- Austria’s CBI application process can take two to three years and involves the filing of an application in person (unless the applicant is incompetent to act), and significant communication with government officials. If the applicant lives outside Austria, they must travel to their relevant Austrian diplomatic or consular authority to swear their oath of allegiance.
- Although Austria generally disallows dual nationality, applicants under Article 10(6) are permitted to retain their original citizenship.
- The scheme has operated intermittently, and only rarely are aspiring applicants successful.
- Passive investments in government bonds or real estate, for example, do not qualify.
- The benefits of Austrian citizenship include the right to live and work in any country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, as well as ease of travel to the US and Canada as a visitor.
Country Profile
Austria is a landlocked but wealthy nation and has been a member of the European Union since 1995. For centuries, it played a role as one of Europe’s dominant powers, its reins being held by the Habsburg dynasty. Key turning points in its history include the 1683 Battle of Vienna, which halted Ottoman expansion into Europe, and Austria’s declaration of war against Serbia following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand – one of the triggers for World War I. Today, Austria is highly industrialised, and exports and tourism are key drivers of GDP.
- Official name: Republic of Austria
- National anthem: Land of Mountains, Land by the River
- Location: Europe
- Capital city: Vienna
- Official language: German
- Sovereignty: The Austrian State Treaty was signed on 15 May 1955 and entered into force on 27 July 1955
- Government type: Federal democratic republic
- Head of State: Federal President
- Head of Government: Federal Chancellor
- Basis of legal system: German civil law
- Currency: Euro
- Climate: Temperate
Programme Profile
- There is no legally prescribed minimum investment and each application is determined on a case-by-case basis. There is no published investment range that guarantees or creates an entitlement to citizenship.
- Although Austria generally disallows dual nationality, Article 10, Paragraph 6 specifies that applicants are permitted to retain their original citizenship.
The Austria Citizenship by Investment Programme
Austria’s Citizenship by Merit route allows the Federal Government to grant citizenship where an applicant’s extraordinary achievements, whether already delivered or expected, are in the special interest of the Republic. It is a discretionary route without a published price or guaranteed outcome. Economic activity may support an application, but investment alone does not create an entitlement to citizenship.