Retaining Austrian Citizenship

Permission to retain Austrian citizenship is granted if:

Services to Austria:

Retention serves the interests of the Republic of Austria due to services already rendered or still expected from the applicant.

Personal or Family Circumstances:

Particularly pertinent circumstances in the applicant’s private and family life justify retention of Austrian citizenship.

Best Interests of the Child:

For minors, retention is in the child’s best interests (e.g., maintaining ties to Austrian relatives, educational opportunities).

Application Timing:

The application must be submitted and approved before applying for foreign citizenship. Acquiring foreign citizenship without prior approval results in automatic, permanent loss of Austrian citizenship.

Two-Year Window:

After approval is granted, the applicant has two years to acquire the foreign citizenship. The approval expires if the foreign citizenship is not obtained within this timeframe.

Provincial Authority:

Applications are handled by the citizenship department of the relevant provincial government office based on the applicant’s residence.

Discretionary Decision:

While applicants meeting the criteria are legally entitled to approval, authorities have wide discretion in assessing whether the requirements are met. The wording and justification in the application are critical.