established minimum subsistence level for each member of the applicant’s family. A special requirement is legal employment in the country (at least six months before submitting the application) and a good reputation.

Important! Having real estate in itself is not a sufficient condition for obtaining Austrian citizenship. But it can act as additional evidence of successful integration into the country’s society.

Main stages of acquiring Austrian citizenship

In order to obtain a passport of the Republic of Austria, in a standard situation it is necessary to go through three stages:

• the first is relocation and temporary residence (residence permit) in Austria;
• the second - after five years of residence permit - obtaining the status of permanent resident of the country (permanent residence);
• the third - after 6-10 years - registration of the Austrian indigenous.

The first important step to citizenship is obtaining a residence permit, which will allow you to immigrate to this country. Some types of residence permits (for temporary workers, according to programs) do not provide the right to a subsequent extension or transition to another type of residence permit.

Russians and other CIS citizens wishing to obtain Austrian citizenship can apply for:

General requirements for applicants for a residence permit:

• no criminal record or violation of EU visa rules;
• financial support for your stay in Austria;
• medical insurance with coverage of at least 30 thousand euros;
• presence of permanent residence in Austria (rent, property);
• German language level - A1;
• full package of documents.

An application for a residence permit should be submitted in person to the Austrian Embassy in the host country or to the Austrian municipality of the specific state to which you plan to move. The application review period is from 3 to 6 months.

If approved, you can open an immigration visa, travel to Austria and obtain your residence permit. Renewal of a residence permit should be applied for no earlier than three months before the end of its validity.

The second stage is acquiring the status of permanent resident of Austria or permanent residence - Aufenthaltstitel Daueraufenthalt.

Required conditions to receive it:

• continuity of residence (at least 183 out of 365 days) in Austria for the last 5 years with the status of a residence permit;
• conclusion of a personal integration agreement, completion of module 2 of the 2021 Integration Agreement (Niederlassungsbewilligung – Angehöriger) with German language proficiency level B1;
• personal application to the Department for Foreigners of the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The applicant must also be:

• financially independent, receive a monthly income of at least 1452 euros;
• have housing that meets the sanitary standards of the land of residence;
• be law-abiding, pay all taxes;
• have health insurance of at least 30 thousand euros.

The permanent residence card retains its legitimacy for 5 years.

Public investment program in Austria

A person who is a participant in a government project to attract investment into the country’s economy has a wide range of opportunities and concessions in obtaining citizenship.

Advantages for a potential investor:

• dual citizenship (Austria and Russia);
• Austrian citizenship for immediate relatives;
• no proof of language proficiency required;
• confidentiality of investments, non-disclosure of information about obtaining citizenship in this way;
• social guarantees and other privileges of a full citizen.

Already 3 months after the investment, the program participant and his immediate relatives receive a residence permit, and eighteen months later - Austrian citizenship.

Second Austrian citizenship for Russians

The answer to the question of whether dual citizenship of Austria is possible with any other state in general and with the Russian Federation is in the overwhelming majority of cases negative.

The current legislation of the country does not allow this possibility, and international agreements allowing a person to have two passports, one of which is Austrian, have not been concluded.

One, there are exceptions to every rule. Thus, Austrians can maintain a legal connection with another state if:

• The refugee received an Austrian passport and could not provide confirmation of renunciation of existing citizenship due to the situation in his homeland;
• The newborn received dual citizenship from his parents at birth;
• The legislation of the country from which the applicant arrived does not provide for the possibility of renouncing citizenship;
• If refused, the applicant will suffer significant damage to his interests, for example, he will be deprived of old-age social benefits, property belonging to him, etc.
• The foreigner has significant achievements before the world and the country, for which he was granted the right to Austrian citizenship without renouncing his existing one.

Obviously, Russians have a minimal chance of getting a second passport in Austria. Unless we can talk about children from interethnic marriages. In this case, the parents of such a child must visit the Main Department of Migration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs at the place of residence of Russia (if they live or at least periodically visit the country for more than 60 days) and submit a notification about the child’s second citizenship.

Basic requirements for an applicant for citizenship

Disadvantages of living in the country

Before obtaining a residence permit in Austria, you need to familiarize yourself with the negative aspects that a Russian citizen will probably have to face here:

• very high real estate prices;
• unusually strict control of medications in pharmacies;
• insufficient parking in large centers;
• the need to know German;
• Dual citizenship is prohibited in Austria.

Despite all the positive aspects of living in this developed country, you must be prepared to say goodbye to your original passport.

Flag and coat of arms of Austria

Duration of permanent residence in Austria and its impact on obtaining citizenship

In Austria, unlike other European countries, the principle of settled residence is widely applied.

An impeccable reputation can go along with successful integration into Austrian society and serve as one of the positive aspects of obtaining citizenship. For example, if a person has participated in volunteer activities and other social projects for more than three years.

Dual citizenship in Austria

To obtain an Austrian passport, you will have to renounce Russian citizenship. Austria grants citizenship only to those applicants who leave their original passport in their home country. Some exceptions may apply, for example in the following cases:

• A public figure, recognized and known throughout the world, may have a second passport.
• An investor who has received Austrian citizenship by investment, that is, who has moved to the country under an investment government program, may not hand over his passport when leaving his previous place of residence.
• If the state where the immigrant previously lived refuses to alienate citizenship.
• Pensioners can have a second citizenship if they receive an additional pension in their home country.
• A person who is a refugee and is unable to renounce his previous citizenship may have a second citizenship.
• A child born on Austrian soil, whose parents are citizens of another country, can be the holder of a second passport.

The country's leadership guarantees the provision of citizenship if the applicant renounces his previous citizenship within two years, fulfilling all other requirements for naturalization.

Procedure for obtaining Austrian citizenship

• submitting an application to the state migration service to become an Austrian independent;
• conversation with a migration department employee.

In case of a positive decision made by the employee during a conversation with the applicant, the latter is asked to submit a package of necessary documents and pass an exam on knowledge of the language, history and government structure of Austria.

The exam takes place in writing, in the form of a test of three blocks. From the proposed answers, the test taker must choose one correct one. Only one error is allowed in each test block. Successfully passing the exam opens the door to submitting basic documents.

The procedure for obtaining an Austrian indigenous person

Austrian citizenship for Russians in 2021 is available in the same way as for citizens of other CIS countries.

The algorithm of actions is simple:

• prepare a package of documents;
• apply for citizenship;
• pass the exam;
• wait for a decision to be made;
• participate in the oath-taking ceremony.

Applications should be submitted directly to the Citizenship Department of the government of the state where the applicant lives. You must first register to submit documents.

To get information about where and to whom to contact with papers, find out the reception time, cost of payment and other information, you need to go to the page. This is followed by:

• Click on the desired land on the map, for example “Vienna”.

• Then click on the home page of the Vienna City Council.

• After this, the visitor will be on the page of the municipal department (MA 35). This contains all the necessary information.

After renouncing previous citizenship (depending on the situation), the applicant must take a verbal oath before the competent authority of allegiance to the principles and ideals of the Republic of Austria. After this, he will receive written notification of the award of the Austrian indigene.

Documents to be submitted for consideration

Persons aged 14 years and older are required to prepare a complete set of documents that will be considered when deciding whether to apply for Austrian citizenship. The basic package includes originals and copies of the following documents:

• application form in the established form (you can take it and fill it out with your own hand at the Citizenship Department of the land in which the applicant lives);
• autobiography;
• photo (3.5x4.5 cm) no older than 6 months;
• documents on civil status (marriage certificate, divorce certificate, adoption certificate, etc.);
• a police certificate confirming no criminal record and good behavior;
• confirmation of a sufficient level of income;
• valid international passport;
• a valid residence permit in Austria;
• documents confirming place of residence and evidence of residence in Austria (lease agreement, purchase/sale agreement, etc.);
• papers confirming the availability of sufficient funds (annual salary slips, employment contract, confirmation from the tax office, regular expenses for the last 6 years);
• certificate of integration tests on language proficiency at level B1;
• medical insurance with coverage of 30 thousand euros.

In addition to these documents, depending on the situation, additional ones will be required:

All official documents of third-country citizens in foreign languages ​​must be accompanied by a translation into German, certified in Austria and apostilled.

Passing the exam on the history and social system of Austria

Obtaining Austrian citizenship, with a few exceptions (by decision of the federal government, large investors are exempt from taking the exam), is impossible without testing basic knowledge of history and the democratic order of the Republic of Austria. To do this, you must take an online exam at the responsible office of the government of your state of residence.

For training, it is useful to use the “Take an online test” function on the page. Here you can also find study materials to prepare for the exam.

After submitting the application, the applicant will receive the necessary information 8 weeks before the exam date. To obtain contact information, please use.

Required documents

• passport, residence permit;
• the applicant's birth certificate;
• certificate of marriage, divorce (if any), death of husband or wife;
• documents confirming the change of first or last name (if present);
• certificate of citizenship of the spouse (issued no earlier than six months);
• photo;
• certificate of no criminal record;
• certificate of income for the last thirty-six months;
• health insurance;
• certificate of language proficiency;
• document confirming the status of refugee or political asylum (if any).

All documents provided must have an apostille, as well as a notarized translation into German.

The period for studying documents is two to three months. If the decision is positive in favor of the applicant, the latter must formally renounce his previous citizenship.

Dual citizenship is retained and renunciation of the previous one is not required for the following categories of persons:

• refugees or those receiving political asylum;
• the Austrian state is directly interested in maintaining dual citizenship (potential investor, famous athlete, prominent scientist, etc.);
• Children born in Austria retain dual citizenship until adulthood.

Procedure for obtaining a residence permit and citizenship

To obtain a residence permit in Austria, Russians will need an entry visa.

Detailed and up-to-date information about the types of visas and the necessary documents for their application is always presented on the official websites of the visa center and the Austrian Embassy in Russia.

How to get a residence permit in Austria

To obtain a residence permit in Austria, a Russian will need to study the requirements for candidates in advance and prepare a package of documents (translated and certified by a notary), as well as their copies.

The processing time for an application is 2-6 months. Review fee (payable regardless of the decision made) – 75 euros.

Documents for obtaining a residence permit in Austria:

• application form;
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• foreign passport, copies of all previous foreign passports;
• photos;
• birth certificate;
• Marriage certificate;
• certificate of no problems with the law;
• certificate of proficiency in German at level A1;
• medical insurance (issued by the employer or independently);
• a document confirming the availability of funds for living (900 euros per month for one person or 1300 euros for a married couple plus 140 euros for each child);
• a document confirming the availability of a place to live: a lease or purchase agreement for real estate;
• for students or schoolchildren: certificate of enrollment in full-time study;
• for employees: invitation from the employer, employment contract;
• for entrepreneurs: charter documents of the enterprise;
• documents on education and award of an academic degree (optional);
• receipt of payment of duty.

Documents must be submitted to the Austrian diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation or the migration service department. After approval of the application, the foreigner receives a residence permit for up to 1 year with the possibility of extension. There may be cases of obtaining a residence permit for 2-3 years at once.

How to obtain permanent residence in Austria

Permanent residence in Austria is issued after 5 years of residence in the status of a residence permit - annually you need to stay in the country for at least 183 days.
A package of documents similar to the previous stage is transferred to the migration service, with:

• the certificate must confirm language proficiency at level B1-B2 (usually level B2 is required);
• the cost of living becomes 1.5-2 times higher;
• A valid residence permit is required (validity must cover the period of consideration of the application).

The processing time for an application ranges from 3 to 6 months, and the amount of the fee varies depending on the category of the applicant.

How to obtain Austrian citizenship

After 10 years of permanent residence in Austria (in the status of residence permit and permanent residence), you can try to apply for citizenship. The application procedure depends on the applicant's area of ​​residence.

Typically, the applicant submits an application to the local migration service office. After passing the interview and receiving an affirmative answer, the applicant prepares the necessary set of papers (the standard package is supplemented at the discretion of the migration service).

Documents for obtaining Austrian citizenship:

• statement;
• biography (for persons over 14 years old);
• passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation;
• foreign passport, copies of former foreign passports (as proof of permanent residence in Austria);
• current permanent residence status;
• photos;
• certificate of no criminal record (in Russia and Austria);
• certificates from civil status acts: birth certificates of the applicant and his children, marriage or divorce, change of surname, etc.;
• certificate of citizenship of the spouse;
• medical insurance;
• documents on education and awarded scientific titles;
• certificate of language proficiency (level B2);
• document on ownership of real estate or its lease;
• certificate of income for the last 6 months (indicating length of service);
• confirmation of sufficient income for the applicant’s family (1200 euros per person) for the last 3 years;
• documents that positively affect the applicant’s reputation: ownership of intellectual property, awards, records in some areas.

The fact of integration is confirmed by passing tests on knowledge of the German language, history and government of the country. The minimum level of language proficiency is B2. If the applicant has been working for a long time in a public or charitable organization, then level B1 is sufficient. The second test consists of three blocks, you are allowed to make one error in each. The fee for taking the test is 150-200 euros.

The application is considered for up to six months; after its approval, the applicant must formalize a renunciation of previous citizenship. After confirmation of the refusal of the first passport, the application is processed for another 2-3 months.

The average fee for obtaining citizenship is 800 euros per person or 1,200 euros for a married couple plus 80 euros for each child. Reviews on the Internet say that the amount of the fee can reach 3000-4000 euros, which is influenced by the applicant’s salary, region of residence and other factors.

Acceptance of Austrian citizenship and obtaining a passport

After receiving official notification of a positive decision, the applicant takes an oath of allegiance to the republic at the migration service department at the place of residence. This is followed by notification of the final decision of the authorities. The day the status of a citizen is approved is the day the decision is issued.

Obtaining a passport occurs by submitting an application to the local authorized authority. Along with the passport, the new Austrian citizen will be issued a plastic card, which will serve as his identification card in the countries of the European Union.

Refusal to grant Austrian citizenship

Refusal of Austrian citizenship is a fairly common occurrence. The reason may be:

• any inconsistency with the requirements: a criminal record, close relations with extremist or terrorist organizations, reluctance to renounce previous citizenship, violation of EU migration legislation, insufficient finances to live in Austria, possession of illegally acquired capital, insufficient knowledge of the German language, etc.);
• an attempt to conceal or falsify information about oneself;
• failure to comply with the temporary residence requirement in Austria;
• use of fictitious marriage;
• errors when filling out papers, providing an incomplete package of documents, etc.

Austrian immigration services check each candidate very carefully, they make practically no mistakes and filing an appeal is useless. Therefore, having received a reasoned refusal, it is necessary to understand why this happened.

If the reasons are correctable - supplementing the package of documents, correcting errors, paying a fine for illegal parking or paying off a mortgage - it is worth resubmitting the documents.

Reviews from experts indicate that if the violations are more serious and related to criminal, immigration, and labor laws, then the issue of Austrian citizenship will have to be closed forever.

How to become a citizen of Austria: main ways

Austrian citizenship can only become available if the applicant has sufficient grounds for it. Each of the candidates must objectively assess their chances of becoming a citizen of the Alpine republic.

The transport infrastructure of the Austrian capital is considered the best not only in Europe, but throughout the world. A passenger waits for a bus, tram, trolleybus or metro train for no more than four minutes.

Citizenship by birth

Austrian citizenship is based on “right of blood”, which is acquired by birth. A child born in marriage automatically becomes an Austrian citizen if his father and mother have Austrian citizenship. The same applies when only one of the parents is an Austrian subject. If the Austrian mother is married to a non-Austrian, the child has the right to receive the mother's citizenship as a second one. But at the same time, its receipt is possible only upon the application of the mother; it will not be assigned automatically. The child will be granted Austrian citizenship regardless of the place of residence of his parents.

If we are talking about an illegitimate child, then he will receive Austrian citizenship in the event that the paternity of an Austrian citizen is officially recognized. It is recognized voluntarily or in court if the court makes a corresponding decision within eight weeks after birth.

Adopted children under 14 years of age also become citizens of Austria. The fact of adoption must be officially confirmed. If the child has reached the age of 14, then his or her own handwritten application for citizenship will be required.

Austria is a federal republic consisting of 9 states

Citizenship by naturalization

Austrian law provides for a three-step process for acquiring citizenship upon naturalization. Applicants who have managed to deeply integrate into Austrian society within six years have the right to accelerated citizenship. This will require a good knowledge of the German language, participation for at least three years in the volunteer movement, public organizations, absence of offenses and positive results of integration tests.

After ten years, foreigners who have been able to integrate into local society in the usual manner, have not taken part in public activities and have passed the language exam with “excellent” or “satisfactory” have the right to become Austrian citizens.

But foreign citizens who have lived in this country for thirty years or more will be able to automatically receive an Austrian citizen passport.

In all cases, compliance with the residency requirement presupposes legal stay on Austrian territory for the entire period required for this. If the applicant was in Austria illegally, then the path to citizenship is closed for him.

Innovations in Austrian immigration legislation in 2013 have complicated the process of obtaining citizenship. The residence permit must be renewed several times over a ten-year period. But the basis for its receipt and extension must be the same. If the applicant renews the residence permit for a reason other than the one for which he received it, then the countdown of the period required for naturalization begins from this moment. Therefore, changing the reason why resident status is sought automatically means that the previous period will not count towards the time required for naturalization. This small detail managed to cut off the path to citizenship for many foreigners who could previously apply for it.

After four years of legal residence in Austria, persons with citizenship of any other country of the European Union or Eurozone, as well as those with refugee status, will be able to become holders of Austrian passports. The same period is legally provided for foreigners who were previously Austrian citizens.

Birth on Austrian territory does not give the right to citizenship of this country. But if desired, a person born in Austria from foreign parents, after reaching the age of majority, will be able to apply to local authorities to obtain citizenship after six years of legal residence in the country.

You can obtain an Austrian passport through naturalization, the duration of which varies for different categories of applicants

Marriage to an Austrian citizen

Marriage to an Austrian citizen provides the possibility of accelerated acquisition of citizenship. Becoming an Austrian citizen by marriage is possible after five years of being officially married. If the marriage registration took place outside Austria or the European Union, then legalization of the document will be required in accordance with Austrian law. You will definitely need to confirm the fact of cohabitation. Immigration officers will take control of the young family. They will often visit the young people, monitoring the reality of the marriage. Representatives of the Austrian immigration authorities are well aware that the most enterprising foreigners quite often use fictitious marriages to obtain the status of Austrian citizens.

Mixed marriages are closely monitored by immigration officials. It is necessary that young people live under the same roof, have a common budget, and spend vacations and weekends together. If a young family has a child together, then the attention of the immigration service to it weakens. If the fact of a fictitious marriage is established, nothing good will happen to the participants in a criminal union. The foreign citizen loses all rights to obtain citizenship and is also forcibly expelled from the country. The local accomplice faces a large administrative fine or even a prison term.

Today, many intermediary structures offer services for obtaining Austrian citizenship by marrying an Austrian citizen. This method is quite expensive, but effective. It should be understood that if a fictitious marriage is discovered, the unlucky marriage swindler will not only be expelled from the country, but will also receive an entry ban for at least ten years. And a ban on entry into one of the countries of the European Union automatically means a restriction on entry into other countries of this interstate association.

This is how I learned about the existence of the Austrian way of solving problems: there are rules, but there is almost always a way to get around these rules without breaking anything in particular. I think that, if necessary, in Germany my friends would also be able to register me in their apartment, but the initiative would hardly come from them: Germans’ brains are not designed for such machinations.

Maria Marchenko

https://zimamagazine.com/2017/10/chem-zhizn-v-avstrii-otlichaetsya-ot-zhizni-v-germanii/

Video: psychological adaptation of a Russian woman in Austria

Investments and business immigration

A program for accelerated acquisition of Austrian citizenship is provided for foreign investors. It has been operating in Austria for more than 20 years. But a significant disadvantage of the legislation is that there is no clear minimum investment threshold that guarantees participation in this investment program. An application for investment is considered in each case individually. It must receive the approval of the relevant committee of the Austrian parliament, as well as the ministry or other body whose competence includes the development of a certain area of ​​the country’s economy.

By default, it is considered that the minimum amount can be 10 million euros. But the investment may be smaller if it involves investing in venture capital funds, securities issued by the Austrian government, infrastructure development or the creation of many new jobs. But in any case, we are talking about millions of euros. After approval of the application, the foreign investor has the right to obtain Austrian citizenship in an accelerated manner - in just a year and a half or even a year. The decision to grant citizenship will in this case be made at the highest level. There are no additional conditions for large foreign investors. They do not need to speak German, pass an integration test or even reside permanently in Austria. But when participating in the program, you will need to prove the legal origin of the invested funds. Those candidates whose capital has “gray” roots will be categorically refused.

But now everything is completely different. Now I live in a cherished foreign country - Austria. And I don't want to go anywhere anymore. Although at first, out of habit, I still wanted to go somewhere, explore nearby countries or fly on weekends, for example, to Paris... After all, visas are no longer needed - you can use them! But every time I couldn’t shake the feeling that, of course, it’s interesting in another country... but at home (in Austria) it’s better!.. I like it here - EVERYTHING.

whirl

https://forum.awd.ru/viewtopic.php?f=1057&t=206630

Foreigners have the right to register their own companies and conduct business in Austria. If its annual turnover exceeds 10 million euros, at least 20 jobs have been created, and all contributions to the state budget are made on time, then the business owner may be considered as an applicant for participation in the program for accelerated entry into Austrian citizenship. In this case, the conditions for it will be identical to the conditions for investor participation.

Foreign investors and businessmen can obtain Austrian citizenship as a second citizenship without parting with their previous passport. In addition, members of their families also have the right to move to Austria and take citizenship. For children, obtaining citizenship in this mode is allowed if they are under 18 years of age.

A foreign investor must invest millions of euros in the economy of this country to obtain Austrian citizenship

Repatriation

In Austria, as in neighboring Germany, there are programs for the repatriation of compatriots. Therefore, foreigners who can prove the presence of Austrian roots in their family tree will be able to obtain Austrian citizenship. The repatriation program provides for the acquisition of citizenship in an accelerated manner after five years of permanent residence of the repatriate in Austria.

Citizenship for refugees

If a foreigner receives refugee status in Austria, then he has the opportunity to become a citizen after four years. By the way, his entire family will also receive Austrian passports. And the procedure for acquiring citizenship is somewhat simpler - refugees do not need to pass integration and language tests.

I believe that Russians in Austria are one of the most integrated ethnic groups in society.

Ambassador of Austria to Russia Dr. Margot Klestil-Leffler

https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/1634287

Citizenship for Distinguished Service

Citizenship for outstanding services can be assigned to famous foreign scientists, politicians, economists or any foreign national who has rendered any significant service to the Republic of Austria. The decision to grant citizenship for outstanding services is made personally by the president of the country. In this case, no additional conditions are required; an Austrian passport for a person who received it for special merits may be a second one.

Purchasing methods

A foreigner can become a holder of an Austrian passport as follows:

• by birth;
• by marriage to a person who has nationality in Austria;
• through naturalization;
• after investing in the country's economy.

For our compatriots, this long journey, as a rule, begins with obtaining one of the types of entry permits, obtaining a residence permit, getting a job or entering a university. After these steps, it is necessary to legally live in the country for the required, rather long period, without violating the law and order, having earned a good reputation and being steadily integrated into the local society.

By blood

This method of acquiring citizenship is applied in the listed circumstances.

1. Automatically assigned to a baby born into an Austrian family, or if one of the parents has a passport as a citizen of the republic.
2. When the baby’s father is an Austrian citizen and the mother is a foreigner, the status will be issued if, within 60 days from the date of birth, the applicant formalizes his paternity voluntarily or the court does so.
3. If both have nationality in different countries, where the principle of obtaining status by blood also works, the child receives dual citizenship.

In the latter case, the young man will have to make a choice at the age of 16.

Through marriage

Given this basis, the time spent in the republic by the spouse of an Austrian citizen is more important than the actual duration of the family ties of these two people. You can apply for an indigenous identity 12 months after the wedding, provided you have lived in the country for less than four years before that moment. If a person with nationality from another country was constantly in Austria for 36 months before marriage, then 24 months after its conclusion he receives the right to acquire status. Having a marital union of 5 years or more, a foreigner can become an indigenous person, regardless of how long he has lived in the republic.

Acquisition by naturalization

Persons with national affiliation to another state can use this method if the following conditions are met.

1. Legal stay in Austria for 10 years.
2. Availability of a stable regular income of at least the subsistence level for each family member.
3. The applicant has no criminal record or offenses.
4. Do not take actions in support of extremism, terrorism, or against the constitutional order.
5. Naturalization of a foreigner in the Austrian Republic requires him to know the German language.

In addition, six months before submitting the application, the applicant must be legally employed in the country.

Availability of real estate

This factor is not sufficient to obtain citizenship. However, it will not be superfluous to determine how integrated the foreigner has been into the local society.

State investment program

Large preferences are received by the applicant who took part in the government project to attract finance to the economy of the republic. This category of foreigners does not need to be here permanently. The condition for membership in the state program is the investment of funds in one of the sectors of the economy, after which the applicant will receive the benefits described below.

1. There is no need to formalize a renunciation of previous citizenship.
2. Close relatives can be included in the application.
3. There is no need to present a certificate of knowledge of the state language.
4. Possibility to move around the Schengen zone without visas.
5. Austrian citizenship by investment guarantees confidentiality - information about the person is not disclosed, he does not face deportation.
6. Social guarantees.

The amount of cash injections should be at least 2 million euros. After just 3 months, a participant in the state program receives a residence permit, and after 9-18 months, citizenship of the republic.

What are the benefits of Austrian citizenship

An Austrian passport has many advantages. Every immigrant will find something of his own in this case. But the highest standard of living of Austrian citizens can be considered an absolute advantage for everyone. In 2021, each of the 8 million 700 thousand Austrians had a GDP of $47,290. And the unemployment rate in the country does not exceed 5.5%. There is practically no crime in Austria; the state takes care of its citizens, providing high social protection. That is why interest in obtaining citizenship of the Alpine republic by residents of post-Soviet countries and, in particular, Russians is growing from year to year.

Among the obvious advantages of citizenship of the Republic of Austria, in addition to those already mentioned, the following can be noted:

• Austrian citizenship is citizenship of the European Union with the possibility of unhindered movement within the borders of this interstate formation;
• With an Austrian passport you can visit 173 countries of the world without a visa. According to the visa restrictions index, the Austrian passport is in fourth place in the world;
• Austrian legislation in some cases allows dual citizenship;
• an Austrian citizen has the right to open accounts in any European bank, obtain a loan, and purchase housing with a mortgage;
• an Austrian citizen has the right to priority employment both directly in Austria and within the borders of the entire European Union;
• Austrian citizenship gives the right to high social security, which is guaranteed by the state;
• the holder of a passport from the Alpine Republic can register his own business and conduct business activities throughout the entire European Union;
• An Austrian citizen has the right to free higher education in public universities in the country. In addition, you will receive a document of education that is recognized throughout the world and does not require nostrification;
• an Austrian subject has the right to invite foreign relatives, who can subsequently go through the path of naturalization and also become citizens of this small European state;
• An Austrian citizen has the opportunity to benefit from high quality medical services.

Of course, we could go on and on about the benefits that an Austrian passport provides. But almost all of them boil down to life in a developed country with a stable political system and European foundations of society.

Austria is an island of stability in modern Europe

Republik Österreich is the name of the Austrian Republic in the native German language of the Austrians. Austria is a federal republic consisting of nine federal states.

Requirements for immigrants

As of 2021, there are three ways to legally reside in Austria:

• Have citizenship. It is almost impossible for a foreigner to obtain it, since the laws of the state are very demanding. Absurdly impossible conditions for receipt may be put forward.
• Permanent residence permit, or permanent residence. It can be obtained if you have lived in the country for many years with a temporary permit and behave impeccably throughout the entire period, as well as after receiving permanent residence. The fact is that the country’s authorities, without hesitation, send home all unwanted foreigners.
• A residence permit in Austria is the most acceptable way to legally reside here. Issued to certain categories of foreign citizens subject to the necessary conditions.

In 2021, an application for a residence permit in Austria can be submitted by:

This is what a residence permit looks like in Austria

• wealthy foreigners who are ready to develop business in Austria and invest in the country’s budget;
• foreign students or schoolchildren who are enrolled in an Austrian university or school;
• foreign entrepreneurs operating in the country;
• unique world-class talents (inventors, scientists, outstanding athletes or creative people);
• foreigners who are officially married to Austrian citizens.

In addition to belonging to one of the above categories, there are a number of requirements for immigrants applying for a residence permit in Austria.

• permanent income of about 800 euros for each family member;
• own or rented housing;
• health insurance;
• documents confirming that the residence of a foreign citizen does not violate the established order in the country, as well as international relations with other states.