Naturalisations

Latest annual results

Austrian citizenship was granted to a total of 8 996 persons in 2020 (including 200 non-residents). Compared to 2019 (10 606 cases), this means a decrease of 15.2%.

Among people acquiring Austrian citizenship in 2020, 2 991 persons or 33.2% were less than 18 years old. 3 226 people were between the age of 30 and 44 (35.9%), followed by those below 15 years (2 525 or 28.1%). In general, teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 29 (23.4%) were more likely to receive Austrian citizenship as people aged 45 and more (12.7%).

In 2020, Austrian citizenship was awarded to 3 188 people already born in Austria (35.4%). Among people naturalised in 2020, the largest groups were former citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina (967 or 10.7%), Serbia (943) and Turkey (847).

Long-term trends

In the 1980s, on average 7 800 persons acquired Austrian citizenship every year. As a consequence of the growing number of foreign citizens residing in Austria, this number rose sharply in the mid-1990s. In 1997 about 16 000, in 1999, about 25 000 and in 2003 more than 45 000 foreign nationals acquired Austrian citizenship. Starting in 2004 the number of naturalisations has been steadily declining to set a minimum in 2010 (6 190). Since then, the number of naturalisations has been increasing again to 10 606 in 2019, before dropping again in 2020. In the 1980s and 1990s, there were on average 2.4 naturalisations for every 100 foreign nationals. This rate increased to a maximum of 6 per cent in 2003, before decreasing again until 2010. Since then the naturalisation rate has remained stable at 0.7%, to decrease again to 0.6% in 2020.

There are two factors mainly responsible for the reduction of naturalisations: firstly, the amendments to the Citizenship Act which came into force on 23 March 2006, on 1 January 2010 and on 1 August 2013, respectively, introducing stricter requirements for the acquisition of Austrian citizenship. Secondly, immigration numbers have dropped since 1993 and as a consequence the number of persons eligible for naturalisation (for example those with at least ten years of uninterrupted main residence in Austria - § 10 para. 1 Citizenship Act) have also decreased over the past ten years. While 10 638 persons became Austrian citizens on these legal grounds in 2005 (30.0% of all naturalisations), the figure fell to 917 in 2020 (10.2%).

Please consult our German website for tables and charts containing further information.

Results (overview): Naturalised persons

NaturalisationsPrice in € *)Free Download

 
 

Demographisches Jahrbuch 2019
Based on scientifically high-quality statistics and analyses, Statistik Austria draws a comprehensive and objective picture of Austrian society and economy. With its figures and data, Statistik ...

Release date: 12/2020 ISBN:978-3-903264-62-5

 
 

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Demographisches Jahrbuch 2018
On the individual level, demographic change is caused by a vast number of decisions in the course of human life. On the aggregate level, the outcomes of these decisions lead to changes in the ...

Release date: 12/2019 ISBN:978-3-903264-28-1

 
 

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Demographisches Jahrbuch 2017
On the individual level, demographic change is caused by a vast number of decisions in the course of human life. On the aggregate level, the outcomes of these decisions lead to changes in the ...

Release date: 12/2018 ISBN:978-3-903106-95-6

 
 

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(PDF, 3 MB)

 
 

Migration und Integration 2020
“Migration&Integration. Figures. Facts. Indicators” offers an insight in the living conditions of people with migration background in Austria. Using various data sources across all statistical fields ...

Release date: 09/2020 ISBN:978-3-903264-56-4

 
 

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Migration und Integration 2019
“Migration&Integration. Figures. Facts. Indicators” offers an insight in the living conditions of people with migration background in Austria. Using various data sources across all statistical fields ...

Release date: 09/2019 ISBN:978-3-903264-23-6

 
 

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(PDF, 5 MB)

 
 

Migration und Integration 2018
Migration&Integration. Figures. Facts. Indicators” offers an insight in the living conditions of people with migration background in Austria. Using various data sources across all statistical fields ...

Release date: 09/2018 ISBN:978-3-903106-88-8

 
 

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(PDF, 6 MB)

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