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AUSTRIAN CITIZENSHIP

Rise in naturalisations: Who are the new Austrian citizens?

The number of people receiving Austrian citizenship through naturalisation processes has sharply increased. Here are some stats about the new citizens and where they are originally from.

Published: 22 August 2024 14:40 CEST
Rise in naturalisations: Who are the new Austrian citizens?
Photo: Creative Commons/Mikekilo74

In the first half of 2024, Austria saw a significant 66 percent rise in naturalisations, primarily driven by descendants of Nazi victims. According to Statistics Austria, other naturalisations also increased, but at a lower rate of 19 percent.

“In the first half of this year, two-thirds more people received a red-white-red passport than in the first six months of the previous year. This increase is mainly due to the rise in naturalisations of people persecuted by the Nazi regime and their descendants. From January to June 2024, 4,125 acquired Austrian citizenship, with all but seven living abroad. However, there was also an increase of 18.3 percent to 6,925 in the number of other naturalised citizens, all but 33 of whom are resident in Austria,” said Statistics Austria director-general Tobias Thomas.

READ ALSO: Will my children get an Austrian passport if born in Austria?

Between January and June, 11,050 individuals became Austrian citizens, compared to 6,658 in the same period last year. According to the Statistik Austria release, 4,151 of these new citizens live abroad.

A breakdown of those naturalised in Austria during the first half of 2024 reveals interesting demographics. Nearly half (48.6 percent, or 5,374) were women. Minors (under 18) also comprised a significant portion, accounting for 33.0 percent (3,644) of new citizens. Interestingly, one-fifth (20.5 percent, or 2,267) of the naturalised individuals were born in Austria.

The data shows that 37 percent of those naturalised were descendants of politically persecuted victims of the Nazi regime, a right they have held since September 2020. This group largely comprises citizens from Israel, the United States, and Great Britain.

For other naturalisations, the most common countries of origin were Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan, with one in five new Austrians actually born in Austria. Furthermore, 3,244 people were naturalised based on long-term integration and/or German language skills.

The increase in naturalisations was observed in almost all federal states, with only Burgenland and Vienna experiencing a slight decrease compared to the first half of 2023.

READ ALSO: How foreigners can get fast-track citizenship in Austria

High hurdles for citizenship

Austria’s naturalisation rate, which measures the proportion of non-citizens becoming citizens, remains low at 0.7 percent, significantly lower than that of other European countries.

The difficulty of the naturalisation process is a key factor. Applicants (the main exception is for victims of National Socialism and their descendants) usually need to reside in Austria for ten years, pay a substantial fee of approximately €2,000, and renounce any other citizenship. For EU citizens who already have the right to live and work in Austria, these obstacles often outweigh the benefits of becoming a citizen.

This trend is reflected in data from Statistics Austria.

Member comments

  1. I am part of this group. My mother, then my children and I received Austrian citizenship under the Nazi persecution 58c rule in the past year. My mother was born in Austria and fled as a young child but my kids and I were born in the US.

    Now we are learning to speak German in order to better integrate and plan to move the family to Austria in the not-too-distant future, soon after my youngest finishes high school in the US. I am looking forward to the end of our family exile!

    1. Thank you for sharing your story! If we can help you with the not-too-distant move, please let us know. If you have any questions about life in Austria, moving here, working here, universities… please send me an email: amanda.previdelli@thelocal.com. We will try and answer them all.

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For members

POLITICS

Reader question: Can I vote in Austria’s national elections?

Austria’s national elections are scheduled for September 29th, but not everyone will have a say. Find out who can vote in these crucial elections and how foreigners can still make their voices heard.

Published: 20 September 2024 09:57 CEST
Reader question: Can I vote in Austria's national elections?

On September 29th, Austria will hold its highly anticipated national elections to elect a new parliament, marking a crucial moment for the country’s political future. 

The election comes at a time of growing political polarisation, with the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) leading in the polls, followed closely by the centre-right Austrian People’s Party (ÖVP). The centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPÖ) remains in third place, trailing behind its rivals.

READ ALSO: Austrian elections: Who could be the next chancellor?

As political tensions rise and critical issues like immigration and inflation dominate the discourse, these elections could significantly shift Austria’s political landscape. 

However, while the stakes are high, a large segment of the population won’t be able to vote, mainly because of Austria’s restrictive citizenship laws. 

Who can vote in Austria’s national elections?

The only people allowed to vote in Austrian federal elections are Austrian citizens aged 16 or above. This means foreigners – even those who have lived in Austria for decades – are not entitled to vote unless they have acquired Austrian citizenship. 

The country’s strict naturalisation process typically requires at least ten years of legal residence and a high income. Applicants must also give up their original nationality, as dual citizenship is rarely permitted.

While Austria is home to a large foreign-born population, many cannot participate in the political process. In Vienna, for example, as many as one in three residents of voting age cannot vote due to their non-Austrian citizenship. This leaves around 1.5 million people nationwide unable to vote in the upcoming elections, representing around 19 percent of the population aged 16 and over.

READ ALSO: What makes Austrian citizenship so hard to get?

How can foreigners “vote” in the elections?

A symbolic alternative for the many residents excluded from Austria’s national elections has been offered: the “Pass Egal” election, organised by the non-governmental organisation SOS Mitmensch. Since 2013, the Pass Egal election has given foreigners a platform to ‘vote’ and express their political preferences.

The Pass Egal election is open to anyone aged 16 or older who lives in Austria but does not have Austrian citizenship. Even Austrians who wish to show solidarity with non-voters can participate. This symbolic election gives a voice to those otherwise excluded from official polls, allowing them to vote for the parties running in the National Council elections.

In 2022, for example, more than 8,500 people from 86 countries participated in a mock election for federal president. 

While the vote doesn’t impact the actual elections, it highlights the political engagement of Austria’s foreign residents and adds visibility to the debate on voting rights and citizenship reform.

READ MORE: How foreigners can ‘vote’ in the Austrian national elections

What’s at stake in Austria’s national elections?

This year’s elections will shape the composition of Austria’s National Council and influence the country’s future political direction.

With the FPÖ leading in the polls, the possibility of a far-right resurgence is a crucial issue, while the ÖVP and SPÖ are working to gain ground in what is expected to be a highly competitive election.

For the large segment of Austria’s population that is excluded from voting due to the country’s citizenship laws, the Pass Egal election provides a way to engage politically, even if only symbolically. 

As the number of non-citizen residents in Austria grows, the debate over expanding voting rights to non-citizens and making the naturalisation process more accessible will continue.

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