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 Hapsburg 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: 15 May 1955, the date of the signing of the Austrian State Treaty
  • 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 amount of minimum investment, and each application is determined on a case-by-case basis. The qualifying investment usually required ranges between €800,000 to €10 million.
  • 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

Established in 1985, Austria’s Citizenship by Investment Programme is extremely exclusive, and under Article 10(6) of the Austrian Citizenship Act, the federal government only grants citizenship when a person displays actual or expected extraordinary merit, which could be economic. Today, Austria is highly industrialised, and exports and tourism are key drivers of the country’s GDP. It is a wonderful country to live in and a great choice for wealthy investors who are looking to raise a family.
  • 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.