Citizenship · Europe
Citizenship · EuropeAustria Citizenship for Extraordinary Merit
A discretionary route to Austrian citizenship for people whose extraordinary achievements are in the Republic's special interest. There is no fixed investment amount.
- Investment from
- See the costs
- Processing
- To confirm
- Family
- See the family rules
- Stay required
- To confirm
Decision summary
- What do you obtain?
- Citizenship, granted directly by the government after approval.
- What does your family invest?
- No fixed amount. An investment alone does not qualify; a wider extraordinary contribution must be shown.
- What is additional?
- Information pending verification
- How long does it take?
- Information pending verification
- Must you travel or live there?
- Information pending verification
- What is the main drawback?
- Approvals are rare and decided case by case.
- Family inclusion
- Information pending verification
- Program status
- Exceptional discretionary naturalisation
Overview
Austria has no citizenship by investment program. Article 10(6) of the Citizenship Act allows the Federal Government to support naturalisation where it confirms that an applicant's extraordinary achievements are in the special interest of the Republic.
Economic contributions can be considered, but a large investment alone is not enough: applicants generally need to show a wider contribution, such as substantial job creation or bringing know-how or technology to Austria.
The Interior Ministry publishes the criteria it applies in economic, scientific, sporting and artistic cases. For economic merit it looks for things such as running a company with real influence, job creation, especially in weaker regions, and significant projects in Austria; it states that mere money flows are not enough and that citizenship is never granted simply as an honour.
Under a 2014 Federal Government regulation, the provincial government sends the file to the Interior Ministry, the federal ministries concerned give reasoned opinions, and the Federal Government decides on the cases at least once every six months.
Because the decision is political and case by case, there is no price, no guaranteed timeline and no right to approval.
Passport strength
184destinations without arranging a visa in advance
- Visa-free
- 141
- Visa on arrival
- 27
- eTA (online authorisation)
- 16
- Visa required (applied for online)
- 27
- Visa required
- 14
Key destinations
- Schengen areaEU citizen — live and work
- United KingdomeTA
- United StateseTA
- CanadaeTA
- United Arab EmiratesVisa-free
- ChinaVisa-free
- JapanVisa-free
Schengen area
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
United Arab Emirates
China
JapanTravel access data as of . Entry rules change often; confirm before you travel. Compare every programme's passport
Who this program may not suit
Taken from the facts recorded on this page. It may not suit you if:
- Your current country does not allow dual citizenship, or takes yours away when you gain another. Check this before you apply.
- You need a predictable outcome: approval is at the government's discretion.
Investment pathways
- Investment pathway
- Discretionary naturalisation under Article 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act, confirmed by the Federal Government as being in the special interest of the Republic.
- Minimum investment
- No fixed amount. An investment alone does not qualify; a wider extraordinary contribution must be shown.
Checked against official programme sources
Application process
- 1The applicant files a reasoned citizenship application with the competent provincial government, with evidence of extraordinary achievements already made or expected that would serve Austria's special interest.
- 2The provincial government checks the general conditions, such as a clean criminal record, and if they are met sends the file to the Federal Ministry of the Interior.
- 3The Interior Ministry sends the application to the responsible federal ministers (and the foreign ministry if the applicant lives abroad), who each give a reasoned opinion.
- 4The Interior Ministry prepares a reasoned recommendation, and the Federal Government decides whether to confirm the special interest; it takes these decisions regularly, at least once every six months.
- 5The decision goes back to the provincial government, which decides on the grant by formal notice; the notice is handed over only after the applicant takes the citizenship oath.
Steps and timings can change; your advisor confirms the current process before you apply.
Investment and fees
Qualifying investment amounts and government fees are always shown separately. We do not publish single "total price" figures, as the total depends on family composition and circumstances.
- To be confirmed
- Government fees · Due diligence fees · Estimated additional costs · Investment holding period
Checked against official programme sources
Residence requirements
- Renewal requirements
- Not applicable — citizenship.
- Potential route to citizenship
- Direct naturalisation if approved; the applicant may be allowed to keep their existing citizenship.
- To be confirmed
- Residence requirements
Checked against official programme sources
Due diligence and documentation
Applicants and included dependants undergo background and source-of-funds checks by the relevant authority. Documentation requirements are confirmed during preparation — no documents are needed for an initial consultation.
Considerations, limitations and risks
Important restrictions
Approvals are rare and decided case by case.
- Published entry thresholds are not comprehensive costs; taxes, professional fees and dependent charges may apply.
- Immigration law, visa access and naturalisation rules can change without notice.
- Individual eligibility depends on nationality, financial background, due diligence and program-specific criteria.
Status and authority
- Operational status
- Exceptional discretionary naturalisation
- Official government authority
- Federal Government of Austria, with the competent provincial government
- Legal basis
- Austrian Citizenship Act (Staatsbürgerschaftsgesetz 1985), Article 10(6), a constitutional provision; procedure set by Federal Government regulation BGBl. II No. 39/2014.
- To be confirmed
- Nationality restrictions
Programme rules change; your advisor confirms every figure before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy Austrian citizenship?
No. Austria has no citizenship by investment program. Naturalisation for extraordinary merit is discretionary, and an investment alone does not qualify.
Can I keep my current passport?
Citizenship granted for extraordinary merit is one of the few cases where Austria may allow an applicant to keep their existing citizenship.
What is the minimum investment for Austria Citizenship for Extraordinary Merit?
No fixed amount. An investment alone does not qualify; a wider extraordinary contribution must be shown.
Can my family be included?
Family inclusion rules vary and will be confirmed for your circumstances.
How long does the process take?
Timeframes depend on the authority and the completeness of your application. An advisor can provide current guidance.
Is approval guaranteed?
No. Every application is decided by the government concerned after due diligence, and requirements can change.
Discuss Austria with an advisor.
Share your objectives in confidence. An advisor will outline the options that may be relevant to your family and circumstances.